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From: david@ztivax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Re: The war on drugs - (nf)
Message-ID: <2400010@ztivax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 19-Sep-86 04:52:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: ztivax.2400010
Posted: Fri Sep 19 04:52:00 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 29-Sep-86 04:39:16 EDT
References: <1066@unido.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:unido:-106600:ztivax:2400010:000:2419
Nf-From: ztivax!david    Sep 19 09:52:00 1986

>For someone who doesn't use drugs, YOU seem to know an awful lot about the
>extent of the drug problem in America.
>
>Signed: A typical, overprotecive father of teenage children,
>
>R. L. (Ron) McDaniels

It is possible to be informed without being a user.  I guess since you
are not a heroin addict, then your opinions are valid?  Or, since
Reagan acts like a deranged addict, we shpould all belive what he says
on the matter?

If you really do care about your kids, then you have nothing to worry
about from drugs, and neither do your kids.  If you care about your
kids, and they know it, then they have sufficient self esteem to avoid
the trap of drugs.

Even if they do fall into drug use, if you care about them, and bust
them (let them get taken to jail for a day or two - it works
wonders!), they will come out of it.

Drugs, like alcohol, are not uniquely nor universally evil.  There is
plenty of historical and current sociological evidence to support the
theory that making more-or-less harmless substances illegal _causes_
crime.  Prohibition is an obvious example, the difference in approach
to Heroin between Europe and America is another.  In America heroin
abuse is a heinous crime, and so the drug is very expensive (the
traffikers must take huge risks) and addicts mst steal to support the
habit.  In Europe it is illegal, but it is viewed as a social problem, 
like unemployment.  Addicts can get it relatively cheaply
(unemployment benefits are enough to keep a luser in drugs), so far
less crime is involved.  This s why European politicians often speak
out against Reagan's drug programs.  They see America's approach
contributes to crime, instead of stopping crime.

I know, everyone's knee-jerk reaction to Heroin is "My God!  That
stuff is horrible!  Evil!  Addicting!  It destroys people!!!"

Well, Dr. John Hopkins was a Heroin addict, and shot up before
surgery.  Tobacco is now claimed to be more addicting than heroin.  I
know some reformed addicts (funny, only in Europe.  In America they
seem so cast out of society, one never meets them).  They get on with
life with no problems.  You would never even know they had used the
stuff, at least after a couple of years.


Keep Toking!  Ooops!  I mean, Thinking!
David Smyth

uucp:
seismo!unido!ztivax!david

P.S.  I don't use drugs, even Asprin.  Beer is another matter...

"References?  you want references?"  - Nixon, Harvard Law School