It's not about the drink, it's about the vote
Regarding the proposed bill that would ban cameras at traffic lights, I really don't have an opinion on the matter either way. I don't necessarily buy that it dramatically reduces accidents, but I also don't see how it's a constitutional violation.
What I don't particularly care for about the bill is that once again it's the Georgia General Assembly doing its best to tell local governments how to conduct their business. As I've stated before, I'm very much a person who wants his local officials to handle local problems since each community is different and unique. It's why I have criticized Rep. Bob Smith in the past for letting his ideological vision block certain things from coming to our community for an honest discussion and up-or-down vote.
But, as of late, what has bugged me the most is the hullabaloo over Sunday Sales because those who are in opposition to any proposed legislation are so because of the wrong reasons. The issue at hand is not whether or not you think we should permit the sale of beer and wine on Sundays, but rather whether or not you think each individual community is competent enough to have a discussion over this issue and then hold a referendum to vote on it. The people who oppose Sunday Sales do so for sincere reasons, but they're misplacing their opposition. The logical thing to do - particularly for those self-professed conservatives in this bloc - would be to support the ability for local communities to decide this matter for themselves, and then return to your district and campaign either for or against this measure.
And Sunday Sales would surely not pass in some of the more traditionally conservative areas of the state, and that would be perfectly fine. Those communities should be able to decide for themselves what goes on in their towns. However, not granting them the opportunity to make these decisions reveals that their representatives either don't trust their judgement or really don't care what they think anyway.
What I don't particularly care for about the bill is that once again it's the Georgia General Assembly doing its best to tell local governments how to conduct their business. As I've stated before, I'm very much a person who wants his local officials to handle local problems since each community is different and unique. It's why I have criticized Rep. Bob Smith in the past for letting his ideological vision block certain things from coming to our community for an honest discussion and up-or-down vote.
But, as of late, what has bugged me the most is the hullabaloo over Sunday Sales because those who are in opposition to any proposed legislation are so because of the wrong reasons. The issue at hand is not whether or not you think we should permit the sale of beer and wine on Sundays, but rather whether or not you think each individual community is competent enough to have a discussion over this issue and then hold a referendum to vote on it. The people who oppose Sunday Sales do so for sincere reasons, but they're misplacing their opposition. The logical thing to do - particularly for those self-professed conservatives in this bloc - would be to support the ability for local communities to decide this matter for themselves, and then return to your district and campaign either for or against this measure.
And Sunday Sales would surely not pass in some of the more traditionally conservative areas of the state, and that would be perfectly fine. Those communities should be able to decide for themselves what goes on in their towns. However, not granting them the opportunity to make these decisions reveals that their representatives either don't trust their judgement or really don't care what they think anyway.
posted by Jmac at 6:55 AM
3 Comments:
After a quick glance at the studies done on red-light type cameras, it seems like t-boning accidents (heh heh) decreases in most states (countries), but in some cases this decrease comes with an increase in slower speed rear-end collisions. Makes sense because people would be more likely to slam on their brakes avoiding perpendicular crashes in the intersections, but increasing their chances that someone following them will tag them from behind (huh huh huh).
There are a handful of state studies and the UK studies that this info comes from. Overall, it looked like the rise in rear-end collisions is negligible because they are less serious and the rate of decrease in the intersection wrecks is much greater. Fatalities also dropped by something like 45% in most cases.
So, there's that.
In regard to Sunday sales, I don't think it should be a local issue because I don't think it should be an issue at all. It is positively one of the most ludicrous things I've ever heard and I can't believe we are even having this dicussion. Georgia is what...one of only three states left that have this antiquated law? Even fricking South Carolina has abandoned this relic...SOUTH CAROLINA! If the teetotalers are so offended, so disgusted, so appalled by people buying alcohol on Sundays...then don't go to the liquor store.
Then there's the fact that any of us can just go to restaurants on Sundays...restaurants full of the church-going public, and order drinnks to our hearts content, but buying a six pack of beer at Kroger, taking it home, and watching football is apparently the one-way ticket to hell.
I know as long as Sonny is there it will never happen, but the legislature just needs to man-up, ram a bill permitting Sunday sales through, end this pointless debate and allow grocery stores/liquor stores/bars/etc to reap the financial windfall.
There are a number of counties in KY with no beer on sunday laws, but no state law.
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