/Users/andrea/_magisterarbeit/korpus/clean/trainkorpus/9/file_182k.html NN ----------------------------------------- : EDITORIAL NN . SENT Corrupting VVG the DT Morals NNS of IN a DT Nation NN . SENT Feb NN . SENT 18 CD , , 2000 CD . SENT http NN . SENT www JJ . SENT stopthedrugwar NN . SENT org NP wol NP 125 CD . SENT html NN editorial NN . SENT Adam NP J NP . SENT Smith NP , , Associate NP Director NP , , ajsmith NN drcnet NN . SENT org NP . SENT As IN the DT corruption NN scandal NN involving VVG the DT Los NP Angeles NP police NN department NN widens VVZ and CC deepens VVZ , , it PP is VBZ essential JJ that IN our PP$ leaders NNS recognize VVP and CC confront VVP the DT issue NN of IN our PP$ crumbling VVG system NN of IN justice NN . SENT That DT system NN , , and CC the DT institutions NNS charged VVN with IN maintaining VVG it PP , , must MD have VH the DT full JJ confidence NN of IN the DT citizenry NN if IN the DT rule NN of IN law NN is VBZ to TO be VB maintained VVN . SENT Placing VVG the DT integrity NN of IN the DT justice NN system NN at IN risk NN , , especially RB at IN the DT level NN of IN risk NN inherent JJ in IN a DT policy NN of IN unenforceable JJ prohibition NN , , is VBZ nothing NN less JJR than IN a DT total JJ abdication NN of IN responsibility NN on IN the DT part NN of IN our PP$ legislators NNS and CC executives NNS . SENT . SENT When WRB the DT rule NN of IN law NN ceases VVZ to TO exist VV that DT is VBZ , , when WRB the DT confidence NN of IN the DT public NN in IN the DT persons NNS and CC the DT institutions NNS charged VVN with IN enforcing VVG the DT law NN and CC dispensing VVG justice NN is VBZ shattered VVN the DT government NN itself PP becomes VVZ illegitimate JJ . SENT Where WRB but RB to TO the DT rule NN of IN law NN can MD a DT nation NN turn NN for IN order NN . SENT Where WRB but RB to TO the DT rule NN of IN law NN can MD a DT people NNS turn VVP for IN assurance NN of IN the DT continuation NN of IN civil JJ society NN . SENT To TO which WDT but CC the DT institutions NNS of IN the DT law NN can MD one CD generation NN point NN in IN teaching VVG the DT next JJ what WP can MD be VB expected VVN , , and CC what WP will MD be VB expected VVN of IN them PP as IN they PP move VVP through IN their PP$ lives NNS . SENT . SENT Do VV we PP overstate VV the DT case NN . SENT Do VV we PP over RB dramatize VV the DT impact NN of IN the DT cancer NN that WDT has VHZ metastasized VVN in IN the DT LAPD NP . SENT When WRB sworn JJ officers NNS of IN the DT law NN agents NNS of IN the DT state NN frame VV the DT innocent JJ , , beat VV , , maim VV , , and CC kill VV , , steal VV , , cheat VV , , and CC lie VV , , disregard VV the DT Constitutional JJ foundation NN of IN society NN can MD the DT root NN causes VVZ of IN the DT problem NN be VB responsibly RB ignored VVN . SENT Are VBP we PP to TO believe VV , , blindly RB , , that IN this DT scandal NN is VBZ in IN any DT sense NN an DT isolated JJ incident NN . SENT Or CC would MD we PP be VB better RBR served VVN to TO view VV this DT as IN a DT symptom NN of IN a DT much RB more RBR widespread JJ and CC malignant JJ disease NN one NN that IN we PP fail VVP to TO ameliorate VV at IN peril NN to TO the DT life NN of IN the DT republic NN . SENT . SENT Early RB in IN the DT 20 CD th NN century NN , , alcohol NN prohibition NN , , that WDT so RB called VVD noble JJ experiment NN , , had VHD a DT similar JJ corrupting VVG influence NN on IN American JJ law NN enforcement NN . SENT Payoffs NNS , , rip NN offs NNS and CC violence NN undermined VVN public JJ confidence NN in IN our PP$ institutions NNS of IN justice NN . SENT In IN 1933 CD , , the DT 18 CD th NN Amendment NP was VBD repealed VVN , , a DT decision NN not RB insignificantly RB informed VVN by IN a DT growing VVG intolerance NN of IN widespread JJ corruption NN . SENT It PP was VBD an DT unavoidable JJ choice NN in IN that WDT to TO further RBR countenance VV the DT ills NNS of IN Prohibition NN would MD have VH likely RB done VVN irreparable JJ damage NN to TO the DT rule NN of IN law NN , , and CC society NN as IN a DT whole NN . SENT . SENT Today NN , , our PP$ own JJ prohibition NN threatens VVZ in IN fact NN delivers VVZ the DT same JJ fate NN we PP tempted VVD then RB . SENT Is VBZ it PP time NN one NN must MD ask VV , , for IN our PP$ leaders NNS to TO confront VV the DT folly NN of IN this DT second JJ noble JJ but CC ill JJ fated JJ experiment NN . SENT Is VBZ it PP time NN to TO face VV the DT fact NN that IN to TO charge VV our PP$ institutions NNS with IN this DT sisyphian JJ task NN , , one CD whose WP$ absurdity NN is VBZ publicly RB underscored VVN with IN every DT consensual JJ act NN of IN transfer NN or CC use NN of IN a DT banned VVN substance NN , , is VBZ to TO undermine VV their PP$ very JJ legitimacy NN . SENT Is VBZ it PP time NN for IN our PP$ leaders NNS to TO stand VV strong JJ in IN the DT face NN of IN all PDT the DT moneyed JJ interests NNS both CC licit JJ and NP illicit JJ which WDT profit NN from IN this DT terrible JJ game NN , , and CC to TO call VV an DT end NN to TO the DT madness NN . SENT . SENT It PP is VBZ time NN . SENT It PP is VBZ past JJ time NN . SENT In IN fact NN , , to TO do VV otherwise RB would MD be VB to TO acquiesce VV to TO the DT dissolution NN of IN the DT rule NN of IN law NN and CC thereby RB to TO the DT downfall NN of IN the DT legitimacy NN of IN the DT very JJ government NN those DT leaders NNS represent VVP . SENT We PP have VHP a DT word NN for IN such JJ acts NNS of IN acquiescence NN whether IN they PP are VBP achieved VVN by IN commission NN or CC by IN omission NN . SENT We PP call VVP it PP treason NN . SENT And CC if IN our PP$ leaders NNS , , elected VVN and CC sworn VVN to TO defend VV the DT Constitution NP of IN these DT United NP States NPS of IN America NP , , fail VVP to TO find VV the DT courage NN to TO name VV and CC to TO oppose VV the DT most RBS dangerous JJ enemy NN of IN justice NN loose RB in IN the DT land NN today NN Prohibition NN we PP will MD have VH no DT choice NN but CC to TO declare VV them PP guilty JJ of IN that DT most RBS serious JJ offense NN . SENT