THE IRREPRESSIBLE LAW ...

Your Jan. 27 editorial "Our Border Brigades" points out that despite
all the money and effort expended by the government, illegal
immigrants continue to come. The demand for their labor is high and
the number of Americans willing to take those jobs is low. The law of
supply and demand is impossible to defeat.

Consider the parallel between this situation and the drug trade. The
money spent in the attempt to interdict drugs dwarfs the money spent
to stop illegal immigration. Despite that, drugs are cheaper and more
available than ever. When we realize that perhaps this effort and
money should be spent educating people about the dangers of drugs and
rehabilitating those who are on drugs we may have a chance to end this
problem. The law of supply and demand is impossible to defeat.

George H. Bernstein

Portland, Maine