FREEDOM VS. DRUG WAR

It is far too easy to sit back and deride law enforcement's effort to
enforce the nation's drug laws when one's focus is solely on personal
freedom and "my rights."

I am writing in response the Trib's recent articles regarding the
so-called "drug war" (most recently, Ralph Reiland's "Drug war's dirty
deal," Aug. 2).

Yes, our society has a drug problem. As a prosecutor, I have seen that
problem firsthand, along with the devastation it causes individuals
and families.

The drug problem exists because of an insatiable "demand" for illicit
substances. That demand stems from a distorted view of many in this
country of the concept of personal freedom and "my rights."

People such as Reiland and economics professor Jeffrey Miron (who wrote
"Drug War Crimes: The Consequences of Prohibition") attempt to use studies
and statistics to essentially espouse the virtues of personal freedom
without recognizing the concomitant values of personal responsibility and
obligation.

It is far too easy to sit back and deride law enforcement's effort to
enforce the nation's drug laws when one's focus is solely on personal
freedom and "my rights." It is far too easy to sit back and deride the
"war on drugs" when in fact there is no war, but rather an attempt to
enforce the laws as written.

Those who use the term "war" are either liberals or libertarians who
use the term to further their political agendas (legalization of
drugs) or inept politicians (liberal, conservative or libertarian) who
merely want to sound tough so they can retain the power of office.

I have yet to see any serious attempt by politicians or policy-makers
to address the problem of demand.

We need to stop confusing personal freedom with license and begin to
recognize that we all have certain responsibilities and obligations
that would act as a restraint to freedom. For freedom without
restraint is akin to anarchy.

Mark Serge

Greensburg

The writer is a deputy attorney general with the Pennsylvania attorney
general's Drug Strike Force Section.