DRUGS ARE SCAPEGOAT FOR SOCIETY'S PROBLEMS

Re: "Tougher penalties needed for drug traffickers," by Donna Campbell
(Letters, April 21).

Donna Campbell has found the ideal scapegoat -- drug traffickers. The
problem is that traffickers merely supply a demand and are not to
blame for the social evils Campbell lays at their doorstep.

Laws construct the social circumstance in which we find
ourselves.

Prostitution is not called the oldest profession in the world for no
reason. Prostitution has always been an economic decision.

That some prostitutes decide to destroy their own lives with drugs is
true but blaming inanimate objects like drugs for bad personal
decisions made by an individual is folly.

I'm afraid the only thing that can be done to make Canada safe from
drug traffickers is to have legislators repeal drug prohibition. That
will take the socially constructed scapegoat of drugs out of the picture.

But then politicians would be exposed for their inability to solve
social problems. In fact, finding scapegoats is about all politicians
ever do when addressing social problems. And the people still fall for
the same old political tricks.

Social problems can only be solved through the voluntary co-operation
of the community members. The coercive force of legislatures only have
about a 10,000-year record of failure solving social problems. The
fact that prostitution is still around makes my case.

Chris Buors,

Winnipeg