Wets, drys and hypocrites

**Ian Gills** · 10-26-2011, 11:12 AM

Is America still living under the legacy of prohibition?

It seems senseless to limit alcohol sales to certain times or certain stores.

Are there those among you who still view saloons as "evil"?

I'm worried that American parents of the prohibition era have passed down their beliefs, so that we have Americans alive now living with personal values better suited to a era that is long gone.

And why drug test welfare recipients?

That's nonsense. We don't test people who might use their welfare check to buy a gun or do a parachute jump.

**Terry** · 10-26-2011, 11:21 AM

And why drug test welfare recipients?

There was a story about Madonna's brother on television yesterday. In and out of drug rehab and now living on the streets. The entire time he was being interviewed, he was smoking and sounding a little drunk.
What would be the purpose of drug testing people that can't hold a job? It would just put more people living under bridges and in the forest.
There are people that suffer with all kinds of problems; that will always be the case. If someone has an addiction, giving them a drug test isn't going to "cure" it.
The alternative, is to withhold all help, which means they will need to provide somehow. That normally means breaking into homes until they get caught and they get provided with bedding in a local jail.
Do the math. Welfare that gets them by, or full time care with guards in a high security facility.
Would it be my choice? Oh heck no. But then my life has been easy. I like doing what I do, and that easily provides a living. Mainly because I like to do it.

**LOTW** · 10-26-2011, 11:41 AM

Here in "The Heartland" we have a huge methamphetimine problem and the politician/prosecutors method of dealing with this problem is to throw the addicts/offenders into prison for insanely long amounts of time. Ten or twenty years for cooking a small batch is not uncommon. This is a senseless way of dealing with a public health problem. The solution, if there is one, has to involve early intervention and education to acquire job skills. I am beginning to think that kids need to be removed from unfit parents at a very early age and without waiting for it to be too late.

**ballvalve** · 10-26-2011, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by Ian Gills

Is America still living under the legacy of prohibition?

It seems senseless to limit alcohol sales to certain times or certain stores.

Are there those among you who still view saloons as "evil"?

I'm worried that American parents of the prohibition era have passed down their beliefs, so that we have Americans alive now living with personal values better suited to a era that is long gone.

And why drug test welfare recipients?

That's nonsense. We don't test people who might use their welfare check to buy a gun or do a parachute jump.

You only get buy times in religious nut areas or in the big cities, where the guys with big gold chains and baggy pants and speakers spouting rap about murdering a cop, that makes your windshield vibrate, proliferate after dark.

How many of you have had to bite a bullet to keep and reaching under the seat for your .45 and shooting the gang bangers that play music so loud that you can see their car doors bulging out? Or your walking stick in Ians case.....

**Tom Sawyer** · 10-26-2011, 05:04 PM

I don't know about where you live but around here the bar scene is pretty much dead. Due to liability bars limit the number of drinks you can have and naturally all the cops hang around waiting for closing time so they can arrest people for drunk driving. Add no smoking in bars anymore to the mix and you can see why bars are having a tough go of it lately. It's all about the liability these days. I suspect there are more folks smoking dope now than drinking alcohol.

**BobL43** · 10-26-2011, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by Ian Gills

Is America still living under the legacy of prohibition?

It seems senseless to limit alcohol sales to certain times or certain stores.

Are there those among you who still view saloons as "evil"?

I'm worried that American parents of the prohibition era have passed down their beliefs, so that we have Americans alive now living with personal values better suited to a era that is long gone.

And why drug test welfare recipients?

That's nonsense. We don't test people who might use their welfare check to buy a gun or do a parachute jump.

when we look in the mirror, we see ourselves in reverse. what do you see, a genius? Drugs are not just addictive, they are dangerous, much more than alcohol, and because they are illegal, they create criminals of those who need it, but cannot afford it. Legalizing drugs and taxing them like alcohol will take away the criminal part and help the situation somewhat, but not all. A drink or 2 once in a while is great, I'll drink to that. I just looked, and I see my genious in the mirror. DUH!

**leejosepho** · 10-26-2011, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

... bars limit the number of drinks ... all the cops hang around ... no smoking ...

The smoking ban was the largest factor that ultimately closed down a large iconic bowling alley with a bar and pool tables and an arcade in my hometown, but I had the kind of parents Ian had mentioned and had never been allowed to go there anyway ...

No great loss, I say!

**LOTW** · 10-27-2011, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by leejosepho

The smoking ban was the largest factor that ultimately closed down a large iconic bowling alley with a bar and pool tables and an arcade in my hometown, but I had the kind of parents Ian had mentioned and had never been allowed to go there anyway ...

No great loss, I say!

Good points. In Iowa, the smoking ban applies to bars. Except that the casino owners had enough political influence and got an exemption for casinos. And the casinos have arranged for cheap bus service as public transportation for the lonely old ladies to come on down and squander their social security checks and have set up a buffet full of fatty foods for them. So you can smoke, drink, commit gluttony, and gamble at the same location. One stop sinning. And since there is public transportation to this debauchery, even Ian should approve.

**BobL43** · 10-27-2011, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by LOTW

Good points. In Iowa, the smoking ban applies to bars. Except that the casino owners had enough political influence and got an exemption for casinos. And the casinos have arranged for cheap bus service as public transportation for the lonely old ladies to come on down and squander their social security checks and have set up a buffet full of fatty foods for them. So you can smoke, drink, commit gluttony, and gamble at the same location. One stop sinning. And since there is public transportation to this debauchery, even Ian should approve.

something for everybody. maybe commit more than gluttony, even in their senior years if the hubbies stay home (If still alive).

**leejosepho** · 10-27-2011, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by LOTW

... cheap bus service as public transportation for the lonely old ladies to come on down and squander their social security checks ...

I used to drive a cab, and we also occasionally got some nice-paying welfare runs to "the boat" at the first of the month!

And then, of course, have you ever noticed how strategically certain supermarkets time some of their pricings?

**BobL43** · 10-27-2011, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by Ian Gills

Is America still living under the legacy of prohibition?

It seems senseless to limit alcohol sales to certain times or certain stores.

Are there those among you who still view saloons as "evil"?

I'm worried that American parents of the prohibition era have passed down their beliefs, so that we have Americans alive now living with personal values better suited to a era that is long gone.

And why drug test welfare recipients?

That's nonsense. We don't test people who might use their welfare check to buy a gun or do a parachute jump.

Getting a welfare check, you need to remember, is coming from all the people who have paid taxes to make that possible. Being on drugs is not something the taxpayers want or need to support, and the tests will show whether they are using. Buying a gun or 2 is a lot cheaper........nah, never mind that. We just do not want to support bad habits. Let those with bad habits pay their own way, like the monstrous tax on tobacco, which does not seem to stop them anyway. Most insurance companies won't insure them, at least not at the same premium costs. And the wlfare checks are supposed to go for food and rent assistance, not drugs. feed your kids, not your habit.