Pubdate: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 Source: Post and Courier, The (Charleston, SC) Copyright: 2011 Betsy Grund Contact: http://www.charleston.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/567 Author: Betsy Grund Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n073/a01.html DRUG WAR MOTIVES Thomas Ravenel might be the wrong spokesman for legalizing drugs; I believe he is. But he does make some good points. The problem with legalizing drugs, though, is the impact it would have on the socio-economic fabric of our state. Drug criminalization keeps lawyers and judges employed. Prison systems provide jobs in South Carolina, including hard hit rural areas. The trickle-down economic benefits are the life-blood of many communities. Branding drug users as felons keeps them from competing with the rest of us for jobs and educational scholarships. Do we really want to divert funding away from such a well-oiled system as the Drug War "industrial complex"? For what possible use? Betsy Grund Wesson Avenue Charleston - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake