REAL-WORLD LAWS

Marv Dorsey (Oct. 6 Pulse) refers to Eric J. Andersen (Oct. 1 Pulse) as
"misguided" and says he (Mr. Dorsey) has been anointed to "provide the real
truth." Unfortunately, Mr. Dorsey appears to make statements designed to
elicit emotional responses as opposed to presenting actual facts. Mr.
Dorsey labels Holland's policies "ultra-liberal," which appears to indicate
that only someone to the far left could support Andersen's ideas on
legalization of drugs. This does not take into account why William F.
Buckley Jr., a well-known conservative, says he would legalize marijuana
immediately.

Finally, Mr. Andersen states that "we should shift our focus from law
enforcement and incarceration to education and treatment," which, Mr.
Dorsey says, insults law enforcement.

But law enforcement is made up of individuals who don't all agree. For
example, long-time Sheriff Bill Masters of San Miguel County, Colo., said
demand for drugs was key and added that the quasi-military strategy of
attacking the drug supply has failed to stop the problem. Not only does he
not sound insulted - he appears to agree with Mr. Andersen.

Laws should be judged according to their real-world results, not their
desired benefits. There is a mountain of information on this subject, and
each of us owes it to himself and his children to reach an informed opinion
based on all the facts.

Greg Adams, Omaha