Opinion Talk

By Burdell

March 28, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this

I’ve read the RWJ study, and it’s hardly conclusive.

However, if the governor wants to ban things that cause death, he’s got a long list to choose from. I’d think Sunday booze sales falls pretty low on that list.

By KJG

March 28, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this

Maybe we should outlaw smoking cigarettes and eating fast food on Sundays, as well. Sonny is a joke.

By Gus

March 28, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this

Sonny seems to only see the citizens fit to vote on issues on a selective basis. Citizens can vote on the flag? Sure, I know what the outcome will be. Vote on Sunday liquor sales? No way, I know what the outcome will be.

Sonny is proving himself to be just another Southern Baptist hypocrit who wants to force his personal beliefs (the belief of a minority of the population, not the majority) on the citizenry. PATHETIC.

By Red

March 28, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

I believe the correct word, AJC, is cites, not sites. Nevertheless, saftey is a avery weak argument for opposing Sunday sales. If there really was such a study, wonder who financed it? The anti-alcohol crowd? Why would people have a tendancy to wreck on Sunday, more than any other day of the week? They can get drunk and drive on Sunday now. So what is the difference?

By Jeff

March 28, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

Sonny,

You are insane. Going to church on Sunday increases your chances of death by just stepping out of your house, getting into your car and driving to the church. Is that going to keep you from going to church? HELL NO! Let us freaking vote on whether or not we want Sunday sales in our community. Let the people speak!

By Jeff

March 28, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

Sonny,

You are insane. Going to church on Sunday increases your chances of death by just stepping out of your house, getting into your car and driving to the church. Is that going to keep you from going to church? HELL NO! Let us freaking vote on whether or not we want Sunday sales in our community. Let the people speak!

By Tmoney

March 28, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

What?

a: Buy beer on Sunday, go home and drink it… …or

b: Go to a bar/resturaunt on Sunday, buy beer, drink beer, drive home…

…which is more likely to lead to problems?

By The Nerd

March 28, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

With all due respect, Gov. Perdue, it is not you who deceive wheither or not we should vote for alcohol sales on Sunday. It is up to us who deceive wheither we should do it. After all, this IS the government of, by, AND for the people.

By John Q. Public

March 28, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

Dear Sonny,

Please don’t allow the citizen’s of Georgia the opportunity to express their unalienable right to vote and determine their course. Continue to be obstinate, unapproachable, and rightous in defense of alcohol sales on Sunday to the masses as it may cause for Georgians to have to good a time and go causing accidents. (Something they only should do during the other opportunities provide throughout the week.) Just keep the firewater from being sold to those who would like to impart of it and keep those slovenly “moonshiners” from selling it making revenue for the state and possibly easing the traffic congestion through the revenue generated to create mass transit and build more roads in a metro area that has only 3 major highways. Sonny, as a Georgian, I thank you for your continued ignorance and disdain for the public. All the best.

J.Q. Public

By Ed

March 28, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this

If that is the case, why prohibit alcohol sales on Friday or Saturday, when most drinking is done. Shoot, why not go back to Prohibition, Governor? How many lives would be saved then?

Try another tack!

By rob

March 28, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

Where is the data for the other 46 states that allow alcohol sales on Sunday? He won’t publish that because there is no significant proof. STAY OUT OF OUR PERSONAL LIFE MR. GOVENOR

By Just Nasty and Mean

March 28, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

Sonny has all but admitted he doesn’t want beer sales on Sunday because of his religion.

Isn’t he obligated to separate his religious beliefs from decisions as governor?

What a buffoon.

By Jesus H. Christ

March 28, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

Sonny, I know you’ve been praying about this with your pollsters. My answer is I couldn’t care less if there were alcohol sales on Sunday in Georgia. They sell it in most every state and nation on Sundays and I don’t love those people any less. Back in my day I picked up a bottle or two of vino on the Sabbath, which some believe is Saturday. But I don’t consider it a sin and when you worship is OK, too. Hope this helped.

By Jesus H. Christ

March 28, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

Oh, and Sonny, I have forgiven you for lying and saying you didn’t know in advance about the secret, just-for-you tax break. But you really should admit your lie to the people of Georgia. They deserve that. If you’d take care of that for me, I’d appreciate it. OK?

By Joe Bland

March 28, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

I see my wife has started posting on here. Just Nasty and Mean.

By Mark

March 28, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

Sonny Purdue champions free market rights. What bigger right for the individual and the company than to buy/sell what they usually sell everyday? Purdue is a hypocrite! It smells like the Gov’na has some good ol’ boy in his pocket. I challenge someone to get to the bottom of this!

By Randy

March 28, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

I think it is ludicrous that our State Government is still trying to dictate what we can & can’t do, just remember Mr. Governor November is fastly approaching and we will have a say then unless you try and cancel the election. We the people of Ga. should have the same opportunites as other states to choose whether we wan’t to liquer up on Sunday’s or not, it is our choice as voters and not you as the GREAT CONSERVATIVE.

By Brill

March 28, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

I tell people one of the main reasons I lean to the conservative side is that I believe the govt. is not supposed to be a “parent” and tell us “we know what is best for you” like we are children. But I hear the real reason is the distributors call the shots in this state and he is just doing what he is told to do. Nonetheless, I will vote for anyone else but him next time around.

By Sonny Perdue

March 28, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this

I don’t drink so you shouldn’t either. As a matter of fact, I’m thinking about banning the sales of alcohol all together. If you want to drink, you will have to leave MY state.

I have legislation in the house right now, trying to make church attendance mandatory at MY church. If you choose not to attend MY church, I will have you arrested.

You people need to start thinking the way I do, since you elected me to run this state.

Separation of church and state? PUH leeze……I’ll do as I please, and there is nothing you can do about it.

HA HA HA HA…….the power is MINE.

By Dan

March 28, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

Sonny isn’t up for re-election again, he’s served his 2 terms. That’s why he’s promoting his teetotaler agenda. Sunday sales are just a matter of time. The only political recourse we have is to vote out his bible beating friends in the state house.

By Bosch

March 28, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

Mr. Perdue,

Seriously. I am genuinely agog by your deep concern for the safety of Georgian citizens, but really? This is your defense?

First it was you were trying to teach us time management, and now you are just trying to protect us?

Sometimes I wonder if he has no advisors who will read over opinion editorials like this and ask him, “Really? Do you really want to go ahead and send that to print?”

I mean, I know that everyone is entitled to their opinion, but when their opinion infringes on the rights of the people who elected him to office, one must really ask themselves, “Is this man really competent enough to run this state?”

By Randall

March 28, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

I am tired of the Sonny bashing on this page! Our country is going far away from the moral values our ancestors had. It’s not like you can’t buy the beer on any other day of the week. We definitely do not need more alcohol.

By SHar

March 28, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this

I say if Sonny Perdue is so concerned about DUI accidents he should veto the legislation coming from the Legislature that makes it easier for repeat offenders to take their defensive driving classes online, and he should introduce legislation that confiscates the cars and licenses of repeat offenders. Sunday sales of packaged alcohol are not the problem - excessive drinking followed by driving is. Let people stay home with their booze, and don’t give them a second chance if they choose to put others at risk on the roads.

By T.J.

March 28, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

when you libs need studies from the health community to support your socialist (universal healthcare) agenda, it’s all well and good. when those same organizations limit your booze intake, you’ve got a problem.

sounds like you all have a drinking problem.

the study:

Car Crashes, Fatalities Rise Sharply With New Mexico Sunday Package Liquor Sales

By Mark

March 28, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

I have no problem buying alcohol on Sundays. I simply hit the tavern, and drive home drunk. Maybe I’ll kill an innocent child along the way, but that’s what Sonny and his illiterate xtian lemmings prefer I do.

By AA

March 28, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this

Mark, maybe should should get some help. If drinking on Sunday is that important to you you might want to review your priorities.

By Thomas

March 28, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

The moral men who founded this country made their own. We should go back to that.

By dave

March 28, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

I’m just going to SUE him on behalf of all GA’s residents. Time to seperate church and state (HIS church). It’s illegal. I guess we’ll find out. If anything it’s going to get my name in the paper…haha… (I’m actually going to do this folks)…see ya on da news!

By Buzzfan®

March 28, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

Yet, he didn’t want to sign the indoor smoking ban in ‘05, citing governement intrusion….

From Atlanta Business Chronicle (04/01/2005)…

*The governor also said he is worried about the state restricting personal freedoms.

“I am very concerned about the state of the state with government being the be all, end all nanny for everybody.” *

By Mark

March 28, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

AA

I was being sarcastic. But even if I wasn’t, you need to mind your own business.

By hrw

March 28, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

We do have amble time to purchase any alcohol drinks. I know we have many opinions; however, that’s why we are in a very steep downward trend because of that dollar bill. I urge everyone to uphold some type of respects, honor and sure rights for Sunday’s regardless how you feel about buying alcohol berverage. From Monday thru Saturday, is that enough time? Let’s not let America turn into a sea of alcohol consumption 7 days a week; we put people lives at state and we forget we are a settle people of these United States of America.

By dave

March 28, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

HRW, why Sunday? Why can’t it be switched to Wednesday? This is about RELIGION. There are others that live in this state that do NOT follow christianity. Myself included. Why must I obey a law that is only in place because of religious beliefs? They are not my religious beliefs, so I should not be forced to observe them. Regardless if I choose to drink or not drink, I should not have the religious beliefs of others forced upon me. That my friend, is against the law. It is why I’m going to sue.

By Mark

March 28, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

hrw

Is that you, Sonny?

By ATL resident

March 28, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

T.J.-

Make your best argument why guns and cigarettes shouldn’t also be banned on Sunday. Lots of conclusive studies showing that they kill people too. It’s a little hypocritical to want small government except when it suits your individual agenda. Then it’s government of the nanny, by the nanny, and for the nanny.

By songbird

March 28, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

I just read the entire study on line and it’s so easy to twist statistics to tell the story you want.

Here are some interesting facts straight from the study with my calculations of the percentage changes for accidents on Sunday, pre and post the law change.

Alcohol related crashes pre law change were 1536 for a 36 month period; that number increased 0.7% to 1548 for the 36-month period post law change.

Non-alcohol related Sunday crashes pre law change were 9558 for the 36 month period; that number increased 9.1% to 10428 for the 36 month period post law change.

The total number of accidents increased by 7.9% for the 36 months after the law change, but the majority of those accidents were not alcohol related. In fact, 98.6% of the increased accidents for the 36 month period after the law change were not alcohol related.

Ain’t it fun to lie with statistics when it suits your cause. Here’s the website - read it for your self. The statistics sound great until you realize they over complicated the analysis.

http://www.accountablegovernment.org/sundaysales.htm

By Mark

March 28, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

dave

Good post. I can’t believe that our freedoms are being limited by a few retards who believe in a magical man in the sky. Seperation of church and state is necessary, as us reasonable people don’t believe in voodoo. People need to keep their ignorant beliefs at home or in their church, and stop subjecting us reasonable thinking people with your xtian idiocy.

By T.J.

March 28, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

Make your best argument

2nd Amendment.

driving while smoking doesn’t kill innocents on the road.

i’ve got no problem with the vice tax or restrictions on advertising tabacco products. the state law prohibiting smoking in public places is another one that will get no objection from me.

drink it up my friend.

wasn’t it the libs that tried to sue gun manufacturers? who’s to say they won’t try to sue establishments that sell on sundays. they’ve tried to hold bartenders legally responsible in the past.

personal responsibility means nothing to a lib. if they can make it somebody else’s fault, they will.

By ATL resident

March 28, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t alcohol legal if you’re over 21? And nobody would be restricting the right of the people to smoke or keep and bear arms on Sunday; just to BUY them. Are you saying that guns and cigarettes don’t kill people on Sundays?

And your ‘personal responsibility’ statement is the best of all: shouldn’t we, not the Nanny State, be personally responsible for whether and how much we drink on Sundays?

By Cold Nub

March 28, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

How did this idiot get elected?

By Wood Johnson

March 28, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this

I have lived in GA all of my life, and I have voted both Republican and Democrat over the years. When I voted Republican - it was primarily because of fiscal matters and not generally for support of the causes of the religious right. This issue of Sunday booze sales typifies my issue with the Republicans. Instead of being the party of less taxes and government intrusion, this group cannot help but get tangled in these issues of personal choice primarily on traditional religious grounds. I will not even get into matters like Jesus and the miracle of turning water into wine or whether the Sabbath is historically Saturday or Sunday.

To me this is not a moral or even a “planning” issue but one of convenience and adult choice. I do not plan to have a glass of wine, but decide in a given evening that I would like a glass of wine - just like I do not plan my trips to the grocery store around my wine cellar’s needs and Georgia’s Sunday prohibition. It seems preposterous that we are debating this issue in the 21st Century. I worry that the Republicans, and primarily Sonny, are taking us backward instead of forward. From ongoing cuts in education spending to this kind of nonsense, I will probably be voting with the Democrats again soon. Why not let the good people of Georgia decide this issue - probably because that would encourage the wrong kind of turnout for the Sonny supporters in coming elections.

By Mark

March 28, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this

Cold Nub

The same way W did.

Also, remember you are in Georgia.

By ATL resident

March 28, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

Wow. Wood, you may have actually hit the nail on the head. It never occurred to me, but that might be exactly why Sonny opposes it. “Personal choice be d@mned; I just don’t want those people coming out to the polls in November.” It makes perfect sense from an electoral perspective, and he gets points with his religious base to boot.

By ATL resident

March 28, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

T.J.-

Two other things:

wasn’t it the libs that tried to sue gun manufacturers?

No, it was the Republican mayor of NYC, who also sued my favorite firearms store (Adventure Outdoors).

who’s to say they won’t try to sue establishments that sell on sundays. they’ve tried to hold bartenders legally responsible in the past.

Bartenders are already legally responsible under Georgia law. It’s called the Dram Shop Act, O.C.G.A. sec. 51-1-40. And if you don’t like it, you should take it up with your Republican legislature and Governor.

By T.J.

March 28, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

government’s leaders have a responsibility to the collective whole. when individuals want to shun their personal responsibility at the risk of the collective, it’s acceptable for the government to scrutinize.

By It's beer-thirty

March 28, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

The religious hegemon in charge of our state government needs to stop limiting the choice of its citizens based on beliefs not held by everyone. Sonny and pals have proffered every tired argument against Sunday sales they can come up with, the latest being this illogical idea that drinking in a bar on Sunday and driving home is less dangerous than staying home to imbibe. I think we should limit the christians to one day of religious observance ONLY so the zealotry can be contained. Wonder what Bozo the governor would think of that? Drop the pretenses Sonny and go back to church so you can pray for the job I hope you lose soon instead…

By Bosch

March 28, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this

Booze=death?

I can honestly say, I’ve felt certainly like death after a hard night of booze, but really.

How did this idiot get elected? The idiots who keep voting for him.

BAAAAAA!!!!!!!

By ATL resident

March 28, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

when individuals want to shun their personal responsibility at the risk of the collective, it’s acceptable for the government to scrutinize

By that logic, alcohol should not be sold on any day. Shouldn’t Georgia’s government just scrutinize every day for the good of the collective? But then, that would be robbing the citizens of their right to personal choice, wouldn’t it? I still haven’t heard your rationale for why such scrutiny (a/k/a ‘nannying’) is OK on Sundays, but not the rest of the week. I also haven’t heard your explanation about why smokes and guns (also both perfectly legal) shouldn’t be sold on Sunday.

By 2008

March 28, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

This is still Sonny trying to legislate morality. Sonny should be enough of a leader to allow the VOTERS to decide.

By ATL resident

March 28, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this

I also haven’t heard your explanation about why smokes and guns (also both perfectly legal) shouldn’t be sold on Sunday.

Should have been “shouldn’t be prohibited on Sunday.” Sorry; rant cramp.

By Fulton

March 28, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

The Gov is gravely out of touch, like most of his ilk…

As for, Wood Johnson? Now, there’s a guy with common sense mixed with a splash of integrity. Both of which are sorely lacking from most blogging comments and it’s a refreshing change. Thanx, WJ!!

By Dandy Don

March 28, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

Everyone here continues to miss the REAL reason. It has nothing to do with his religion. The Governor uses that as his convenient excuse. It is all about CROWN DISTRIBUTING and the LIQUOR LOBBY. His pals out of Columbus don’t want this to happen. The Liquor store owners do not want to compete with Sunday sales in the grocery and convenient stores that do not sale liquor! Open your eyes fellow Georgians!

By Eric

March 28, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this

If Sunday is the Sabbath (for Christians), and this day is so important to honor, then why isn’t work banned as well? Oh, I forgot, capitalism has turned us into a 24/7 society, we no longer have time to drink. We are too busy!

By Brill

March 28, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

Dandy Don,

That is what I hear from people who work in the industry… “Allow the people to vote on it and have fun waking up with a horse head in your bed”. Signed, C.D.

By T.J.

March 28, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

ATL resident - sales of any vices monday through saturday/sunday test the responsibility of the collective. not doing too well are we?

where in the constitution does it say we have the right to booze it up?

government restrictions on tobacco ads and a restrictive vice tax have proven effective. i’ll say this again; driving and smoking doesn’t put the public at risk. drinking and driving does. if one day of no access to booze cuts down on deaths then that’s a plus. hell, libs want to abolish the death penalty for criminals but don’t want to abolish deaths by drunk drivers.

have it your way! drink till your liver turns to stone. your heart already has.

last call.

last post.

By Brill

March 28, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

T.J.

I love the passion….but doesn’t the drinking and driving position you take, make the othersides point ? I think it has been posted and re-posted about the hypocrisy of being able to get sloshed at a bar on Sunday but not safely have a drink in your own home ? I respect you for coming on and taking a position as defendable as Brian Nicholl’s defense attorney will have to attempt to make.

By ATL resident

March 28, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this

T.J.-

where in the constitution does it say we have the right to booze it up?

The 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Yes, there are amendments other than the 2nd.

driving and smoking doesn’t put the public at risk. drinking and driving does. if one day of no access to booze cuts down on deaths then that’s a plus.

Three inconsistencies here: 1) doesn’t that mean that alcohol should be banned every day, not just Sunday?; 2) isn’t one of your Republican legislators ramming through a bill that would allow Sunday sales at the Gwinnett ballpark?; and 3) should the ‘one day ban’ also apply to bars and restaurants?

have it your way! drink till your liver turns to stone. your heart already has.

Heh heh; the personal attack. The last refuge of someone whose losing the argument.

T.J., your boy Sonny is doing this to force his version of religion on us and/or to suck up to some big money lobby. And you can’t seem to come up with any other logical way to explain it.

By mike

March 28, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

Dave wrote:

“I’m just going to SUE him on behalf of all GA’s residents. Time to seperate church and state (HIS church). It’s illegal. I guess we’ll find out. If anything it’s going to get my name in the paper…haha… (I’m actually going to do this folks)…see ya on da news!”

No you won’t. Like most of the liberals on this board, you aren’t going o do anything but post mindless comments on blogs all day.

By Mike

March 28, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this

“Sunday booze=death”

How typical of the AJC to break any story down into a biased headline.

The AJC stopped caring about educating its readers a long time ago. Now they just want to beat their own personal political views into our heads. No wonder their circulation is sinking like a stone.

By Need a stiff one

March 28, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this

They probably drinking tequilla for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The way the government is alwasys crying about money I’m sure they should welcome the tax benefits of the Sunday sales. We deserve the right!

By Bruce Burnaman

March 28, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

Editor:

An open letter to Governor Sonny Purdue:

Dear Sonny,

Glad to hear that you see the public’s safety as Job One in your role as Governor. To that end, I would like to offer the following two initiatives for you to get done as soon as possible during this legislative session:

1) Since you are opposed to Sunday liquor sales because of a perceived threat to public safety, I think it would be incumbent upon you to favor legislation outlawing liquor sales every day of the week. Just think; No more DUI’s involving death or injury on ANY day of the week in Georgia! By doing this, you’ll be going a long way towards “creating a safe Georgia” - one of the Cornerstones of your administration. Possession of any type of alcoholic beverage in Georgia should be a felony with a minimum punishment of one year in prison and a $500 fine per container for the first offense. But let’s not stop there.

2) The U. S. Bill of Rights allegedly gives citizens the right to bear arms and I will not argue that point here. It does not, however, give citizens the right to bear bullets. So, in order to create a safe Georgia (one of the Cornerstones of your administration, remember?), the ONLY ammo available for sale in Georgia should be BB’s and pellets. Possession of anything “stronger” should be a felony with a minimum punishment of five years in prison and a $500 fine per bullet for a first offense.

You know, people killed by a drive-by shootings, accidental gun misfires while cleaning, junior finding Dad’s loaded pistol under the bed and accidentally killing a playmate or sibling, random killings at a school by some fame-seeking wing-nut, etc. - those deaths are just as hard for family and friends to endure as that of a person killed by a drunk driver. The people killed are no less dead. “The damage it (bullets) stands to inflict is too heavy a burden for innocent families to bear.” With less gun violence, people will feel safer and might venture to downtown Atlanta and spend money, thus boosting sales tax revenue (another Cornerstone of your administration?).

I agree with you. “We cannot afford to jeopardize people’s lives, pretending our actions will have no consequences, even under the guise of letting people choose.” Take away the choice and make us all safer and don’t let the gun or the alcohol lobby derail you. Just remember, I can get just as drunk on a Tuesday as I can on a Sunday and if I get behind the wheel of a car with my trusty .380 in the glovebox (which I do every single day), well …

By George

March 28, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this

I’m upset about Sonny Purdue using the Highway Safety issue to deny Georgias the option to LOCALLY vote on this issue. This is the same Sonny Purdue saying that it could lead up to six (6) alcohol related traffic deaths per year. This is the same Sonny Purdue who has: 1) Fought behind the scene to stop the pickup truck seatbelt bill from moving forward. That would save between to lives per year 2) Made it known that he would veto any bill that required children to be in a booster seat util they reach the approprpriate size “not the state’s role to guide parents) 3) Is preparing to sign the bill that would let DUI offenders take their driver’s education test ONLINE to again drive 4) Has fought all attempts to INCREASE the penalties for DUI to include felony DUI for repeat offenders. So don’t talk about this being a highway safety issue.

By Big Al

March 28, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this

…and there is a possibility that Sonny could be the Republican Vice-Presidential nominee alongside John McCain. If that happens, and if the McCain-Perdue ticket wins this November, then the other 47 states better watch out! If Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton continue to attack each other, then all this will happen!

If there is one thing that I want Sonny to know, it is that he should leave me and my grocer alone! I want the freedom to choose. For the love of God - please, Sonny - put it on top of the “Sonny-do” list!

By Adam

March 28, 2008 8:25 PM | Link to this

The specious reasoning behind the Governor’s position is transparent. His argument is not against alcohol on Sunday, but alcohol period.

So, instead of simply being honest about the source of his opposition, he decided try to frighten us with “statistics.” Basically, he said that if we legalize Sunday package sales 371 more people will die every year AND it will be YOUR fault.

If that’s the case why not outlaw all alcohol sales? By the Governor’s math we would save 2597 lives every year! If the Governor is such a statistics driven leader, why hasn’t he introduced legislation to ban all alcohol sales? I guess by his logic, Sonny wants 2600 Georgians to die every year from DUI related crashes?

The Governor’s column is insulting to the intelligence of everyone who read it. The ban on Sunday alcohol sales was put in place because Sunday is the Lord’s day and that is the only reason. In an increasingly secular and religiously diverse State that rationale is no longer sufficient.

Governor Perdue, at least have the intellectual honesty to say that you do not want to offend the large contingent of Southern Baptist voters who you need to solidify the Republican base.

By Vincent Ferrara

March 30, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

I guess libertarians are the only ones who are reliably consistent about what they want to government to stay out of - everything. The “conventional” political left and right are more selective.

The right wants government to stay out of:

The left wants government to stay out of:

1.Your bedroom (Everyone was a consenting adult and no animals were harmed during the making of this orgy)

2.Your pot stash (Come on, man. It’s just pot.)

3.Your “artistic expression” (And even here it’s inconsistent. I read in the paper this morning that a museum in San Francisco removed an exhibit that contained images of animals being bludgeoned. I’ll bet they wouldn’t bat an eyelid piercing about displaying a Robert Maplethorpe retrospective.)

4.Your reproductive choices (After all, foes of abortion are really just interested in using the possibility of a wailing kid at 3:00am as a deterrent to discourage unauthorized pre-marital sex.)