'Dry' counties are drying up in Texas (Prohibition coming to an end???)

Houston Chronicle ^ | Oct. 1, 2006, 4:38PM | By THOMAS KOROSEC

[DeFault User]

Angelina County, with 82,036 residents, is the second-most-populous dry county in the state behind Smith County, population 188,122, and its chief city of Tyler.

I imagine that Smith County still has a few places like the Petroleum Club, where you can drink like a fish, but the hoi polloi have to make a 50 mile roundtrip for a six pack.

[Texas2step]

Good. I hate the nanny-state.

What makes it a "nanny-state" if it's the will of the people? These are all "voted upon" issues.

[Texas2step]

I imagine that Smith County still has a few places like the Petroleum Club, where you can drink like a fish, but the hoi polloi have to make a 50 mile roundtrip for a six pack.

And the vast majority of the people of Smith county have no problem with that. (And it's nowhere near a 50 mile round trip for most of the county.)

[stevie_d_64]

Entirely wet = Tequila

Partially Wet = Rum and coke

Entirely Dry = Kool-Aid

The demographics on this map speak volumes...

[southern rock]

What makes it a "nanny-state" if it's the will of the people? These are all "voted upon" issues.

The "will of the people" has it's limits. If you wouldn't let me tell you what to do, why are you willing to let me and 500 of my neighbors tell you what to do?

[okie01]

Does this mean the end of the "private club" ripoff at the bars, to make a few extra bucks and circumvent the liquor laws?

You bet. And there is not a single restaurant that would prefer the "private club" ripoff over being able to straightfowardly serve you a drink when you order one.

[Fred Hayek]

My first experience with dry counties was not a good one. In 1991 I rode in a USCF sanction bicycle race in Tyler TX. I was accused of advertising alcoholic beverages. At that time I was on the Lone Star Racing Team, which BTW was NOT sponsored by Lone Star Beer, but solely by Katy Schwinn on Mason Road by I-10 in Katy, TX.
This was the race with the infamous Coors Light incident.

[VeniVidiVici]

All liquor in Utah is under state control

I believe it is, or was, in Maryland too. It may exist in several states.

I know when I was stationed at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, TX (Tom Green County) one had to go across the Concho river to find a drink (besides on base) and had to pay a dollar for a one-day membership to boot.

[evets]

[Mind-numbed Robot]

It is all a money issue, or to say it another way, a staying in office business. In a religious county, or precinct, the politicians are for no liquor. Once in office, they notice all the tax dollars going to the other guy. Then they change their minds.

[hadit2here]

If you wouldn't let me tell you what to do...

Your comment is a good corollary to one made by one of my favorite authors, who had uncanny insight into the character of man:

Under what circumstances is it moral for a group to do that which is not moral for a member of that group to do alone?
-- Robert Heinlein, "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress"

And another related:

There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him.
-- Robert Heinlein

[SmoothTalker]

"What makes it a "nanny-state" if it's the will of the people? These are all "voted upon" issues."

I don't like the philosophy of a big government that tells the citizens what to do. I don't care if citizens voted for prohibiting drinks or cigarettes or certain political ideas or guns. I still don't like it and I don't trust those who would use government to enforce social norms regardless of whether they are liberals or conservatives. As a conservative, I value small government.

[2Jedismom]

I think all of Smith County is dry...

I remember my FIL from Wisconsin was standing in the check out line with me at the Brookshire's in Tyler and saying "Oh, wait...I need to go get some beer." He turned around to walk off and I said "Ok, but you've got a mighty long walk!"

He looked at me with complete shock and amazement...I just thought it was so funny!

[decal]

"Impact and Abilene...best Texas example."

Isreal Ybanez bought an old CCC camp just outside Lamesa from the Feds, moved his family into it, and got it incorporated, naming it for them (Los Ybanez). First thing he did was get it made wet - and it's still the only wet town in the county. The surrounding counties are dry as well.

Guess what he does for a living?

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/LL/hll84.html

[jammer]

Yes, you're right about Abilene. My parents were close friends with the [one of the] attorn[ey,ies] who argued the case for Abilene in the Supreme Court, losing obviously. I was too young to know her arguments, but they couldn't possibly have any--er--impact in a free society. Thanks for the memories.

BTW, Impact was correct in it's arguments, but I *do* think local people have the right to govern themselves the way they want, e.g., not allowing liquor sales. The best government is at the most local level.

[Texas2step]

I don't like the philosophy of a big government that tells the citizens what to do. I don't care if citizens voted for prohibiting drinks or cigarettes or certain political ideas or guns. I still don't like it and I don't trust those who would use government to enforce social norms regardless of whether they are liberals or conservatives. As a conservative, I value small government.

Smith County has been dry for about as long as "dry" existed. You don't like a dry county, don't move here. Why should your will trump mine. My will being I don't want package stores all over my nice clean city, the image it portrays, the elements that are associated with it, etc.

It's no different than desiring not to have strip clubs in my neighborhood, in my opinion. I would venture to guess that 90% of the people who would want the county to go wet moved into this county when it was already dry.

What gives them the right to force their desires on me?

Plenty of places around that are wet. Go live there. Not so many place that are dry. Leave my dry county alone.

[Texas2step]

The "will of the people" has it's limits. If you wouldn't let me tell you what to do, why are you willing to let me and 500 of my neighbors tell you what to do?

Yes, it does, and should, have it's limits. That street goes both ways. Smith's been dry a long, long time. Many, many people moved here because it's dry. Most of us would like to keep it that way.

It's not as if you couldn't get a drink in this city. You don't even have to buy a membership any more. I don't mind that, either. Package stores in Kilgore and Coffee City aren't that far away for those who would like to purchase their booze in a bottle or can. :-)

[vetvetdoug]

I see Val Verde and Big Bend Counties are wet. One could be on the wrong side of the county and still have to drive 70-100 miles to find a liquor store.....

[southern rock]

Why should your will trump mine. My will being I don't want package stores all over my nice clean city, the image it portrays, the elements that are associated with it, etc.

Because the will of the one who desires to exercise freedom, should always trump the will of the one who wishes to deny freedom.

[Texas2step]

Because the will of the one who desires to exercise freedom, should always trump the will of the one who wishes to deny freedom.

Ah, my friend. That knife slices both ways. Does your freedom to do as you wish trump my freedom to do as I wish?

If you were/are a smoker, would your freedom to smoke give you the right to blow smoke in my face? I don't think you would believe it would grant you that freedom without trumping my freedom to breathe clean air.

I fail to see how wanting to keep Smith county dry trumps your freedom to drink (or mine, for that matter). Either way, someone's will will be imposed upon another. Let those who live in the area decide.