Letter: 'War on drugs' huge industry, bureaucracy

Kudos for your outstanding Sept. 7 editorial “Mexico sees the light on drug battle.”

The so-called war on drugs is a huge industry and huge bureaucracy. Victory in the drug war is not possible, nor is it the goal. Victory in the drug war would mean that the drug war industry and bureaucracy are out of business.

There are basically two types of people who support the so-called war on drugs: Those who make their livelihood from it. This includes politicians and bureaucrats who are probably on the payroll of the drug cartels. (Al Capone had hundreds of politicians and prohibition officials on his payroll.)

Suckers: taxpayers who have bought into the lies and propaganda of the drug-war industry and bureaucracy.

Suckers: who are willing to deny liberty and freedom to others but think that their own liberty and freedom will never be in jeopardy.

Suckers:  who believe that criminalizing a substance will make it go away. 

Suckers: who think that drug prohibition somehow protects children.

Suckers: who think that giving criminals control of dangerous drugs somehow protects children and our society.

Suckers: who think that they live in a free country even thought the United States is the most incarcerated nation in the history of human civilization.

Kirk Muse
Mesa, Ariz.