Beer, Religion and those Silly City Folks
It looks like the Lumberton booze issue has made the left swing right!
It is not unusual for cities to take the side of businesses and what is good for business owners over the individual rights of citizens. This is a fact that becomes very clear when cities talk about annexation. Who cares if the people who are being annexed don't want to be part of the city. As long as city leaders feel it is good for economic growth, the city will annex homeowners... like it or not!
Usually my left-winged friends are NOT in favor of the city imposing its will over the will of the majority of citizens. But this mindset is making an about face in Hardin County.
A Lumberton man behind a petition drive hopes to let the voters decide if booze should be sold in the city. The business community wants beer and wine sales because it's good for the bottom line. Most business owners want those profits from beer and wine. Who can blame them? It's good money.
Here's the kicker. My left wing friends are siding with the businesses who would put profit over any effect beer and wine sales would have on the citizens. My right wing friends are taking the side of the people over profit. Funny how a pinch of religion can make even the right and left wing flip sides. It's enough to make me need a stiff drink!
Lets examine the real argument going on among the far right and the far left. It has little to do with liquor. It's the same argument that pops up every December when the fundamentalists want freedom to say “merry Christmas” and the lefties want that type of speech silenced.
The booze issue is one that is favored by the religious right and the secular left wants it stopped because they fear it may be an example of a religious belief forced on the rest of the community.
Has any of those who are getting their undies in a twist over this thing noticed that the guy wanting to outlaw booze sales is seeking to put this on the ballot and let the voters decide? His opposition (those seeking to put a pro-liquor initiative on the ballot) are trying to have his petition thrown out on a technicality. This means the pro-liquor side wants their way even if it means silencing voters who support the anti-liquor initiative.
Look, I live in Orange County and can buy all the beer my heart desires, so I don't have a dog in this race. Personally, I don't want someone telling me what to do. This is why I live in the county and not within the city limits. As for Lumberton, let the voters decide what they want for their community.
This potential ordinance is no different from others I have seen in southeast Texas. Orange has an ordinance for some historic neighborhoods that prevent homeowners from painting unless the city approves the color. Most cities tell churches where they may or may not build. This potential liquor ordinance is no different than the previous examples except for one sticking point. It is controversial because drinking is something that some religious folks will examine their faith before casting their vote, and this scares some on the left who fear it's crosses the line of “separation of church and state.”
It is not unusual for cities to take the side of businesses and what is good for business owners over the individual rights of citizens. This is a fact that becomes very clear when cities talk about annexation. Who cares if the people who are being annexed don't want to be part of the city. As long as city leaders feel it is good for economic growth, the city will annex homeowners... like it or not!
Usually my left-winged friends are NOT in favor of the city imposing its will over the will of the majority of citizens. But this mindset is making an about face in Hardin County.
A Lumberton man behind a petition drive hopes to let the voters decide if booze should be sold in the city. The business community wants beer and wine sales because it's good for the bottom line. Most business owners want those profits from beer and wine. Who can blame them? It's good money.
Here's the kicker. My left wing friends are siding with the businesses who would put profit over any effect beer and wine sales would have on the citizens. My right wing friends are taking the side of the people over profit. Funny how a pinch of religion can make even the right and left wing flip sides. It's enough to make me need a stiff drink!
Lets examine the real argument going on among the far right and the far left. It has little to do with liquor. It's the same argument that pops up every December when the fundamentalists want freedom to say “merry Christmas” and the lefties want that type of speech silenced.
The booze issue is one that is favored by the religious right and the secular left wants it stopped because they fear it may be an example of a religious belief forced on the rest of the community.
Has any of those who are getting their undies in a twist over this thing noticed that the guy wanting to outlaw booze sales is seeking to put this on the ballot and let the voters decide? His opposition (those seeking to put a pro-liquor initiative on the ballot) are trying to have his petition thrown out on a technicality. This means the pro-liquor side wants their way even if it means silencing voters who support the anti-liquor initiative.
Look, I live in Orange County and can buy all the beer my heart desires, so I don't have a dog in this race. Personally, I don't want someone telling me what to do. This is why I live in the county and not within the city limits. As for Lumberton, let the voters decide what they want for their community.
This potential ordinance is no different from others I have seen in southeast Texas. Orange has an ordinance for some historic neighborhoods that prevent homeowners from painting unless the city approves the color. Most cities tell churches where they may or may not build. This potential liquor ordinance is no different than the previous examples except for one sticking point. It is controversial because drinking is something that some religious folks will examine their faith before casting their vote, and this scares some on the left who fear it's crosses the line of “separation of church and state.”
posted by David Ingram at 5:15 AM
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