Hey kids, it's time for another glimpse into my imaginary political career. Before Jesse Jackson Jr. became the congressional representative for Illinois' 2nd District, the office was held by Mel Reynolds. Mel had a little problem in that he liked to touch underage girls. Mel went to prison. With the congressional seat vacant, I began to plot my own ascension to power. There were several problems with this idea, but my biggest barrier was a constitutional one: I was seventeen at the time.

Nevertheless, I began to plan my campaign strategy. I would take my message directly to the people; a megaphone and a soapbox would be my accoutrements. My cause célèbre? The drug war.

It was a plan destined to fail as poor urban neighborhoods are famously conservative when it comes to crime and other social issues. However, these same areas are disproportionately affected by the collection of ineffective laws and misguided policies that characterize our response to the problem of narcotics.

The shocking violence perpetrated by Mexican drug cartels near the border has brought the issue to light again. Earlier this year, the Secretary of State acknowledged that the U.S. shares "a co-responsibility" for the violence that is decimating Mexico¹.

Her statements however, do not go nearly far enough. Our drug control policies have given us more addicts, more criminals, more violence and more narcotics at higher prices. If I may, Sec. Clinton, I've prepared a sentence for you which will effectively sum up the situation:

Our four decades long policy of criminalization and interdiction² has been an unmitigated failure.