Mac & Cheese

I got a joke for you. What's the difference between the death toll in the war on drugs and the war in Iraq?


Answer: About 6,000


Punchline: The war in Iraq is not greater.


But that's not much of a joke is it? In fact, that is not funny at all. Yet, the fact remains; more people die in the movement of illegal drugs than in fighting a war which has lost its patriotic shimmer. There is a real joke here, though, and that is that the United States Government has not yet deciphered the meaning of that little statistic, which obviously suggests terminating the war on drugs.


John Donne wrote a poem entitled "Death Be Not Proud," which explored the vileness of death and its actions. I believe no other poet has ever touched on the truth of death better; for, the simple "be not proud," illustrates that death is so disgusting that it should shame itself. Many in America would agree that death is not pleasant in any way whatsoever. Yet, here our government ignores the harm the war on drugs is causing, even while it leaves a catastrophic trail of dying.

For the death toll alone, the war on drugs should come on an end. The longer it continues, the more violent drug related deaths will occur. It is time for the government to answer the question of when cost out weighs the benefit. While the charges, arrests, and commandeering increase, so does the body count. How many lives must be lost before legalization becomes reality, if it becomes reality?