Pubdate: Sat, 02 Sep 2000
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2000, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Forum: http://forums.theglobeandmail.com/
Author: Christopher Price

DEMAND ASSURES SUPPLY

Oakville, Ont. -- Before sending hundreds of millions of dollars in 
military aid to Colombia, perhaps Bill Clinton should study some basic 
economics (Colombia Not New Vietnam:  Clinton -- Aug. 31). Namely, whenever 
you have a strong demand for a product -- as the United States does for 
illegal narcotics -- someone will be more than happy to supply that 
product. The harder you try to stop them, the more lucrative the supply 
business becomes, and so on.

Even if the Americans succeed in harming the Colombian drug trade, no doubt 
slaughtering thousands of innocent civilians in the process, so what? 
Production will simply move to another equally desperate and impoverished 
nation.

If Mr. Clinton is indeed so gravely concerned about drugs, perhaps he 
should work on reducing the demand that exists for them within the borders 
of his own country instead of bringing failed American policies to another.

Christopher Price
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