Source: Edmonton Sun (Canada)
Contact:  http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonSun/
Pubdate: Sun, 06 Sep 1998
Author: Pat Dolan
Comment: Parenthetical remarks by the Sun editor, headline by hawk

KIM BRADLEY'S report, "Top cops want bucks to fight organized crime" (Aug.
25) is another example of how that unholy trinity of police, press and
politicians co-operate to bamboozle the public.

I wonder who stands to gain by spreading scare stories like this one?
Obviously, the police - to pad the budget.

And the press - nothing better to sell newspapers with than a nice, juicy,
police-backed scare story.

And the politicians - enough already!

All these articles have one thing in common: the common-sense solution is
never mentioned.

Andy Scott knows what to do: "Tackle the problem with a nationally
organized police force set up to hit them where it hurts the most - in the
pocketbook." Well, why aren't the bikers shooting each other for control of
the liquor trade?

Obviously, because the government controls the liquor trade.

If Scott and the police were really concerned, they could put the gangs out
of business tomorrow by taking control of the drug trade.

It would put a real dent in their pocketbooks. It might involve having to
admit society's regulators were wrong.

As we know, presidents and politicians would rather start or continue a war
than do that. So don't look for this one to end any time soon.

Pat Dolan

(Sadly, the drug trade would find a way to get around the rules.)

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Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson