US election of Nov 8, 2011
 

So, the news media is filled with election results.
Some are national, some state, and some very local
Here's a nutty situation in my local area that tackles a common civic problem.

It is sort of like (#1125) BigV mentioned in Washington.

Thanks to Ohioans for repealing the law that prohibits collective bargaining.

And the Arizonians who are calming down the immigration rhetoric.

And HALLELUJAH Mississippi.

And wtg Ohio, for seeing through Kasich's thinly veiled "evil union" crusade. He shouldn't have messed with public employees. Now I won't have to see the stomach-turning ads about how the public employees ruin the economy. Ch'yeah. Ass.

Yeah, a pretty good day overall. Dare I say, a 'referendum' on far right politics and especially the tea party?

I don't think the unions are out of the woods just yet, but the public is getting pretty testy on all the attacks on workers. Good to see, yessiree.

Agreed, Pico. I quoted you over in the Wall Street thread. :)

What did Mississippi do?

The "life begins at fertilization" measure failed.
The Republican Governor was elected.

Recognized that zygotes aren't people.

They voted down legislation that said life begins at fertilization.

Maybe this belongs in the "Blue Laws" thread,
but it's Washington state's measure on the sale of liquor.

Seattle Times
Nov 9, 2011

Voters kick state out of liquor business
My wife says it's really about the Costco Corp stores being able
to sell it's own brand of booze.
BigV may have more to say or a different opinion.
.

My faith in democracy is slightly recovering.

Thanks for the triple answers!

Wow. Looks like many people are discovering that Limbaugh et al are dumb! And promoters of hate.

I predict that every small liquor store in that state will go out of business in the next 2 years. Why would anyone make a second trip anymore when the grocery store is always going to be more convenient?

It hasn't happened here. The liquors stores do pretty good business still. The liquor store near us is definitely more convenient than going into the grocery store. I don't tend to buy beer or booze when I grocery shop - wines about it. I don't know why.

Not sure, but I think the Measure requires all state liquor stores to close.
Those people running the stores can buy the inventory and stay as a private business,
but the inventory is about $125,000 which may be beyond them.

There'll always be specialty shops - "booze boutiques" ( I should copyright that). I can't imagine a gorcery store carrying a real high quality bourbon any more than Walmart would a high tech racing bicycle.

I dunno. My village grocery store sells all sorts...up and including Bollinger champagne.

We have stores that have booze and gambling.

Liquor in the front, poker in the rear.

(Thanks, I'll...stop now.)

Gambling....not really. Not that kind anyway.

Specialty shops are good when you look for something special. But you'll pay the price for it.

One advantage of mass retail like Walmart over small shops is that by buying in large quantities they are able to propose better goods for a lower price.

So it is possible that you will find some high end beers, wines or whiskys at an affordable price.

Yet, specialty shops will keep the upper hand in matters of knowledge, information and small series items.

I wonder what Spexx's notion of a "real" and "high quality" bourbon would be. Just to get a better feel for his argument.

Trader Joe's, for an instance of a chain, does rather nicely with the fraction of its revenue that streams from its sales of everything from hard cider to malt Scotches and miscellaneous vodkas.

Now the new BevMo, a more specialized operation in the same town some few blocks over from the TJ's, brings forth the occasional cask-strength Scotch -- it being available upon the market. It may be difficult to handle anything "realer" than this.

Here UG, have a shot of Cuervo. No wheels (salt or lime), be a man. ;)

Good smooth tequila's fine... but the tequila-lime-salt rotation really does add something besides electrolytes and vitamin C to the whole! No wonder somebody invented slushie margaritas. Tipsifying and refreshing for a hot day.