It actually increases real crime as the small percentage of individuals addicted to hard drugs turn to theft, prostitution, etc. in order to fund their habits. Marijuana should be legalized in a manner similar to alcohol and taxed. History has shown that prohibition has never worked and never will. The day before I wrote this position piece I heard of a woman beaten by her husband who is afraid to involve the police due to fear that he will kill her. Less than half of the murders in this country are solved.
Child abuse is at a dangerously high level.
Education reform is essential. I have the ultimate respect for the good teachers in the public school systems. I believe that they are the best around. However, parents have the right to decide where their children are to be educated. In fact, good teachers will fare better in non-profits without the overhead of ridiculous education bureaucracies than they do at present.