October 15,151
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The Battalion
ION
Page 9
Tuesday • October 15, 1996
ar on Drugs’ degenerates into nothing more than stupidity
paced the I
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ids.
lason Jackson
Senior
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io said he will haa
that drugs should no longer be
libited and that to continue to do
ill only harm our country,
arm? How can a war against evil
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n’t fear the reefer. Legalize all drugs
ire our country goes down the toilet
many Quaaludes in a drug bust. I
am not advocating
drug use, only the
decriminalization
of all drugs. Why?
Because the war on
drugs has become a
war on America
(fight sound bites
with sound bites),
and the only win
ners are those who
import and sell ille
gal drugs.
Surely the only
people in favor of
i being a captainii
years, we
we have now,” Ni
saw what he did ft
en of this year'siwi
re because
set a goal forhii
was younger-ml
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t now that the Al
es have cornea
mo said he has
li ving forthe$)(f drugs are strung-out users, |
sm2000. i-banging dealers, washed-up hip
going to train(if an( j hethanistic natives of Amster-1
-land of the brave, home of the
lasers. Yet earlier this year, conserv-
magazineThe National Review
I icial motto: hippies suck) de-^M
a spot, and intti| !( | j n seven essays by leading ex-
fond^ memories) ]our country? Because drugs aren’t
They have been demonized and
as a scapegoat by people unwilling
npoint the real problems our soci-
ices — one of which is being a vo-
linority that imposes its moral
son a silent but willing majority,
is the drug war hurting anything?
f? 1 costs are many. Drugs do cause vio-
,However, it doesn’t come from
, on a high; it comes from dealers
other exper» ingfor insanely high profits.
’ 10 ^ atm( T f: any experts estimate the mark-up
on the team. I ero j n anc j coca i ne i s over 5,000 per-
The Economist magazine esti-
Knapp) andSnisitis closer to 20,000 percent. The
>ect to be better,es| illegal drug market is thought to
use of their sum 150 billion a year. This should pro-
aclue as to why dealers so eagerly
ethal force to protect their turf
equals market share equals more
Is and gold chains).
This artificially high price level also
creates crime in another way. A cocaine
addict needs as much as $1,000 a week
to support his habit. It takes an incredi
ble amount of crime to finance such a
habit. Yale law professor Steven Duke
has said the drug war is responsible for
at least half of our serious crime.
The implications of free-market rates
are obvious — crime rates against both
people and property will plummet.
If drugs are legalized, a $l,000-a-
week habit becomes a $20-a-week habit
at free-market rates. Imagine the com
mercials: Come on down to our Mid
night Madness Kilo Blowout Sale — buy
one bong, get three needles free.
Another cost to society is the price we
pay to enforce drug laws. It costs money
to arrest people, be it busting up a crack
house or arresting an elderly person
who grew a single marijuana plant in
the hopes of alleviating arthritis. It
costs to convict people. And it costs to
house people in prisons.
With the amount of resources tied up
in the drug war, it’s no wonder so many
people want it continued. The Drug En
forcement Agency exists solely because
of the war on drugs. Prison builders are
in favor of any policy that provides
them with an endless supply of tenants.
Parole officers and drug-testing compa
nies have much at stake. And of course
the ultimate beneficiaries of anti-drug
laws are the importers and dealers,
since it certainly doesn’t pay to stand
on the street corner selling legal drugs.
There is yet another cost of the drug
war that is often overlooked. Many
politicians have been wondering why
so many children are being raised by
single mothers. Often it’s because their
fathers, over half a million of them, are
in prison — often for nothing more
than the possession of drugs.
This creates a bad situation, espe
cially for minorities.
One-third of the African-American
men in America are in jail or under pe
nal supervision, largely because of drug
laws and the fact that non-whites are
arrested and imprisoned at four to five
times the rate whites are, despite the
fact that most drug crimes are commit
ted by whites.
The benefits of legalization are easy
to see. But will these benefits be offset
by increased usage? Hardly. Granted,
there will be a rise in usage by those
whose only reason for abstaining is a
fear of the law.
But people have other reasons for
not using most drugs, especially hard
er drugs. In a fitness-crazed, appear
ance-based society, who wants to look
like the walking FDA experiment that
answers to the name Keith Richards?
How do we head in the direction of
legalization since it’s impossible for
politicians to call for anything less than
the heads of drug dealers and users
without a worthless opponent labeling
them as pro-drugs or soft on crime?
Politicians should note that it can be
done. Mayor Kurt Schmoke of Balti
more has been re-elected twice despite
the fact that he openly supports re
forms in the direction of legalization.
What we need are more polls letting
politicians know how the silent majori
ty of Americans feels — a 1990 Gallup
reported that only 4 percent of Ameri
cans think the government should ar
rest people who use drugs.
Then all it will take are a few politicians
with the metaphoric guts to initialize de
bate on the legalization of drugs. Momen
tum should take us from there.
The war on drugs is over, and the
good guys lost. But, like Prohibition and
Vietnam, it was a war we should never
have been fighting.
To follow such an unwise policy any
further won’t stop the country from
getting high; it will only guarantee a
hard come-down.
and allCy
DGS
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96
ELMETSM
1-SAT. 12-5 SUN
edia stereotyping shows irresponsibility
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10 p#
Ihe media are liberal and report
everything with a bias. News people
are involved in a conspiracy to
iwash the American people and turn
into socialists.
)ese are two of many comical argu-
tssome conservatives have used in their
Icon the media, and frankly, they are just
ipting to deceive the public,
ne fault of critics is their failure to
ethe distinction between editorials
reporting.
columnist may be liberal and write
nns with a bias. However, his or her col
ls an opinion found on the editorial page. Colum-
are not reporting news facts, but are taking news
trent events and giving readers one perspective,
spotters write news stories based on facts,
rjob is to inform the public of the events tak-
ilace throughout the nation and the world
out injecting their personal views,
snot a hard concept to grasp,
te media are associated with change. Inves-
ive reports seek to uncover injus-
throughout the nation, and
nedia continually challenge
is considered the norm. It is
Use of this push for change
people label the media as lib-
However, this quality of the
Sahas nothing to do with polit-
K moral ideologies,
has to do with something
truth-seeking.
he media seeks the truth, whether
suspicious practices by a local
isentative or Watergate.
Tien a reporter pressures a Re-
ican politician or asks an awk-
1 question, conservative talk show hosts take
^isolated incident and whine about the liberal
Columnist
Jon Apgar
Sophomore
journalism major
bias in the media.
It’s similar to saying Texas A&M is a ter
rible school because one student tells
somebody he or she doesn’t like it.
These same critics fail to pay attention
when a reporter or another representative
of the media pressures or asks an awkward
question of a Democratic politician.
The media do not selectively criticize or
investigate public officials based on their
party affiliation. The media do it because
that official owes the public an explanation.
The media investigated Bill Clinton
when his alleged affairs surfaced. They
questioned him about the Whitewater scandal. They
criticized him when his health care plan failed.
Hillary Clinton went so far as to avoid the me
dia because of the attacks on her by the press.
Should the media be labeled as conservative
because they are critical of Democrats? Of course
not. Reporters were trying to find the truth in what
Clinton was doing. Clinton is a representative of
the public, and the public has a right to know if he
is involved in a potential scandal.
If people would take the time
to do a little research, they would
find journalists are split down the
middle in terms of having a con
servative or liberal philosophy.
These are the facts. Yet some
conservatives continually deny
these facts, and instead focus on
isolated and unrelated incidents
when the media appears to have
a liberal bias. I suppose it is easi
er to blame the media rather than
admit to the facts. •
The stereotype of a liberal media
can be tom to pieces with a little re
search and an ounce of common sense.
Then again, maybe I’m just another biased journalist.
If people would take
the time to do a litde
research, they would
find journalists are
split down the mid
dle in terms of hav
ing a conservative or
liberal philosophy.
Words of wisdom
miss the true mark
Regarding Aaron Cummins’ Oct.
14 Mail Call, “Transgender story
crosses the line”:
How dreadful. Aaron Cum
mins is canceling his subscrip
tion, and to make matters worse,
Jose Diaz de Leon and his 34
friends are unhappy with what
they read in the newspaper.
I guess The Battalion staffers
should quit their jobs and give up
the pursuit of journalism.
There may, however, be a more
reasonable solution. After all, Cum
mins is obviously a wise man and
seemingly knows what news should
be printed and what should not.
Perhaps if Cummins were will
ing, he could serve as a “truth” ad
viser to The Battalion and take on
the mundane responsibility of de
termining what the less-leamed
masses need to know.
Diaz de Leon and his 34
friends (if they’re not too busy
searching for a bike with 34 seats)
could serve as Cummins’ staff.
The only sad fact of the matter is
that Cummins does not meet the
age requirement to serve this
country as president. Why, if
Cummins could be on the ballot,
things would be so much easier.
Alex Walters
Class of ’97
and former Battalion staffer
RS. If Cummins was really writ
ing for cash, I’ll be happy to com
pensate him the 23.8 cents he paid
for Friday’s edition plus the remain
der of the semester. I’ve probably
got a quarter in my couch, although
I’ll want my change.
Transgender story
opens up minds
Regarding MarissaAlanis’Oct. 10
story, “Former cadet discusses trans
gender issues”:
The Battalion served its duty as a
mouthpiece for Texas A&M by
showcasing one of the groups that
all too often falls to ridicule.
There remain many who feel un
comfortable with who they are ex
pected to be or are either unable or
unwilling to come forth to ask ques
tions. That is what “Coming Out
Week” is about: providing a forum
to banish ignorance and fear.
E. Kay Maas
Class of'00
Fans should show
support for team
Regarding Bryan Goodwin’s
Oct. 10 column, “Fair-weatherfans
invade Kyle Field”:
Thank you for the wake-up
call. I have been very disappoint
ed in my fellow Aggies. I was
very enthused to be here my
freshman year. I went to all the
games, all the midnight yells — I
loved the Spirit.
I took a year off and was sad to
see that I am now pinned the ob
noxious one in the crowd. Some
one even told me to shut up be
cause the players couldn’t think.
Regardless, I kept on cheering. I
yell until my voice is no more while
I hear others muttering negative
comments behind me at the games
I can attend.
It’s the negative attitude that is
bringing the Aggies down. What
ever happened to standing
through the good and the bad?
Why do the “fair-weather” fans
even bother going to the games?
It’s a disgrace to the school. Texas
A&M is known for its excellency in
education as well as its enduring
spirit and traditions!
Julienne Kaup
Class of’98
Humor in column
comes only in irony
Regarding Shannon Halbrook’s
Oct. 10 column, “Mars Company
crosses line of decency":
I saw the humor in an almost
half-page spread on M&M’s, but
mainly in the fact that it simply did
a good job expressing the idea that
Aggies lack motivation in intelli
gent thought and causes.
Aggies should be able to pride
themselves in the fact that some
of the most creative and intelli
gent minds of our decade attend
our University, and we should be
ashamed of the fact that such in
tellect is wasted complaining
about cyclists, pedestrians and
M&M’s.
I love and respect Aggie tradi
tions as much as the next student,
but I still find it shameful that the
only things that inspire Aggies to
defend their convictions are fee
increases or a threat to one less
log on Bonfire. Perhaps it’s time
for our leaders at The Battalion to
give us more to think about and
less to laugh about, before their
motto becomes, “Inquiring Minds
Want to Joke.”
Janell D. Davis
Class of’97
The Lady Aggies
deserve support
After reading John Balch’s and
Josh Concklin’s responses to Aja
Henderson’s “Females win the bat
tle of the sexes at A&M” column, I
had a dream. This dream involved
an Aggieland with:
(1) Coed yell leaders that led
yells in support of A&M without
offending their opponents. The
women’s soccer team made a
conscious decision in 1980 to
eliminate the “Beat the Hell Out-
ta” yell because of the social vio
lence problem, and the current
yell leaders would probably end
this tradition if they spent one
hour of community service with
the Twin City Mission shelters.
(2) A Bonfire that burned the
clutter (not trees) that inhibits peo
ple’s lives, as the original Bonfire so
effectively did for the “Ol Ags.”
(3) 70,000 enthusiastic Aggies
watching the nationally ranked
women’s soccer team play on
Kyle Field!
Carol Sullivan
Class of’82, ’86, ’92
The Battalion encourages letters to the
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