Pubdate: Mon, 22 May 2006
Source: Times Union (Albany, NY)
Copyright: 2006 Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation
Contact: http://www.timesunion.com/forms/emaileditor.asp
Website: http://www.timesunion.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/452
Author: William P. McMillen

CONGRATULATIONS TO SOARES FOR SPEAKING OUT

It would seem like the only thing more dangerous than possessing 
small quantities of drugs is speech designed to provoke an 
intelligent discussion about drug policy.

You won't get that from Albany Police Chief James Tuffey or Albany 
County Sheriff James Campbell or, I'm afraid, from the Times Union. 
The mere suggestion that the violence inherent in drug prohibition 
has parallels to that of alcohol prohibition, or that the prohibition 
inflates the cost of drugs, which leads to the commission of crime 
for their purchase, immediately brings forth denunciation of the speaker.

I wonder how many prominent and influential people are silenced on 
this issue, intimidated by the political correctness and the hysteria 
over the fearful dangers to their children.

Wake up! The drug war is a failure; the very things you fear are here 
and they are made worse, driven by the "war on drugs."

I'm sure thousands of people know this be true, but unless hundreds 
speak out, the dozens with the courage to do so will be drowned out 
by those who fear an honest debate.

Congratulations to David Soares for speaking out. May he not be intimidated.

WILLIAM P. McMILLEN, Libertarian Party Chairman, Albany Chapter
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom