IT'S DEMAND FOR DRUGS THAT'S KEY

I recently had a letter to the editor in the Sun-Sentinel that
discussed the fact that prison time is directed at drug sellers and
not users. I submit another salient issue that impacts upon the drug
war's doom.

Vices have no concern for class. Abuse and use have no regard for
race, religion, nor economic status. You cannot direct prison at use
because the rich or those who count would be at peril. These people,
the ones who most influence policy, will not tolerate punishment apt
to affect them, their friends, their friends' children, nor their own.
Prison terms for use are thusly out of the question.

The elite roster of alumni of vices is too long to explore. According
to rumor or fact, Marilyn Monroe, John Belushi, Elvis Presley, Chris
Farley, Judy Garland, etc., are in the club. What about booze? We have
the Betty Ford clinic, don't we? It was erected to deal with the vice
addiction problems of the class discussed. Assume they did not stop
their vice, a prohibition law, requiring prison time, of course, would
have these types of people in the clink. Don't let such nonsense cross
your mind.

Did I read recently about the drug saga of our dear governor's
daughter? He is the governor who appoints the hard-line drug czar. The
continued mentality is locking up drug sellers and other punishment
issues that is having little or no impact on demand. It's her demand
and the demand of millions of others like her that produce the sellers
that ply the drug-selling trade in the first place.

RON WILSON
Plantation