UP FRONT THIS WEEK: The cost of the War on Drugs ... and whether it's been a failure. These are two of the big issues facing the country today and yet neither the Democrats nor Republicans are talking about them. The only people who have been are the speakers at the Shadow Convention.
Click here to read our New York Times op ad: http://www.tompaine.com/opad/
TomPaine.com's Shannon Hall tells the story of Gloria, the ex-girlfriend of a drug dealer who falsely implicated her in his crimes as part of a plea bargain. So she had to go to jail. Click here to read her astonishing story of injustice as an unwitting victim of the drug war. http://www.tompaine.com/opinion/2000/08/09/index.html
How much does the drug war cost, in dollars and cents? You will not believe the price. Click here to find out. (Source: Lindesmith Center.) http://www.tompaine.com/features/2000/08/09/index.html
Kelly Virella brings you other statistics: the number of people imprisoned for non-violent drug offenses. This number is hard to believe too. http://www.tompaine.com/features/2000/08/08/1.html
Micah Sifry explains how big corporations manipulate the political system to win money for the War on Drugs at the expense of proven treatments to cure drug abuse. http://www.tompaine.com/features/2000/08/08/4.html