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.

OREGON CITY -- Clackamas County voters decided Tuesday to
give themselves a countywide say every time an urban renewal district
is proposed for an unincorporated area of the county.

There were two (contradictory) measures on the ballot....Both measures passed ! :3_eyes:

The leading measure requires countywide voter approval to create an urban renewal district.
The other would require voters only within the district to approve it's creation or amendment.
The former received 51,483 voter, the latter received 47,029.
County officials previously said that if both measures passed,
they would implement the one that received the most votes.

Critics of urban renewal have long complained that urban renewal programs
subsidize private development at the expense of schools, police and fire services.
They said a countywide vote is the only fair method because
all county residents end up paying for these urban renewal projects.

This happens because the $ for renewal programs come off the top of county tax revenues,
and so $ for schools, etc is effectively frozen for years until the project is paid off

The coalition of business, labor and community leaders now
will have to find a way to pay for their infrastructure projects.

Duh... that's what they should have done in the first place !

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?

infinite monkey;771318 wrote:

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.

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.

Pico and ME;771369 wrote:

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

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.

ZenGum;771462 wrote:

What did Mississippi do?

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

Beginning June 1, grocery stores in Washington will begin selling liquor.
The state budgeting office figures the number of outlets selling
liquor will jump from 328 to 1,428.

Of the ballots tallied Tuesday night, about 60 percent favored Initiative 1183.
<snip>
The campaign was a battle of corporate interests,
with Costco contributing the vast majority of the money
for the pro-1183 campaign.

Issaquah-based Costco donated $22.5 million to the campaign for I-1183,
making it the largest single donor to a voter initiative in state history.
Only $18.5 million was spent, and campaign leaders said
the $4 million difference will be returned, presumably to Costco.

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.

Voters kick state out of liquor business

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.

Clodfobble;771522 wrote:

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?

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.

Clodfobble;771522 wrote:

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?

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.

Spexxvet;771583 wrote:

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.

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.

Spexxvet;771583 wrote:

I can't imagine a gorcery store carrying a real high quality bourbon any more than Walmart would a high tech racing bicycle.

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.