Pubdate: Tue, 09 Oct 2001
Source: Times Record News (TX)
Copyright: 2001 The E.W. Scripps Co.
Contact:  http://www.trnonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/995
Author: Myron Von Hollingsworth
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1747/a05.html?1743
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

DIMINISHING FREEDOMS

Thanks to Scott Davison for his insightful column. Think of all the 
manpower, resources, time and effort devoted to cannabis prohibition. If we 
devoted those people and resources to the interdiction of terrorists and 
terrorism over the last 10 years we would likely still have a World Trade 
Center and the more than 5,000 souls who perished inside while the drug 
warriors used politics and propaganda and profane amounts of money to lie 
and perpetuate their budgets.

Maybe the corrupt politicians and media are required to adhere to the party 
line of prohibition because law enforcement, customs, the prison and 
military industrial complex, the drug testing industry, the "drug 
treatment" industry, the INS, the CIA, the FBI, the DEA, the politicians 
themselves, et al, can't live without the budget justification, not to 
mention the invisible profits, bribery, corruption and forfeiture benefits 
that prohibition affords them. The drug war also promotes, justifies and 
perpetuates racist enforcement policies and is diminishing many freedoms 
and liberties that are supposed to be inalienable according to the 
Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Myron Von Hollingsworth, Fort Worth, Texas
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