LAWS OF ECONOMICS IN THE WAR ON DRUGS

Mary Anastasia O'Grady has hit the right spot ("Smuggling Drugs? Let Us
Count the Ways," Americas, Aug. 26) by so clearly stating, "To end drug
abuse, discourage demand." Once again, somebody is willing to take the
blinds off, look at the war on drugs from a simpler perspective, and call
for attention to the demand side of the balance.

For as long as the laws of simple economics continue to be excluded from
the war on drugs there will be no victory on the horizon. For as long as
there are millions of dollars to be collected from consumers, the
agricultural country du jour will find a way to sustain illegal crops, the
smugglers will come up with more innovative tricks, and the violence and
suffering will continue in various countries.

Initiatives like Plan Colombia seem ineffective in the light of weak
statistics on extradition to the U.S. and the never-decreasing land
extension for coca cultivation. Isn't it time for the U.S. to match foreign
aggressive efforts with similarly aggressive domestic actions? Shouldn't
those who believe in a tough hand outside also consider one at home? A
selfish condemnation of exclusively one side of the trade is contributing
not only to increasing violence and deteriorating economies in the
producing countries, but also to spreading the cancer that grows in the
streets of this country.

Fernando J. Gomez

Chicago