The Failures of the Drug War, As Told By Television

Here is a great article about the drug war, written as an op-ed for Time magazine by the writers of The Wire.

When you say, “What?  They’re television writers, Abbie,” I will know that you don’t watch The Wire, and you don’t know that the writers of the show were real-life newspaper writers, police officers, public school teachers, and the like, and that the show is based in reality, not “television show reality”.

And then I will tell you to read the article anyway, because I think they make their points very nicely.

There are no spoilers in it, don’t worry.

Meanwhile, the last ever episode airs Sunday night.  It’s like how I think of death.  You want to see how it all ends, but then you still want it to go on.  I will be very sad to see this show end.

Seriously, it’s a great television show.  One of the all-time best uses of the medium, ever.

I know I say that kind of thing a lot, so feel free to mark it down to just more hyperbole.  But then pick up Season 1 sometime and take a look.  Then you’ll know. 

Oh indeed.