Gagging the People’s Voice... I'll Drink to That!

Another great win for our Georgia Republicans! They killed the bill that would put Sunday alcohol sales on local referendum ballots! Once again the elected representatives fail to ask their constituents how they feel about the issue imposing their beliefs and values on the citizenry. Kudos boys! Love that “less government” flavor.

My reactions:

First: Are you serious? In this day and age of fiscal crises and budget crunches, are we really clinging to the archaic traditions of one Christian faction's booze-less mantra? Giving businesses the opportunity to increase sales puts people to work and gains tax revenue, two much needed things at this juncture.

Second: What happen to freedom of choice? If you don’t want to purchase alcohol on Sunday, then don’t. I for one wouldn’t mind being able to add beer and wine to my weekly Sunday shopping run. It would sure make things more convenient.

Third: Who exactly are you saving us from? Ourselves? Does perusing a liquor store on a Sunday equal punching a ticket to Inferno Station? Maybe I’ll hope aboard Engine 666, nicknamed Old Scratch and share a shot or two with Beelzebub. Maybe it does to the Baptist contingent, but other religions have no such issue.

This is a choice for the people. It should absolutely be a referendum issue. Adults should have the right to purchase items that they are otherwise not legally impeded form purchasing when and where they want. The fact that the Right continues to impose this restriction on us has me raising the hypocrisy flag. Will Jesus hate you for allowing the people to decide if they can buy liquor for home consumption on Sunday? You can buy all the booze you want at a restaurant. So legislators would rather us hit the road for a Sunday drink rather than allowing the legal age purchaser to drink at home?

I know… I know. Buy it on Saturday. Right? Reasonable enough, but I have had social opportunities arise where sharing a bottle of wine with company would be not only appreciated but appropriate on a Sunday when my wine fridge was empty. It sure would be nice to run into a store on my way home to grab a bottle or two to be able to enjoy my meal in a way I find acceptable.

Give the choice to the people. Let them be their own moral compass.

And by the way, Jesus turned water into wine. That’s in the book too.

Chip Grefski