Well, if it’s not one thing, it’s another. The great state of Alabama now has an official state ‘spirit.’ ‘Spirit’ meaning ‘whiskey.’ Yes, that’s right, folks. The Alabama legislature overrode the governor’s veto this week to name Conecuh Ridge Fine Alabama Whiskey the official state spirit.
Pause for dumbfounded speechlessness.
Now let me get this straight. Alabama, which I’ve always known as a conservative state, is in effect endorsing an alcoholic beverage? And we’re not talking about some light beer here, this is hard liquor. A hard liquor product that was initially created by moonshiners, which last I checked was an illegal practice. Since I have been of voting age, my Alabama politicians have decided that lottery is immoral, higher taxes to pay for education is a waste of money, and liquor is an important, burning issue across the land.
Now, I’m not saying that liquor is all-evil and from the Devil. I do drink on occasion; not whiskey, though, but I’m getting off-track. No matter what one’s stand on alcohol is, doesn’t it seem rather odd to attach the name of the Alabama government to a commercial product? That’s the problem I’m having with the issue. One could also mention the potential for children to think, “Well, if the government says it’s good, I should go try some,” but we all hear the “Won’t somebody please think of the children!” mantra too much already. However, it does not bode well for what should be a non-biased institution.
Another amazing thing is the fact that the Senate used their power to overrule Governor Riley’s veto of the bill. Is having a state spirit that important? Did the legislature think that Riley was absolutely out of his gourd to think that some constituents might find this silly, uncalled for, or even offensive? Apparently not.
“I thought the resolution was harmless and humorous,” said Senator Pat Lindsey, who (sadly) is a Democrat. Harmless and humorous.
Harmless and humorous.
Then why was it an issue? The government’s objective is the collective welfare of the people. We do not pay them tax dollars to keep us amused, nor do we pay them to pass harmless little bills that are of no consequence. Isn’t there more important issues to handle? Don’t we have a budget to balance, bureaucratic loopholes to fix, or schools to fund? If not, then y’all quit convening and go home.
That will humor me.
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Ugg, all this soapbox preaching has worn me out. Anybody got a drink?