DRUG WAR A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY

I'm writing about the thoughtful letter "Money For Drug War Wasted On
Prisons" (April 29). I'd like to add that in 1969 the federal drug
enforcement budget was $65 million. Last year it was $19.2 billion.
(These figures don't include the cost of incarceration nor the state
and local costs). The $19.2 billion is greater than a 295-fold increase.

In 1969, coffee sold for 25 cents a cup. If the price of coffee had
increased at the same rate as our drug enforcement budget, coffee
would now sell for almost $75 a cup. More than $75 with sales tax.

What have we received for our so-called investment? Nothing. Drugs are
just as available today as they were in 1969.

In 1969, methamphetamine was not at record levels and epidemic
proportions throughout the United States. It is today.

In 1969, the United States had fewer than 200,000 total prisoners.
Today, thanks mostly to our counterproductive war on drugs, we have
more than 2.1 million prisoners.

Even though we have fewer than 5 percent of the world's population, we
have more than 25 percent of the world's prisoners. In other words,
one out of every four prisoners in the world is locked in an American
jail or prison.

This deserves our shame and outrage -- certainly not our
pride.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.