Pubdate: Fri, 13 Jul 2001
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2001 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Vaughn A. Carney
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1245/a01.html

MUSICIANS, DRUGS AND GIL SCOTT-HERON

To the Editor:

The musician Gil Scott-Heron (front page, July 10) is but a highly
visible casualty of the unjust and misguided "war on drugs." The Nobel
economist Milton Friedman said it best in a 1972 article, and again on
your Op-Ed page three years ago: 

"On ethical grounds, do we have the right to use the machinery of
government to prevent an individual from becoming an alcoholic or a drug
addict? For children, almost everyone would answer at least a qualified
yes. But for responsible adults, I, for one, would answer no. Reason
with the potential addict, yes. Tell him the consequences, yes. Pray for
and with him, yes. But I believe that we have no right to use force,
directly or indirectly, to prevent a fellow man from committing suicide,
let alone from drinking alcohol or taking drugs."

This system has made a criminal of Mr. Scott-Heron, as it has with so
many others who should enjoy the fundamental right to be left alone.

Vaughn A. Carney, 
Stowe, Vt., July 11, 2001
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