Pubdate: Mon, 3 Aug 2009
Source: El Paso Times (TX)
Copyright: 2009 El Paso Times
Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/formnewsroom
Website: http://www.elpasotimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n721/a01.html
Author: Robert Sharpe

INSPIRING CRIMINALS

Blame the Mexican government for prohibition-related violence? Mexico
is only following U.S. drug-war marching orders.

As long as demand remains constant, U.S. efforts to limit supply only
make drug trafficking more profitable. The drugs in question have
nothing to do with the violence.

It is illegal drug-trade profits, estimated by the United Nations at
$400 billion per year, that inspire criminals. These tremendous
profits would not be possible if not for drug prohibition.

The inevitable response from our leaders will be more money spent on
the war on drugs, which then will lead to increased profitability and
increased violence and death.

We may as well get used to border violence. Until politicians from
both parties recognize the parallels between the drug war and our
disastrous experiment with alcohol prohibition, things only will get
worse.

By lifting drug prohibition, we easily could put an end to the
violence and make it harder for American youth to purchase drugs.

But that might send children the wrong message. The only message I'm
getting from Capitol Hill is that it's better to continue wasting
billions of tax dollars on a counterproductive policy than to admit
you've made a horrible mistake.

Robert Sharpe

Arlington, Va.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake