Pubdate: Fri, 02 Sep 2005
Source: Wall Street Journal (US)
Section: Pg A15
Copyright: 2005 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wsj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487
Author: Fernando J. Gomez

LAWS OF ECONOMICS IN THE WAR ON DRUGS

Mary Anastasia O'Grady has hit the right spot ("Smuggling Drugs? Let Us 
Count the Ways," Americas, Aug. 26) by so clearly stating, "To end drug 
abuse, discourage demand." Once again, somebody is willing to take the 
blinds off, look at the war on drugs from a simpler perspective, and call 
for attention to the demand side of the balance.

For as long as the laws of simple economics continue to be excluded from 
the war on drugs there will be no victory on the horizon. For as long as 
there are millions of dollars to be collected from consumers, the 
agricultural country du jour will find a way to sustain illegal crops, the 
smugglers will come up with more innovative tricks, and the violence and 
suffering will continue in various countries.

Initiatives like Plan Colombia seem ineffective in the light of weak 
statistics on extradition to the U.S. and the never-decreasing land 
extension for coca cultivation. Isn't it time for the U.S. to match foreign 
aggressive efforts with similarly aggressive domestic actions? Shouldn't 
those who believe in a tough hand outside also consider one at home? A 
selfish condemnation of exclusively one side of the trade is contributing 
not only to increasing violence and deteriorating economies in the 
producing countries, but also to spreading the cancer that grows in the 
streets of this country.

Fernando J. Gomez

Chicago 
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman