Products

Rant

No Alcohol Sales and Blue Laws

Posted 33 months ago|16 comments|1,297 views
Written by
No Alcohol Sales and Blue Laws are Unconstitutional

All the laws passed by the citizens of this country under fear of reprisal by Bible thumping do-gooders should be repealed.

Let’s start with the laws against the sale of alcohol in each and every county. Let's Repeal all those laws and the Sunday Blue laws that go with them.

To all those desiring a change to the alcohol sales status of your county, good luck to the wetter’s and bad luck to the dryer’s.

To those who are rallying their religious brethren to fight their county going wet, please reconsider. You are enjoying a host of freedoms that you are trying or have already denied to your fellow citizens. Your freedom to assemble, freedom to pursue happiness, even the freedom to drink the beverage of your choice are all freedoms you have because those who chose to drink alcohol have not attempted to take them away from you.

You doubt that you have denied these freedoms to others so I will explain. Freedom to assemble is denied to those who drink alcohol because dry counties don’t have bars for people to assemble in, only private clubs which cost money to join, money many do not have to spare. Freedom to pursue happiness is denied because in order to attain it a long drive to the county line is required, maybe not totally denied but a barrier is placed in the way that non-alcohol consumers don’t have.

Now for that oddball one. Freedom to drink the beverage of your choice. You deny easy access to alcohol for those who chose to drink it but you can go to any food store or quick stop and buy a bag, can or cup of coffee. How would you feel if that was denied to you? It’s a disgusting, smelly, addictive beverage and it has terrible physiological effects on the human body and it should be banned or at the least sold only in stores that sell other beverages that are controlled. Those of us who consume alcohol could band together and lobby to have coffee added to the list of beverages that are only sold in package stores alongside the beer and wine. Would that wake you up to the unfairness of dry counties? Voting or keeping a county dry has little to do with public safety, only with the ability of one group to impose it’s will over another and when it comes to this subject it is usually through shame or the threat of public shame that people allow their vote to be misused by religious zealots.
EMAIL|FLAG THIS POST
COMMENTS
Chris D
Chris D
Seattle, WA
33 months ago: If only the nation followed the example of Las Vegas.

Drinks in hand, we would walk down city streets and women (and men) would offer us companionship for fairly reasonable rates.

Welcome to RR, sixholdens.
33 months ago: Thanks for the quick welcome!
I kind of stumbled across this site and just had to submit some of my thoughts for others to "hear". I know some do this just to start arguments but I'm more interested in expressing my point-of-view and hearing what others think about the subject. Having tried the letters-to-editor in my home state, I think this will produce more of a true response to what some think is "the way it has to be because that's the way it's always been", when actually it was much different BEFORE some fanatics banded together and voted in some really bad laws.
Rudi Stettner
Rudi Stettner
 Moderator
33 months ago: Right on ! If you don't want to buy beer on Sunday then don't. In New York, they passed a law that you could opt to close on Saturday or any other day instead. Some people hold by Saturday, some by Sunday and some by Friday. (Muslims)Everyone should be equally protected. Good post.
33 months ago: Equally protected. That's what they tell us in school, even in law class (had a couple of those), then they go on to explain just how equal. If you are part of the majority or part of the loudest group, you get what you want. If you are rich, your crime is now "white collar" and you get sent to a country club for a few years of golf, even if you stole billions from those who could least afford it (none millionaires who invested in what were solid stocks). But this could be another topic so I'll shut up!
Billyberoo
Billyberoo
Cedar Park, TX
33 months ago: In NY, they made the law, you have to close one day a week. Most places choose Tuesday, as Sunday's were party days and none was able to purchase liquor or wine, beer was not included in the Sunday thing. The did not choose Monday as you do have to big party Mondays, Memorial and Labor Day. Hence Tuesday closed.

I do not disagree with your idea, however, if these laws are local and voted for by the people I'm o.k. with it. If you disagree that much, do what you are doing, post here, letters to editors, Facebook, whatever, to get the laws changed. They are not unconstitutional, as the Constitution only limits the federal government, not state and local governments.
33 months ago: BB, the laws weren't voted for by people living now (at least not very many of them) and since the state's constitution is based on the US constitution and pretty much says the same things only with the state government in mind and in a manner that makes the US constitution superior, they are unconstitutional because they are not based on anything other than the religious beliefs of those who were wielding "public opinion power" at the time.
Basically any group of people can be frightened into passing any law that a certain group of fanatics want passed by that group simply implying that they will embarrass or otherwise threaten the larger group with something they do not want revealed or put in the publics view, no matter how perfectly legal it may be.
How else do you explain a law that prohibits something on a Sunday? A Christian holy day but just another day of the week to a non-Christian.
I have to say that I'm discouraged when I hear someone say they are ok with a local law that is enacted purely to further one group of religious fanatic’s beliefs over another group who may or may not have such beliefs.
Did you know it was illegal to gamble in Arkansas? Except in the two locations specified in the states constitution. HUH? Talk about one small group wielding some power to get that into law!
Billyberoo
Billyberoo
Cedar Park, TX
33 months ago: If you feel that these laws are out dated prove your point to the citizens, get the issue voted on.

Why do you assume that Sunday no beer sales, only has to do with Christians? It probably does because we were founding document, and laws were based on a Judeo/Christian ideology.

But Christians do drink on Sundays; Most businesses used to be closed on Sundays; some unions have it written into there contract that if they work on Sundays they get payed more (1.5 - 2 times there regular rate of pay).

Why are Bank's Closed on Sunday's?

Why do Businesses open later, and/or close earlier on Sundays?

Do you ever see Garbage collection in your neighborhood on Sundays?

What I'm trying to get at is you are just seeing one aspect, booze, equating that with "bible thumpers" bothering you. In fact Sundays a lot of things don't happen.

It's illegal to gamble in a lot of places SIX.

I hear you, bro, don't know how old you are, but you got to get out of the blame Christianity mode.

http://www.rantrave.com/Rant/Who-will-Rebrand-the-GOP.aspx

33 months ago: Here's an example of why these laws are still like they are. No, actually this is a reason why. When they were making the rules (laws) that govern how to get something like wet/dry vote on the ballot, the "do gooders" had their say. (I'm not using the exact percentages but you'll get the idea.) To get a wet to dry vote on the ballot, the petitioners had to get 20% of the registered voters to sign their petitions. Easy. To get a dry to wet vote on the ballot the petitioners had to get 60% of the registered voters to sign their petitions. This is no bull, the difference in the quantity of signatures was that uneven. Nothing fair about it but because it was the religious fanatics who wanted to restrict access to alcohol who had the power, they got the laws written to favor their side. It took 50 years to get the law changed to equal percentages and that was within the last few years. I'm 52 and I have yet to get to vote on it or even see it on the ballot in my home county which is dry. No one wants to fight a battle that is (was) legally set up to be one sided and it will take several more years before this will gain enough momentum to make the effort. Several counties that are not as large as ours have been trying with mixed results. The religious fanatics don't care if it is a personal choice to drink or not, they do not want YOU to be able to buy it in THIER county. Notice the emphasis. You as in anybody who doesn't think like them and Their as if they owned it lock, stock and barrel.
BB you answered your own question, our laws are not only based but are born of Judeo/Christian ideology. It's as if the other religions didn't even exist in some places. Freedom of religion? Freedom From religion? Not yet.
Once again you answered it. Bible-thumpers, Christians, they set the pace for all the things you listed.
33 months ago: You missed my point. According to the Arkansas Constitution it is illegal to gamble in Arkansas. BUT in our constitution there are two places where gambling is authorized, Hot Springs at the horse track and West Memphis at the dog track. How do you say it is illegal and then specify where it can be done? You think money wasn't changing hands quicker than a duck can poop? This was done by those self same religious fanatics who set up the petition laws!
33 months ago: I'm 52 and from what you said I can deduce that you probably go to church when they open the doors, each and every time.
It's not Christianity I blame, it's the people who profess to be Christians that force their beliefs and lifestyle on me by manipulating the masses into passing laws that restrict MY and other non-fanatical citizens ability to enjoy life.
Now your going to say that it’s not restricting anything because I can always drive to the next county and buy beer. Right? Wrong! Oh I can drive and buy but now there is the added cost of fuel and time, that is a restriction on me (and others like me) that is not on the ones who fight against the county going wet. Thousands of hours and millions of gallons of fuel burned up just because YOU think it’s wrong for ME to drink a beer? Where’s the justice in that? (I use YOU and ME as examples, it’s not actually you and me). And this has been going on for decades.
It will take time but I am working on getting the momentum going to get a petition in the works to get the dry to wet vote on the ballot, shouldn’t take more than 10 years or so as this is a hugely hypocritical area. Drunkards teaching Sunday school, deacons selling drugs, preachers running bootlegging operations, you name it, it happens and everyone of them will vote to keep it dry because their religion supposedly says it’s bad.
People who live in other states and in wet counties don’t see things the same as people who live in dry counties. They think it is funny, they think it’s the dumbest idea they ever heard of, they think that it should stay that way so that their liquor store on the county line won’t lose any business. Hard to fight when even the imbibers are fighting to keep the status quo!
Billyberoo
Billyberoo
Cedar Park, TX
33 months ago: You should have worked harder to get your laws changed.

Yes I am a Christian, Roman Catholic if you need to know. It just so happens that Catholics, are the most persecuted, and discriminated against sect of Christianity by the BIBLE THUMPERS you are talking about.

I have not been to Church since my buddy was married in 2002.

You still have not answered me, why I cannot go to the Bank on Sunday, or why All American stock markets are closed.?

Now it's my understanding that you can drink beer on Sundays, it just cant be purchased. Is there a private club exception, as there are in some localities in TX.

I feel your fustration as I am a native of NY. Just north of The Bronx, and our bars, and Supermarkets could sell beer till 4 A.M. and start at I believe 8 a.m. I moved to Texas where the bars close at 12 a.m., and can't buy any alc over 20% on Sunday. This was a shock, however, I respect the laws of my new community, I knew the laws before a moved here, and I just purchase what I want on Saturday. And I do enjoy the libations.

Another question I have for you: Are you sure its because of religion, you know some people might move there because of the fact it is dry, and the city collects property and sales tax from them. What I'm getting at is your county is ussing the DRY thing to sell itself to perspective home buyers. Some people see dry Counties as having safer roads, and lower crime. Think about it.
33 months ago: Thanks SS your support is welcome!
BB, I'll respond to your comments in a few hours, got to go help prep a yard for youngest's graduation party on Sat. Finally got them all through HS, college bound he is and the loan debt is, HUGE! (three before him)
33 months ago: BB, I’ve been out of the state for many years due to military service. Retired in 2001 and have been feeling out the situation slowly and as I have time. Still have to make a living, or did until I was disabled in 05. I still have to work, just don’t leave my yard as much, no money to put extra fuel in the truck because my income just won’t support driving around to talk to politicians and common citizens and trying to build a house one stick at a time with no money and bad feet.
I live in an extremely densely populated area of Church of Christ adherents. So the road is full of land mines not to mention potholes.
Before I joined the military I wasn’t old enough to buy alcohol, after I got out the first time I worked my **** off to pay the bills and didn’t think much about laws and things like that, just family and work. After local employment died out I went back in the military and did another 14 years, all out of state. Retirement doesn’t pay enough money for enlisted to not have another income unless there is family money to support you which we don’t have so back to work. Long hours, 5, 6 sometimes 7 days a week for a paycheck that was low but larger than others due to my skills. No time for free thought and political involvement other than voting and some discussions about different topics; this is one of those topics that struck a nerve that hadn’t been awakened before. So when you tell me I should have worked harder to get the laws changed you can believe you found another!
33 months ago: I should have gone into politics instead of the military, that way I would never have realized how restricted my rights and my ability to pursue happiness are. I would have spent my time working on important things like my percs and pay raises for me and my fellow politicians. Just think, after less than 20 years as a politician I would be drawing a retirement 10 times what it took 20 years in the military risking my life and limb to get.
Don’t get me wrong, there are benefits to being retired military. I can’t complain about the amount I have to pay for my continued insurance coverage for life, other than that I have to pay it. Remember that disability I mentioned? They paid for my hospital care and much, much more because I wasn’t on the job when I was injured. Don’t worry, the politicians we have in D.C. are working hard to take that away from vets all the time.
All religions are persecuted by other religions so you’re not exactly all alone in the firing range.
I don’t care what religion someone wants to believe in as long as they do not try to force their beliefs on me and do not join together to pass laws that force me to adhere or otherwise be subject to their beliefs. Blue laws are perfect examples of this type of behavior that will take years to get off the books, if it is even possible.
33 months ago: Here’s my answer to your banking/business problem. Everyone wants to take a day off from work, in America, Saturday and Sunday are considered the normal “weekend” due to our countries beginnings as a nation composed mostly of people who followed the Christian belief system. At one time only Sunday would be a day of rest but due to prosperity, Saturday has been added for those who can afford it. Had there never been religious influence in the makeup of our government, lifestyles and business practices, it would be a seven day work week for everything and everybody. So religious influence does have it’s good side, I just don’t believe it should be part of the book of laws in a way that can be shown to be a religious belief of one (or more) groups that is not of another group. Morality has nothing to do with religion. I know there are those who think that without religion you can’t be moral because you have nothing to base your morality on but that is not true. Babies are not born with the desire to steal and murder and they have no concept of shame, they will take from each other to survive but as they grow, they learn that to work together for a common goal and to treat each other the way they want to be treated will get them what they need to survive, prosper and be happy, something we adults seem to not have due to being indoctrinated into one religion or another by our parents or others who had influence over us.
33 months ago: As for the private club matter, that is a cop out. Sure there are clubs we even have one restaurant that had the balls to get a permit to sell beer and wine as a private club open to the public, one, in a county that has over 67,000 people in it. Private clubs like the VFW, ELKS, and others are here but you have to qualify to be a member, I do because of my military service but what about the other 30,000 or so people who don’t or just can’t afford the membership fee at the Country Club? Why should they be punished because of religious based laws passed decades ago when the local population was lower and shame was used as a tool to make people vote “your” way, or to not vote, either way religious fanatics got their way because the laws were unfair (that petition percentage thing I mentioned).
I say that all those elections should be null and void and it be put back up to a vote without even a petition needed to get it on the ballot. I feel that the religious fanatics will be surprised how many of their neighbors really hate having to drive 70 miles round trip to buy a six pack. And how about the wasted time and fuel and the pollution caused? Nobody cared back in the 50’s and 60’s when this county went dry, they do now.
Sorry it took so long to respond but my youngest just graduated High School with Honors and had to do the family stuff and attend his and another graduation. Just as a note of bragging, he has a full ride at an out of state university, will even get a little cash back because of all the monetary incentives he was offered.

Post a Comment
Sign in or sign up to post a comment.