Posted on 11/18/2020 11:35:18 AM PST by Kaslin
The government’s long-running and destructive effort to control our nation’s economy at all levels, which went into overdrive this year with the advent of COVID-19, barely slowed for the speed bump that was the November 3 election.
The current pattern has become distressingly clear and sadly predictable: issue declarations and then shame people into following them.
Without any science to support many of their recommendations, unelected bureaucrats and politicians enamored of the power their status provides, continue to propose radical and often nonsensical measures.
The American people can see this system at work simply by skimming through Joe Biden’s official transition agenda. It includes implementing mask mandates nationwide and many other Nanny State proclamations. Others have proposed mandates even worse than Biden’s, including wearing a mask between bites at dinner and refraining from getting together during Thanksgiving. Some have even suggested that failure to wear a mask should make one an accessory to murder in the eyes of the law.
These decrees have hurt all 50 states, including my home state of Georgia, in a big way. Mandates have caused the loss of over 60,000 jobs in the Peach State’s food and accommodations sectors alone. Unfortunately, Uncle Sam is not yet done interfering in Georgia’s affairs.
Biden’s COVID advisor already is discussing another four-to-six week nationwide lockdown to “control” the pandemic. Doing this would devastate Georgia’s already struggling businesses and the workers they employ. But even that is not enough for the Nanny State.
If not overruled soon, this bureaucratic intervention is on track to hit Georgians even harder, by reaching into one of the people’s small pleasures — enjoying a beer or other alcoholic beverage. This could be accomplished with a typical regulatory punch, called “Guidelines.”
The federal government’s Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) recently announced a plan to change long-standing, science-based alcohol consumption recommendations for adult males, reducing them by half down to just a single drink per day.
It is not exactly clear why the committee, which helps the government revise the dietary guidelines every half-decade, chose to make this new recommendation. The preponderance of science clearly shows no health risks with adults enjoying a couple of glasses of beer or other alcoholic beverage each day. Moreover, nearly half of the studies the DGAC reviewed showed that there may be health benefits to moderate consumption, but the DGAC still has plowed ahead with its restrictive recommendation.
Beyond its impact on an adult’s ability to make responsible decisions about what they drink, the DGAC proposal will cause further financial harm to thousands of restaurants and bars in Georgia and every other state.
The government’s dietary guidelines frequently are used as the basis for other stifling regulatory methods to limit consumption based on bureaucratic whims. Assuming this to be the desired goal in this instance is hardly an irrational fear. In fact, one of the advisors on the 2020 DGAC happens to be a well-known advocate for policies to reduce alcohol sales.
Even viewed in the most favorable light, the DGAC’s new recommendation constitutes an irritating display of the warped priorities too often underlying government actions. Right now, officials in Washington should be focusing on passing the moribund stimulus bill that small businesses in Georgia and elsewhere need and deserve, instead of spending their time and our money convincing grown men to stop drinking a couple of beers during a Braves or Falcons game.
But there is hope. While it may fall to the DGAC to make recommendations, it is the president who makes the final call.
Within just a few weeks, the Trump Administration will decide whether or not to adopt the committee’s recommendations. Unlike many bureaucrats and politicians, those in this White House have been refreshingly hesitant to impose mandates and orders not grounded in either science or common sense.
It is to be hoped that this Administration will in this instance do what is needed to crack down on regulatory nannies, and thereby protect home-state businesses and ensure Georgians and our fellow countrymen retain their freedom to choose.
I do too, but mark my word, these petty tyrants will raise taxes on the hops, grain, yeast or other ingredients just to show you that they can.
If prohibition didn't teach them anything I don't know what will. Maybe a bat to their heads?
Remember the food pyramid?
Thread killed. :)
Lol. Prohibition again. The totalitarian freaks never learn.
Guck the Fovernment.
I saw what you did there lol
I haven’t paid attention to the dietary guidelines in decades. They’re just junk science and generally proved wrong after a few years.
Crap! The election steal by Dems had me up to many bottles a day!
” issue declarations and then shame people into following them.”
Good think I have no shame.
The symbolism in Barr’s message:
1. It’s Trump against Biden.
2. Have a beer or two and relax.
3. The tyrants will be “soon overruled.”
College days
I have a cousin that can open his throat and drink faster than that. I was fast, but not that fast. We used to hustle other patrons in the bars to a drinking contest with free beers as the prize, and he’d win every single time. That made our money last longer.
He’s also a really big fella, so we didn’t have to worry about getting beat up for it.
Well you made me smile.
In my State, we can produce pretty much anything at home for personal consumption including shine. I drank too much once, just once.
Next - government-supplied Victory Gin.
Bob Barr, former Congressman and 2008 Presidential candidate, not Bill Barr current AG.
It was probably twenty five years ago, at least, I remember winning tickets for a closed circuit boxing broadcast at a club type venue. Won the beer chugging contest. I believe the ticket was for a Tyson/Holyfield fight, but it’s been so long ago.
In NH (aka the live free or die state) it is illegal to be above the legal limit (.08). They have undercover police whom go around and audit bars credit card receipts for any single patron buying too many drinks in too short of a time. They try to breathalize those whom are too stupid to realize that they don’t have to agree to a breathalizer test unless they are behind the wheel. For each violation, you can be fined $500 and get 6 months in jail. Naturally prosecutors opt for probation. You guessed it, the probation requires mandatory AA meetings and random urine testing. NH also has a three strikes law, in that if you are caught tipsy in a bar three times, you can do 20 years in the slammer.
Also, let’s say you’re a college kid, at a frat party where you’ve been drinking. If you are under 21, and the police issue you a ticket for drinking (a 74 dollar fine) your license is automatically suspended for 3 years. Imagine, you’re 20 years and 11 months old, and you lose your license for 3 years.
This, in a state which has no seatbelt law (for adults) and no motorcycle helmet laws. Go figure. MADD and their lobbyists are now pushing for a .02 limit, nationwide.
If you can find a six / twelve pack of Yuengling Hersheys Chocolate Porter, try some.
I bought some on a whim the other day and... wow!
I’m not into “flavored” beers, flavored coffee, or any of the like, but this chocolate porter is incredible.
If you hate it, I’ll buy what you don’t drink.
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