{news} The war over there vs. The war over here

[Clifford Thornton]

The war over there vs. The war over here



Most Nutmeggers have always opposed the Bush regime's illegal 
Iraq war, seeing through the false rationales for it, and understanding
that it is ultimately a power-grab for control of middle 
eastern petroleum -- supposedly the most valuable military-strategic 
prize in the history of the world.

However, we in our state, and we in our country, are still not taking 
a close enough look at another fantastically-expensive war -- more 
costly in the number of human lives adversely affected than the Iraq 
boondoggle. This, of course, is the never-ending Drug War, the 
so-called 'War on  Drugs' that began with the Harrison Narcartics Act 
in the early part of the 20th century, and increased greatly with the 
inception of the Rockefeller drug laws in New York state, the crack 
cocaine scare of the early 1980s, federal 'mandatory minimum' 
sentences, and 'three strikes you're out' laws.

The authorities, in effect, have gone into the poorest areas, taken help away,
turned them into battlefields, and put a tempting basket of goodies 
in the middle of the street, seducing children who see no hope in their 
futures. This big bright basket of drug dealing falsly offers youngsters the 
things they probably otherwise would not attain. Then we tell them they must 
not touch, and have imposed terrible penalties for doing so. It is as 
if we deliberately have set these traps to destroy them.

The stereotype of a young, dangerous minority criminal has done 
incalculable damage to race relations. The fear shown by whites 
has caused a backlash of loathing from young blacks. The real
enemy is displaced.

Too many people value security more than privacy or freedom. 
The image of violent young minority males has exacerbated racism 
and interracial distrust. The drug war has pitted individuals against 
one another. Through our drug control strategies we have taught 
an entire generation to be abusive and disrespectful of the rights of others!

The so-called 'peace dividend' after the end of the cold war 
was immediately diverted to the drug war. Funds that should 
be used for urban renewal and educational programs are used 
to fight the drug war and terrorism, while schools literally crumble 
around our children.

The drug war is the insidious cause of this cultural retrogression. 
It has succeeded because we the people have embraced the war. 
Deliberate or not, the drug war is an ingenious 'divide and 
conquer' scheme. It is so brilliant that most people support it 
as it tears society, freedom, and democracy apart.


This country has had almost a century of drug prohibition, four decades
of the war on drugs, yet there are more drug at cheaper prices on our streets than
ever before and we have spent hundreds of billions of dollars on interdiction alone.
Those who insist on a continuation of 21st century Prohibition are 
directly agreeing that both production and distribution of drugs be 
left in control of criminals, funding terrorists and cartels.  Drug use 
should be handled as a public health issue, not one of crime.  Citizens 
must carefully consider the policy options in this complex issue.  If 
they endorse and lend their support to advocacy efforts to end the 
destructive and counterproductive "War on Drugs", change will happen 
for the benefit of all of us.

Those calling for an end to drug Prohibition are primarily non-users of 
illicit drugs.  We are parents and grandparents - serious citizens who 
want to see the street dealers shut down for good.  We see the drug 
war as mean-spirited.  We believe that risky drugs should be licensed 
and dealers regulated, just as is currently done with alcohol, tobacco 
and pharmaceuticals.



However, my dear friends and neighbors, it is long past time to legalize, 
medicalize and decriminalize other controlled substances. Our society is consuming
itself and its economic output with a futile 'drug war' that will have no end,
but which like the Iraq fiasco also creates huge vested interests -- people 
who profit from it.  We don't need all the 'private contractor' companies 
(who now outnumber our troops in Iraq) to do our government's work.  
We should oppose a new prison, the one they are now talkin about building
in Meriden. The Corrections Department wants to increase capacity by 
758 prisoners but would need $30 million more per year, at $40,000 per
prisoner. We don't need another prison, we don't need the huge criminal 
INjustice, prison-industrial complex to imprison, stigmatize, and even 
enslave huge segments of our population at home.

Like the Iraq war the drug war is meant to be waged not won.


Clifford Wallace Thornton, Jr. 

Efficacy
PO Box 1234
860 657 8438
Hartford, CT 06143
efficacy at msn.com<mailto:efficacy at msn.com>
www.Efficacy-online.org<http://www.efficacy-online.org/>
 
"THE DRUG WAR IS MEANT TO BE WAGED NOT WON"

Working to end race and class drug war injustice, Efficacy is a non profit
501 (c) 3 organization founded in 1997. Your gifts and donations are tax
deductible
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