Pubdate: Tue, 25 Jun 2002
Source: Times-Picayune, The (LA)
Copyright: 2002 The Times-Picayune
Contact:  http://www.nola.com/t-p/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/848
Author: Warren Hart

DON'T END DRUG WAR QUIETLY

Cynthia Tucker says it's a "good time for Congress to quietly end the war 
on drugs" (Other Opinions, June 22).

No. Don't let them quietly end the war. If the war is not the very best 
possible approach to the problem, then let them all hang for all the misery 
inflicted on citizens of this country and of the world.

I don't know what the best approach is to the drug problem. I don't know 
that the Constitution gives the government officials the authority to do 
what they're doing. But after all these years of drug war, there has to be 
some better way.

Legislators must be positive that they have the best approach. They must be 
so sure of their position that they should be willing to enact further 
legislation to punish themselves if it is ever demonstrated that the 
approach they are responsible for is not better than the opposite or if 
their laws exceed the powers given by the Constitution.

But don't let them quietly back out of it.

Make them be responsible for either the glory or the shame.

Warren Hart

New Orleans
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