DA BLANCHARD'S COLUMN GETS TO TRUTH ABOUT DRUG CRIMES

Dear Editor: District Attorney Brian Blanchard's column is the first one I
have read that gives the truth about the actual crimes that folks are
convicted for rather than saying that they are convicted for drug offenses.

It's been years of lies by people running for office who tell us that
we can reduce our prison population and even up our racial statistics
if we decriminalize drugs.

In the minds of many of the people I know, the truth is that we
convict most because they are making or selling pot. We really need to
stop telling ourselves these lies because it is stopping us from
addressing the issue. Maybe we could legalize pot, at least for
medical treatment of pain; my point is that the issue is clouded in
lies about prison populations that are untrue but have some truth
weaved in to cloud/mask the intent of people using the lies.

I would guess that most people incarcerated have addictive behaviors
to alcohol, other drugs, sex, anger or food, but the offenses they are
convicted of are usually not directly tied to the drug. The truth
includes the fact that even the most expensive treatment centers have
great recidivism.

I feel Blanchard's article needs reprinting periodically to counter
the continuous series of lies. He also is to be congratulated for his
lonely stance on political corruption. His opponents are our state
Legislature and Supreme Court. Blanchard is our modern day "Fighting
Bob," who seems interested in reform of the corruption we have created
and support.

William P. Rowe

Madison