[Moonman62]

I used to be a prosecutor. I have to say, the "war on drugs" is just another government boondoggle.

Since you want to make a point of your personal creditentials, what do you do now? Do you smoke dope, or use any other illegal drugs?

It's too bad we can't get such answers from the police chief.

[There You Go Again]

I now work for a corporation in human resources. I never use drugs except for caffeine and some wine now and then. I ran the Chicago marathon last weekend. I think drug abuse is horrible and costly..... I spent a lot of time putting people away whose only crime was to be in possession of some substance. I love Rush Limbaugh but he has never spent a day in jail for his possession "of some substance". (NOR SHOULD HE EVER BE PUT IN JAIL.) But, I don't think a bum on the south side of Chicago should either. Cigarettes are legal but we have created a big social stigma against smoking....I say legalize drugs and create a big social stigma against their use....but, at the end of the day, people must be free to choose their path...

[henderson field]

The War On Drugs was a case of the cure being worse than the disease.
More murders and thefts were created by it than anything else.
It was like a business growth plan for government.
If someone wants to get illicit drugs now, they can.
So, in what way has the War On Drugs been constructive?
When the Depression hits, we're going to have to jetison it because it's too expensive to afford, and we'll have to take away the pensions of the enforcers.

[ccmay]

Since you want to make a point of your personal creditentials, what do you do now? Do you smoke dope, or use any other illegal drugs?

I am tired of hearing you prohibitionists make the instant accusation that anyone objecting to the vigorous prosecution of the War on Drugs must be a user himself. It's not only unfounded and insulting in most cases, but excuses and perpetuates real evil. This is the kind of thinking that leads to witch hunts.

Such foolish ad-hominem arguments could be used to advocate any injustice in the name of drug suppression. What's to stop me saying that we need a new national police force of ten million men to perform weekly house-to-house warrantless searches, and stop people on the street for random blood samples, and if Moonman objects, why he must be one a them thar dopers himself.

This kind of lunacy reached its apogee among the followers of Lyndon LaRouche, who used to advocate execution for anyone publicly advocating drug legalization. Do you want to be among such company?

I could as easily argue that anyone favoring the War on Drugs must be a crooked cop or drug smuggler whose income depends on drugs remaining illegal. Are you now, or have you ever been, a drug dealer, Mr. Moonman? The question and the insinuation are every bit as legitimate as your question to There You Go Again.

-ccm