Pubdate: Fri, 31 Mar 2000
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2000 The Dallas Morning News
Contact:  P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265
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Author: Mike Zimmershead

THE POLITICS OF THE WAR ON DRUGS

I'm a 26-year-old former Marine Corps sergeant who is leaving the 
Republican Party. While I've seen some honorable things from the Republican 
Congress when they weren't cowering in fear of our "commander in heat," 
they've failed overall. Things like trying to repeal the marriage penalty 
tax positively motivate me, but the Republican Congress' failure to live up 
to the Contract With America and not cutting the federal budget any of the 
last six years detracts from their credibility.

The Republican Party's zealous efforts in enforcing Prohibition 2000, or 
the Failed War on Drugs as you know it, are also forcing me to leave the 
party. Prohibition didn't work with alcohol and anybody with half a brain 
can see the violence and crime prohibition is causing today.

I would be very grateful if somebody could explain what is hoped to be 
accomplished by the GOP war on drugs. The U.S. has 5 percent of the world's 
population and 25 percent of the world's inmates, and half of those inmates 
are nonviolent drug offenders. Drugs are readily available in jail, so what 
is the Republican Party's policy accomplishing other than turning us into 
the United Police States of America?

I've voted the party line since I turned 18 and can no longer do so. I'm 
now a pro-life Libertarian, goodbye.
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