Pubdate: Thu, 07 Oct 1999
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (Canada)
Copyright: 1999 Victoria Times-Colonist
Contact:  Lynne Williams

AN INSANE WAR

I am not surprised to read that the U.S. locks up it's people at a far
greater rate than the rest of the western world (Why we imprison so many a
mystery even to experts, Oct. 4,1999). 

I have followed the U.S. incarceration rate for many years and believe it
is because of their insane War on Some Drugs. Locking up people who pose no
threat to others is just wrong, but that doesn't seem to stop the U.S. They
don't seem too concerned about right and wrong; legal or illegal is more
important to them.

If we got stupid here and started to lock up our pot users I am sure we
could come closer to U.S. stats, although I am equally sure that isn't a
country most of us could stand to live in. Land of the free? Who lied to
you? There hasn't been much freedom in the U.S. for a long time. 

I worry sometimes that we are brainwashed by them and could get carried
away with drug prohibition again.

It didn't work with alcohol but some people are foolish enough to think it
can work with pot. Their drug war has been a dismal failure and the U.S.
incarceration rate shows that. I hope every day that we go the
decriminalisation route; I must be on drugs!

Lynne Williams
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