Pubdate: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 Source: Austin American-Statesman (TX) Copyright: 2001 Austin American-Statesman Contact: P. O. Box 670 Austin, Texas 78767 Fax: 512-445-3679 Website: http://www.austin360.com/statesman/editions/today/ Website: http://www.austin360.com Author: Robert Sharpe Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption) CORRUPTION ABOUNDS Regarding Frio County sheriff convicted of drug conspiracy and stealing federal funds: When are policymakers going to acknowledge the dangerous levels of corruption engendered by the drug war? This corruption reaches the highest levels. Entire countries have been destabilized because of the corrupting influence of traffickers. Like alcohol prohibition in the early 1900s, the drug war is causing tremendous societal harm while failing miserably at preventing drug use. Drug laws fuel organized crime and corruption, which is then used to justify increased drug war spending. It's time to treat all substance abuses -- legal or otherwise -- as the public health problem that they are. ROBERT SHARPE The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager