Pubdate: Thu, 28 Aug 2003
Source: Tomahawk, The (TN)
Copyright: 2003 The Tomahawk Online
Contact:  http://www.thetomahawk.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1977
Author: Alan Randell

SERVE PEOPLE, NOT POLITICIANS

Dear Editor:

Here we go again. Another load of propaganda served up by the media to 
shore up public support for drug prohibition, a Hitler-like diversionary 
tactic implemented by government to entertain the majority by crushing an 
innocent minority, those who use or sell certain drugs. It is propaganda 
because, as usual, you allow no input from those of us who oppose these 
ridiculous laws.

First things first, why do governments ban certain drugs?

It can't be to protect users because banning a drug always leads to more 
deaths amongst users, not fewer, because of adulterated drugs. My wife and 
I became well acquainted with that aspect of government policy when we lost 
our 19-year-old son to street heroin in 1993. The harm argument is 
irrelevant in any event because two of our more harmful drugs, alcohol and 
tobacco, are legal.

It can't be to reduce the crime associated with drugs because banning a 
drug always gives rise to more crime than when the drug is legally available.

So what else could it be other than a program to distract attention away 
from more important issues by conducting a brutal pogrom, first to 
ostracize and then to destroy the innocent few who ingest or sell certain 
drugs?

How did the politicians win our approval, or at least our acceptance, of 
such a manifestly evil crusade?

BECAUSE THE MEDIA SUPPORT IT.

First, you immerse us in a torrent of "objective" accounts of the mayhem 
without allowing your readers to hear the voices of the victims or of those 
like me who oppose these laws. Gradually we are persuaded "they only have 
themselves to blame". We shrug and turn the page.

Second, you never miss an opportunity to allow those who profit from the 
drug laws (cops, drug experts, prosecutors, politicians) to tell their 
stories while allowing only the occasional letter from those who oppose the 
law. This particular item is just one example among many of our media's 
penchant for serving up propaganda masquerading as news when it comes to 
promoting drug prohibition.

Why do the media support a brutal government pogrom like our drug laws? I 
can only surmise that tragedy, suffering and war sell more newspapers and 
lead to higher TV ratings than happiness, contentment and peace.

Abraham Lincoln was wrong. You don't have to fool all the people all the 
time in order to oppress the people. All that is required is for the 
majority to be fooled all the time, and sadly, that task is child's play 
once you have the media behind you.

Please begin to serve the people instead of our gutless politicians and 
venal drug cops.

Alan Randell

Victoria, BC, Canada
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens