Readers' Forum: June 22, 2009

June 22, 2009 12:12 am

— Perhaps it’s time to end failed drug war
I’ve been following the ongoing debate in the opinion section of the Tribune-Star concerning the legalization of marijuana.
It seems as though we as Americans suffer from memory loss, or it’s possible that there are those among us who don’t know American history. He who knows not history is destined to repeat it.
On Jan. 16, 1920, the Volstead Act was enacted. The Volstead Act, also known as The National Prohibition Act, banned the manufacture and sale of alcohol. Prohibition became known nationally as “The Noble Experiment” and an experiment it was. The result of the experiment was complete and total failure. As a matter of a fact, Prohibition was one of the most monumentally failed social experiments in the history of America.
Organized crime grew on an unprecedented scale as a result of the profits made by manufacturing, importing and selling illegal booze, or “hooch” as it was sometimes called. Murder rates in major metropolitan areas skyrocketed and crime in general became rampant. It is often argued that more people consumed alcohol after it was prohibited than when it was legal.
In the latter months of 1933 Prohibition was repealed. Why? Because it failed. It didn’t work. The “Noble Experiment” failed.
Now let’s look at the present. The war on drugs has been launched. What are the results? Organized crime, fueled by ever-increasing drug profits, has flourished. Murder rates in major metropolitan areas have increased dramatically. Crime in general is out of control. Jails and prisons are full and over-crowded. The United States has more of its citizenry incarcerated than any other industrialized nation. Let freedom ring!
So what is the, or shall I say “a”, plausible solution? Legalization?
It makes sense that if the huge profit margins are removed from the product(s) the supply will undoubtedly decrease. Jail and prison populations will decrease on a massive scale along with associated costs of keeping people incarcerated.
I’m not in any way saying that I advocate the use of drugs, or alcohol for that matter. However, prohibiting the manufacture, distribution, and sale of these various substances in an effort to halt the use of them, has and will continue to fail miserably.
Is it possible that rehabilitation, education, greater parental efforts, increased community involvement, and spiritual growth are factors that would drastically reduce the misuse of drugs in America?
The “war on drugs” has in the past, and continues to fail.
The use of drugs and alcohol are merely symptoms of a much larger problem. Maybe we, as a society, should acknowledge the root of the problem and help to remove it, rather than make a clumsy effort at dealing with the symptoms.
— Alex J. Derry
Terre Haute

Check townships on vehicle registrations
While attempting to use the convenient license registration renewal terminal at the BMV, I noticed that the township listed on my registration form was incorrect.
I live in Prairie Creek Township. One renewal listed me in Fayette, the other in Harrison. I asked the check-in lady if that were significant. She informed me that the wheel tax we all pay is tied to the township on the registration form.
I have been paying for potholes in Fayette and Harrison townships. I had her fix it so I could pay for my own potholes in Prairie Creek Township. I checked the prior year’s registrations, and they were also incorrect.
Would you like to go out and check yours, too? I’ll wait. OK, time’s up. Are yours goofy, too?
— Terry Keaton
Terre Haute