The War on Drugs

A poll was released on October 2 that indicated 3 out of 4 Americans belive the War on Drugs is failing.

Three in four likely voters (76%) believe the U.S. war on drugs is failing, a sentiment that cuts across the political spectrum – including the vast majority of Democrats (86%), political independents (81%), and most Republicans (61%). There is also a strong belief that the anti-drug effort is failing among those who intend to vote for Barack Obama (89%) for president, as well as most supporters of John McCain (61%).

When asked what they believe is the single best way to combat international drug trafficking and illicit use, 27% of likely voters said legalizing some drugs would be the best approach -- 34% of Obama supporters and 20% of McCain backers agreed.

This "war" has been a way for politicans to fearmonger their way through elections and to funnel money through the industrial criminal system we now have in this nation once founded upon principals of freedom. 

Compare this snippet from the Orlando Sentinel just a few days ago:

In Orlando, officers seized seven AK-47s and similarly high-powered AR-15s in 2003. Orange County deputies seized eight that year. Four years later, those numbers jumped more than 400 percent -- 31 in Orlando, 48 in the county. Total for the five years: 321.

321 assault rifles seized in Orange County, Florida.  I remember while living in New Orleans seeing news footage of a man with an AK-47 attacking a carwash for unknown reasons.  It is frightening to think there are people running around with that kind of firepower and a likely compulsion to use it.  The police in the article say that 9 times out of 10, a gun is involved in a drug arrest.  As we continue to fail in the War on Drugs, it seems our criminals are becoming better armed.  

Much like the War on Terror, this is something that I think we're just going to continue bumbling our way through, unable to really address the root of the problem or treat the symptoms.