May 11 2009
Sunday Musings: Nanny Nanny Nanny
My day job intruded tonight with some after hours hi pri stuff, so this will be short.
One of the things that seems to be more and more prevalent is the nannyism of government. Not just econannies, but also social nannies.
The operative principle of the government right now seems to be “let us do that for you, because you cannot be trusted to do it your self…”
They want to mandate the rules around as many aspects of our lives as they can.
Some of their works are necessary, I have to admit. But things like the Yard Sale post bring home the fact that in the eyes of our Government, we are too stupid and ignorant to control our own lives.
I personally resent that. I believe I have sufficient capacity to decide for myself most of the choices I want to make.
One way that really pisses me off in this state is alcohol. We have to buy any hard liquor we want from the state run liquor stores. State run means fixed prices, extra taxes and a limited stock and selection., W e get to buy what they think we want.
A friend from another state and I compared some prices recently. When I visit him, he and I like to share a glass of this particular spirit. He can buy a huge bottle for 31 bucks…at Costco for crying out loud. I can get the same one at the state store for 10 dollars more. With the state stores being the only game in town, there is no competition and no way to get the best price.
In a more irritating development, one of my favorite liqueurs has been discontinued by the stores here. And since Washington wont allow you to ship spirits into the state, I cannot order it myself. I think I can order it special by the case through the store.
But were this a state that had a free market, I could find another store that chose to carry it.
Here I cannot, because Washington is stuck in the 50’s.
The bottom line is that the State of Washington does not trust her citizens to make responsible choices. That or they just want a choke hold on anything that they can control to make a buck.
And either way, I am sick of it.
Just my rambling 2 cents tonight, but I think it is time for both the State and the Federal Governments to accept that its citizens are adults and worthy of some choices.
Trackposted to Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Rosemary’s Thoughts, third world county, Allie is Wired, Nuke Gingrich, Woman Honor Thyself, The World According to Carl, The Pink Flamingo, CORSARI D’ITALIA, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
4 Responses to “Sunday Musings: Nanny Nanny Nanny”
At least when I was on Whidbey Island for over half of my career, I had the main exchange package store to get my hard liquor. The state intrusion was minimal. As a Retiree in Wichita, Kansas, we have a plethora of liquor stores within 3 mile radius of my house. The state does control things tightly, however. So, if I want any, I go to the Class 6 Store at McConnell AFB.
Find a retired guy from the Forces and ask for assistance. It will probably be given. Then send a note to Christine.
Hi Karl — gotta agree with you on this…much better system in Arizona and much of the SW. You *can* however ship alcohol into Washington state w/o any excise tax (but of course they get you on the shipping).
Check out: http://www.internetwines.com (they have a lot more than wine)
Oregon has always been kind of a shock. In Illinois and California, you can buy liquor at the grocery, along with the milk and the eggs, if you’re so inclined. We’re not as bad as Canada, of course - where you have to go to a “beer store” to purchace a six-pack. It’s a “progressive” state, after all.
Now, as for your friend and his CostCo purchases: remember that he has to shell out $40-$50 each year for the privilege of buying there. So while the state may be charging you ten bucks more for the same product, you’d have to buy half a dozen bottles of sauce from CostCo before you’d start seeing any real benefit.
I joined CostCo once, and found that unless you really know your prices, you’re only thinking you’re saving. Many times, I found lower prices for the same products in the same sizes at Fred Meyer or Thriftway. Certainly, there are some good deals to be had, but only if you know the prices going in.
Oregon has a system, where the state controls it all. What really gets my goat here, though, is they sell their hard stuff to the “native American” casinos at about 2/3 the price of what they sell to their own stores, so the casinos can sell cheap drinks!
And as far as Costco goes, they generally have the cheapest gas in town, and their pharmacies are usually cheaper, too (but not always). Max is right, you have to be careful, but with the gas and drugs, I save a considerable amount over a year’s time.