Pubdate: Mon, 13 Aug 2001
Source: St. Petersburg Times (FL)
Copyright: 2001 St. Petersburg Times
Contact:  http://www.sptimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419
Author: John Chase
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1457/a01.html
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1454/a06.html

LOOK TO HISTORY FOR A CLEAR VIEW

Re: Sound, balanced policy lessens illegal drug use and Drug series was 
skewed, letters, Aug. 7.

Both sides will make our eyes glaze over if they base their position on the 
percentage of U.S. kids using certain drugs, then versus now. The database 
is so complex that either side can pick the numbers it likes and ignore the 
rest.

So let's approach from a political direction. Compare the list of countries 
backing away from the U.S. model of repression to the list of those moving 
closer to it. We have Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal, 
Germany, Spain and the Netherlands versus China, Pakistan, Iran, 
Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Russia. Those backing away are all Western 
democracies.

Another approach is from a historical perspective. Read paragraph two of 
the resolution passed unanimously by WONPR (Women's Organization for 
National Prohibition Reform) at their first conference in April 1930:

"We are convinced that National Prohibition, wrong in principle, has been 
equally disastrous in consequences in the hypocrisy, the corruption, the 
tragic loss of life and the appalling increase of crime which have attended 
the abortive attempt to enforce it; in the shocking effect it has had upon 
the youth of the nation; in the impairment of constitutional guarantees of 
individual rights; in the weakening of the sense of solidarity between the 
citizen and the government which is the only sure basis of a country's 
strength."

By 1933 WONPR had 1-million members and Prohibition was dead.

John Chase, Palm Harbor
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager