Dude! Joe's Jottings, Mostly Junk

McDonnell's plan to privatize the liquor stores under licenses and get the state out of the business, which is ethically the right thing to do, was shot down by the VA legislature who let the bill just die without a debate or a vote.  Oddly, the *fear* of partisanship kicking, rather than any real partisanship, in actually helped kill the thing.

McDonnell is handed legislative defeat as Virginia assembly drops bill to privatize liquor stores:

Democrats, who narrowly control the Senate, refused to let McDonnell's measure be heard until it was debated in the GOP-led House. But House Republicans declined to let the bill be considered because it was expected to be killed: A Democrat had introduced the legislation against McDonnell's wishes.

Now, the idea that more stores ==> more consumption is absolutely ludicrous. Those who drink, will drink. That they only have to drive 2 miles to get a bottle of Jim Beam instead of 10, or that stores will be free to look at alternate distributors to provide differing products in the rare category (like, say more than the 15 brands of scotch you find on a VA shelf these days) is not in any way going to change their overall consumption.  It's not like it can (legally) increase underage liquor, since teenagers can't legally get the stuff in any case, nor will it increase drinking around the colleges, every one in VA already having a liquor store within reasonable walking/busing distance.

That the money doesn't quite add up (in the short term) is a valid excuse, but at least get talking about it.  Jerks...on both sides...