A few days ago, I watched on King 5 news about our state cutting funds for all k-12 schools. At the end of the report, they listed three things that on the table for increasing state revenue. The one that stood out was opening more state run liquor stores. Is it just me or does that sound like an odd set of priorities? I suppose all the laid off teachers can then catch up with their students in a few years while selling them liquor at one of the 16 new stores. Maybe the pay will be better too. Unfortunately, they won’t get the summer off and will have to work weekends, including Sundays.
I don’t care that they’re expanding to Sundays. Unlike some of the residents in states with dry counties, I’m not diluted in thinking that closing one day a week will dry out an alcoholic. Kind of like making drugs illegal doesn’t stop people from magically obtaining them, switching to drugs that are legal, sniffing paint, or licking toad bellies. It especially doesn’t have an effect because here state run liquor stores only have an monopoly on hard liquor, wine and beer can be sold in grocery stores. Cold beer is usually on the same isle as non-alcoholic fizzy drinks, cheese and lunchmeat. This leads me to believe that opening more liquor stores isn’t going to add very much revenue. That sounds more like the old Starbucks business model and we know how well they’re doing now. Granted alcohol is considerably more recession proof than five-dollar a cup coffee, which makes me wonder why our state doesn’t ever have enough money for roads and schools. You have a monopoly on hard liquor and you run one of the few legalized gambling schemes (Lotto). What gives?
I’m thinking you should close all the state run liquor stores and let the grocery stores sell Brandy so I don’t have to send Kurt to the liquor store after work. It bugs the shit out of me that I can’t go in with a minor nor leave said minor in the car while I run in and buy a stinkin’ bottle of Brandy to complete whatever recipe I’ve been drooling over on the cooking channel. You may add whatever stupid sin tax you need to, I know you will, but if you want to save money close the damn liquor stores. Let someone else handle the hard stuff. Keep the teachers, we need them so our kids can get good jobs and not drown their workless woes in a bottle.
Right on sister! And really, you can’t take your kid in with you to make a purchase? Wow. How else am I supposed to corrupt Chloe an introduce her to her mommy’s Irish heritage? Back to the drawing board for me, lol.
Susan Anderson – Actually I’ve never tried, but there are signs that say, “No one under 21″. I’m guessing not.
It’s so different here! You pick up your booze with your weekly food shopping whilst wheeling baby round on the trolley seat!
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Akelamalu – Yeah it’s A LOT different here. In some counties of some states they don’t sell alcohol at all. Where I live I can pick up beer or wine at the grocery store with baby in the cart but hard liquor can only be purchased at a state run store where you have to be over 21 to even enter. But damn it, it’s a free country I tell ya. *eye roll*
i would far rather have great teachers than liquor stores. but teachers don’t make the state money, they just cost them money. so great, we can have uneducated, illiterate, drunk youth running around. not saying all youth are like that, but that’s what we might as well look forward to. ugh. why do some people/government not place enough emphasis on education?
cali just had some cuts to the schools, too. luckily, not too much affected our schools, but i can just imagine if our school district was bigger than 3 schools. :-/
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ciara – well if it really came down to choosing one or the other than I’m with you. I could learn to make my own brandy.
We have all these signs put up at parks that say, “Please don’t smoke, think of the children.” Or something along those lines yet education is the first thing tossed. I’m sure healthy lungs will be the only requirement for a good paying job in the future. *big eye roll*
ciara – I know alcohol is a money maker but they have to pay for store employees so why not cut the stores completely and just add a sin tax to the stuff. They can also get money from stores acquiring licenses to sell hard liquor. I think they could make just as much or more that way. I may not know the number since I don’t balance the budget but then again neither to they! *grumble*
p.s. are trying to say that you do not share my love for the new kids on the block? hmmmph! lol i have heard many times over it’s a great show, so… we’ll see.
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ciara – LMAO not one bit! I didn’t even like them back in the day, but I do hope it’s a good show for you.