WHAT THE DRUG WAR COSTS

Major kudos to Diane Carman for her outstanding column, "Drug war won't
bring even moral victories" (Jan. 30). I'd like to add that, in 1969, the
federal drug enforcement budget was $65 million. Last year it was $19.2
billion, greater than a 295-fold increase. (These figures don't include the
state and local costs.)

If the price of coffee, which sold for 25 cents a cup in 1969, had increased
at the same rate, coffee would now sell for almost $75 a cup - more with
sales tax.

What have we received for our so-called "investment" of about $1 trillion in
the past 30 years? Absolutely nothing. Nothing except the largest
prison-industrial complex in history. Thanks to our drug war, one out of
every four prisoners in the world sits in a U.S. jail or prison.

Thanks to the drug war, the word "liberty" does not rightfully belong on any
U.S. coins or monuments.

KIRK MUSE

Mesa, Ariz.