February 26, 2003

Letter to the Editor:
Published February 20, 2003
Troy Eccentric

Clarification of Position

Dear Editor,

I'd like to respond to some misrepresentations made by Christina Pappageorge and published by your paper.

First, the Libertarian Party does not encourage drug use.  Our position can be stated fairly simply:  The Libertarian Party, far from encouraging drug use, is working to solve America's drug problem.  But rather than advcating policies that have clearly failed, we propose solutions that work.  Drugs are a blight on our society, however, an even greater evil is the War on Drugs.

People who are addicted to drugs have a medical problem, just like people who are addicted to alcohol.  Science has proven that there is a gene that makes people susceptible to addiction.  This gene occurs in about 10% of the population -- a much smaller percentage than the gene that makes women susceptible to breast cancer.  We don't put women in jail for getting breast cancer and we shouldn't put people in jail for having a drug addiction.

The War on Drugs is also responsible for gang violence. When alcohol was illegal, Al Capone and his gang engaged in drive-by shootings with rival gangs.  Now that alcohol is legal again, the alcohol related drive-by shootings have stopped.

The War on Drugs is also the purported reason that honest, law-abiding Americans are reported to the government if they try to buy a car over $5,000 with cash.

Second, the Libertarian Party shares its position of ending the War on Drugs with such notable conservatives as William F. Buckley, Jr., founder of the National Review, the former Republican governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, and many others.  Perhaps Ms. Pappageorge should look to her own party before looking to others.

Indeed, in the last presidential election, both major party candidates, Al Gore and George W.  Bush, admitted to having tried drugs - referring to them as "youthful indiscretions." If they had not been the sons of powerful politicians, both would have ended up in jail.  Perhaps the same is true of the Pappageorge children.

Ms. Pappageorge should have spent her time criticizing George W. Bush who tried drugs rather than Martin Howrylak who has NEVER tried drugs.

Both the Eccentric and Ms. Pappageorge should understand the Libertarian position on this issue better than they have represented, but if either has any questions, they should feel free to contact me or any officer of the Libertarian Party -- we will be happy to explain the position correctly.

Yours In Liberty,
Nathan Allen
Chair,
Libertarian Party of Oakland County