By Alvaro Bardon

Chilean politicians say, "we will not have drug problems in other countries."

That nonsense was based on that prohibition would remove the crime everywhere: mafias, kidnapping, bribery, murder, theft, etc.. But, as we see every day and as we saw earlier with the "Prohibition", drug trafficking and corruption are increasing in Chile, but privately is forgiven and pardoned some, provided that "are ours." The young and poor mothers, jail, though they settled their life. As in the U.S., where most drugs are sought by blacks and Latinos.

We're not like Colombia and Mexico, where the power of groups linked to drug traffickers is amazing. Not as in Bolivia, where his political system is distorted in part by the war against coca invented in Washington and created the Evo and the dead and wounded from the potential civil war and the useless war on drugs.

"But here we are right", they tell us-politicians, although he left prison, crime increases and the houses are grated to fend off thieves who have the protection and political tolerance of those who see themselves as exploited.

Our crime is increased by the classic failure of the drug war. The big business of creating huge underground resources, with armies of gangsters, "sellers", informers, accomplices and varied fights are resolved with bullets. All in secret and without witnesses.

If decriminalize coca and marijuana, like alcohol, snuff and caffeine-and as always was in the history of humanity, would lower the crime, gangs would disappear and the sick could be openly, with a greater likelihood of healing. The problem, doctors say they understand, not those who are MPs, is not at all consumers, but with addicts, who are a matter of health and education, to be addressed by experts in hospitals, homes and schools, in instead of police, judges and mobsters in prison.

Now, with the history of money laundering and the like Bush is arming one side and useless repressive machine that you might not expect. We are returning to buy dollars when crime was already investigating jail without your permission, your deposits and withdrawals. Bye bye bank secrecy and personal freedom. And politicians, including "liberals" applaud. The tontones believe that here we catching money launderers of billions of dollars, who now, wisely, plan operations in this vast country of very deep markets.

All this nonsense "made in USA" and meekly accepted our ruling left just says "In order, sir!" As he once did Salvador Allende with the Soviet Union.

For dignity, we should legalize the production and consumption of drugs, at least the soft, like when we were independent. You could apply a high consumption tax, which discourages, and with those funds to make a policy to reduce drug abuse, corruption and crime, as well as allowing his release, and almost lost only on mere suspicion and accusations.

© Article Drugs, you continue bad policies? AIPE Agency was written in elcato.org by Alvaro Bardon is Professor of Economics at Universidad Finis Terrae and was president of the Central Bank of Chile.