Pubdate: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 Source: Santa Barbara News-Press (CA) Copyright: 1999 Santa Barbara News-Press Contact: http://www.newspress.com/ Author: Michael Conner POINTLESS SET OF WAR GAMES The country has been hearing about this War on Drugs for some time now. Cause and effect, etc., etc. While prison population grows to the point of mass unhealthful overcrowding, there exists inside prison walls little if any rehabilitation services. And as the desire to build more prisons grows and is justified by what we watch through the media, statistics show that violent crime is at an all time low. We have built more prisons from the taxpayers money I assume, and our colleges and universities have been at a stand-still in growth. I feel education might be a solution to this War on Drugs, starting at the grade school level on up, but the media could, if that concerned, start commercial programming to influence those who are glued to the TV set most of their lives. And while we're at it, we could use the military, who are guarding this country, as military bases are closed (because of Cold War politics) and get the fire going on this drug-war issue. This isn't a War on Drugs, it's a pointless set of war games. And we still don't know the rules or how to win. Michael Conner, Santa Maria - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D