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WRONG ON DRUGS

Bob Jones may not write silly columns, but he sure makes a habit of writing thoughtless ones.  As usual, he uses ad hominem attacks followed by non sequiturs in trying to dismiss Froma Harrop's sound arguments for drug legalization and regulation.

First, he inexplicably calls her a liberal, then equates her arguments with libertarianism.  Ms.  Harrop correctly argues that the war on drugs has completely failed in its attempt to stop drug use and abuse.  It has been spectacularly successful in creating a huge prison/legal/police/gang industrial complex, and is more responsible for the militarization of our "protect and serve" police forces than the 9/11 attacks.

Mr.  Jones also ignores that Ms.  Harrop makes clear that the violence and crime associated with the illegality of drugs creates much more societal harm than drug use itself.  He completely misses her point regarding supply and demand for drugs, and conveniently forgets that alcohol, tobacco and prescription drugs have been regulated successfully by the government for a long time.

Finally, he assumes that legalization will directly lead to greater drug availability and use, when a plethora of studies have shown exactly the opposite.  How about some thoughtful thoughts rather than kneejerk thoughts for a change?

Michael Parke

East Honolulu