SUPPLY AND DEMAND

Re "Murderous Mexican standoff" (Mercedes Stepenson, Sept.
5):

Great column. However, all the great minds of the ages don't seem to
understand the most basic concepts of economics - and yet they run
governments. It is impossible to ban anything. It is against the law -
the law of supply and demand. Whatever you do to a supply curve will
be undone directly and proportionately by the demand curve vis-a-vis
the price. There's nothing that can be done except to legalize
narcotics with a control system. That is why the prohibition of
alcohol didn't work. The loss of supply raised the price to fill the
demand and organized crime prospered. By legalizing narcotics the
price will fall drastically, putting organized crime out of business.
The government could give away the drugs with attendance for
counselling. The war on drugs is causing a downward spiral. We will
have a global narco economy if we're not there already.

George Freund

Toronto

(We're not there already)