Letters to the editor June 30

Nations' drug laws feed crime frenzy

| The New Mexican

6/30/2008 - 6/30/08

The growing aggressiveness, increased violence and growing paramilitary professionalism of the Mexican drug cartels is of great concern to us all. The United States and Mexico are gearing up to answer this with Colombian-style military aggression of their own. We've seen how well these drug wars have not worked in Colombia and other places. Yet true to form, governments and bureaucrats continue to address the problem in the classic definition of insanity; keep doing the wrong thing even harder.

Maybe the reason nothing changes is that lawmakers and politicians may themselves be too deeply invested in the illicit profits. There's only one way to pull the rug out from under the cartels: Legalize it! Let go of the tiger's tail, and what happens? Nothing!

There was no surge of alcoholism after repeal of Prohibition. Addictive personalities will always find something to abuse, but the money we save could be put into education, prevention and finding ways to give employment and meaningful lives to the people who fall through the cracks into addiction.

Hollis Wood
Santa Fe

Build that fence
The quickest way to build a very necessary fence between two nations, such as Mexico and the United States, is first to build a fence around Washington, D.C. This fence could be used to exclude those members of the U.S. Congress who want Canada, Mexico and the United States to form a new national mob of fascist-communists. The remainder of Congress could then finance the fences between nations quickly, and re-establish our freedom and liberty.

Of course, we would need to re-educate George Bush, but he's a nice guy. If the above can't save us, let's vote the bad guys out.

Jack Conant, Ph.D.
Tesuque

Prevent pardons
A cabal utilizing media, fear-mongering and loathing bullied us into an unremitting, horrific war with tragic loss of thousands of innocent lives, unrestrained eavesdropping, immoral torturing, subversion of our Constitution, war profiteering, loss of trillions of dollars and neglect of America.

Our democracy, economy and environment are sliding into hell. As the end of the Bush coup d'état nears (barring an October surprise), the "Power of the Presidential Pardon" looms.

The president might forgive all the traitors who subverted our Constitution, including himself. Our prisons are overcrowded with minorities who are charged with private, individual acts (i.e. drugs), yet the highest crime in our land, treason, goes unpunished. Claiming unlimited executive privilege to avoid subpoenas is illegal.

Our legislators have a sworn duty to begin investigations into the numerous crimes of this corrupt, conscienceless administration, thereby legally preventing pardons. Patriotism requires dissent in the face of fascism.

Gary Reynolds
Santa Fe

Start over again
When they have the time, Santa Fe County Commissioners and county road supervisors should drive out — in their own vehicles — and travel up and down Camino Valle in Eldorado. Between U.S. 285 and Piñon Road, much of it is driveable only at two miles to three miles per hour.

I was advised more than two years ago that the county was to reconstruct the intersection of Piñon and Camino Valle. Grading is a waste of time and money.

Jim Dickens
Santa Fe

Birdie's back
We wanted to thank the person who found our cockatiel and took her to the Santa Fe Animal Shelter. They were taking excellent care of her, and she is now back at home. My children and I thank all who were involved in her recovery.

Paul B. Cooley
Santa Fe

Where's Toby?
"Toby," one of the best, if not the best, mail carriers in Santa Fe, has been missing from our area for a couple of weeks. With the cost of stamps going up, more people using the Internet to pay bills and services getting weaker, we miss his prompt and efficient service. We thank him for being there for us.

Gerry Bushrow
Santa Fe