Drug Laws and Morality
Several recent articles in The Times ranging from the arrests of several members of the Gary, Ind., Public Morals Division Vice Squad (Aug. 24) to the Justice Department’s study which shows that one-third of those convicted of robbery and burglary committed their crimes to obtain money for costly illegal drugs (Aug. 26) illustrate the futility and costs of legislating morality.
The article showing the lack of venereal disease and AIDS at legalized brothels in contrast to the high rate of these diseases among street prostitutes (Aug. 26), where the average city spends a minimum of $12 million investigating and prosecuting prostitution, underscores the waste of taxpayer dollars and the dangerous effects these social policing policies have.
While Americans rejoice at the Soviet people’s push for a freer society, we run away from the scariest situation of all: The complete and total disintegration of our quality of life at home.
We lock up more people per capita than the Soviet Union, China or South Africa, further isolating one segment of our society from another as the violence in Brooklyn between blacks and Jews shows.
Enough is enough! It is time to stop worrying about people living in other countries when our society is falling apart.
MICHAEL CORWIN
Playa del Rey
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