LETTERS: DRUG WAR HELPS KEEP PRISONS FULL

To the editor:

Many of our citizens complain about the lack of results that our government has shown in its drug-fighting program.

The positive points that many people miss in evaluating the war on drugs is that (1) it helps greatly in maintaining our position as the industrialized nation with the most people under lock and key, and (2) prisons are big business, providing good-paying construction jobs and a large number of government jobs to operate them plus the ancillary jobs created when any new revenue source becomes available.

Cities and towns that used to turn up their collective noses at a prison being located near them now fight tooth and nail to get this prized source of money.

Liberals may be forced to modify their attitude on abortion, because we need more taxpayers to afford points 1 and 2.

Now why does the word "pyramid" come to mind?

BOB LUCAS

Cape Girardeau, Mo.