Source: Canberra Times (Australia) Contact: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/ Pubdate: Sun, 20 Sept 1998 Author: Geoffrey Abbott, Conder PM IS TO BLAME FOR INCREASED DRUG USE DIDN'T little Johnny Howard get his dander up when the Opposition suggested he was responsible for the increase in drugs (and decrease in price) of drugs on the street. Pity the ABC interviewer messed it up a bit and it wasn't properly pursued. Let's do some sums. John Howard and his economic-rationalist mates cut funding to the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Customs Service and of course all other government departments and agencies. The criminals, on the other hand, unfettered by conscience and legislation and aided by the decrease in personnel attempting to reduce their illegal trade, are having a field day. Because there are now more drugs freely availab1e, the price has come down to such an extent that I believe it's cheaper to buy heroin than marijuana. This, of course, leads to more people experimenting with harder drugs and the obvious tragic consequences when things go wrong. John Howard is indeed responsible for the increase in the drug trade because he chose to cut funding to those very organisations whose job it was to reduce it. As for his "Just say no" campaign, it, like Mr Howard is a relic of the past. Hold your head up Mr Howard, it would be hard to find a prime minister who was more divisive, more mean-spirited and has done less for the country. - --- Checked-by: Don Beck