A response from my representatives
Well, a couple weeks ago, I posted my letter to my state representatives regarding the Ohio law which prohibits some alcohol sales on Sundays.
I heard back from representative Jeff Wagner (R) within a day. His response follows:
Mr. Cummings,
Thank you for your e mail. I am certainly not an expert on this issue especially since I do not drink. I am 48 years old and in my lifetime what is acceptable on Sunday has changed considerably. When I was a kid very few stores were open on Sunday, most people did not shop, mow lawn etc. The prohibition on Sunday liquor sales is probably a holdover from that time and I can understand the wishes of some to change that. That being said in my lifetime I have also witnessed what I feel is a deterioration of society. Since the time I was a kid the divorce rate, crime rate, children born to single moms, etc have all gone up considerably as well. Is lack of respect for Sunday and God connected to the deterioration of basic values in society? I think so. I for one do not believe in the misguided notion of separation of church and state. You cannot find that phrase anywhere in our Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc. That phrase was taken from a private letter from Thomas Jefferson and has been taken way out of context. Do I think not allowing wine sales on Sunday really makes us that much more moral? No, but allowing it would be another step in the wrong direction in my opinion.
Jeff Wagner
Wow… um… ok. First of all, nowhere in my message did I mention “separation of church and state.” I did ask the question “What business does the government have legislating religion??” I’m sticking with that… The rest of Mr. Wagner’s response is rambling and pontificating. “Lack of respect for Sunday?” Oy… Jews believe in God, no?? Their sabbath is Saturday, right? Hmmmmmm…. How about a lack of respect for cultures other than your own, Mr. Wagner?
I could go on and on… but let’s give my other representative a little time here too. I finally heard back from state senator, Karen Gillmor (R) yesterday (almost 2 months after I sent my email). Here is what she had to say:
April 14, 2009
Dear Mr. Cummings:
I received your e-mail expressing your opposition to Ohio’s law prohibiting wine and liquor sales on Sundays before 1 o’clock p.m. I apologize for the delay in my response, but we are currently in the midst of constructing a very difficult budget.
I saw that you also sent your letter to Representative Wagner. He was kind enough to share his response with me, and I agree with his position on this issue. I have also witnessed the deterioration of our society through my lifetime, and I do not wish to add to this trend. Although you did present a valid point regarding the collection of more revenue for the state, I feel that this law is one that does not need to be repealed.
Thank you for your correspondence; I do appreciate hearing the opinions of my constituents. If you have any additional concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely Yours,
Senator Karen L. Gillmor
26th DistrictKLG:rs
One of the things that really gets me here is that she “compared notes” with rep. Wagner before responding to me. Nice that she “appreciates hearing from her constituents” though… especially while she’s working on this “very difficult budget.” Didn’t my idea actually have budgetary implications??
Look, I’m a Christian. Know what? I like beer. Know what else??? I like beer on Sunday as much as I like it on Wednesday. I like wine too, like the hard stuff on occasion as well. Sounds to me like my elected officials think I’m contributing to the “deterioration of society.”
Is this the perfect example of “holier than thou,” or what?? I’ll remember this come November. Don’t these people work for us?? Seems like once they get elected, they become elite… happens to almost all politicians from what I can tell.
That government is best which governs least. — Thomas Paine
4 comments April 15 2009 10:13 pm | Pepperguy | Grant
Not sure if you’ve ever heard of them but there’s a very powerful lobbying group here in Ohio called Citizens for Community Values (CCV). I’ll leave you to ponder their mission and vision statements and let you decide for yourself if Mr. Wagner’s moral superiority is of his own experience or that of an organization who contributes mightily to a politician in the name of community values. Take note of the text, especially the part that says “…to reduce destructive behaviors contrary to those values…”
“Mission: Citizens for Community Values (CCV) exists to promote Judeo-Christian moral values, and to reduce destructive behaviors contrary to those values, through education, active community partnership, and individual empowerment at the local, state and national levels.
Vision: CCV is a grassroots organization of citizens who are concerned for the well-being of the community, the strength of its families, and the future of its children. We strive to be a leader in the restoration of those Judeo-Christian moral values upon which this country was founded in hopes of leaving a lasting legacy of citizens endeavoring to foster and maintain healthy, wholesome, safe, and happy communities.”
This can be found at http://www.ccv.org
Just what I would expect from politicians/attorneys. Not very good logical reasoning. Definitely cannot correctly correspond cause and effect. They are using their own preconceived ideas to reach the desired result. As a creature of thought and ability to plan (sometimes anyway as I have had on occasion the need to resupply with alcohol on Sunday) I usually have a supply that I have on hand to use on Sunday if desired. My question to our esteemed representatives: How does the ability to imbibe an alcoholic drink on Sunday diminish our moral fiber if it is purchased on Sunday or verses one that is purchased on Wednesday? Not only that, but if I purchase it at 1:01PM makes it okay but if I purchase it at 12:59PM makes it not okay? This kind of “reasoning” is why my respect/approval of politicians is dismal at best. Even for the ones that I have chosen to vote for!
you’re a delinquent. glad i live out west, where apparently we are deteriorating much more quickly than you because we can buy any alcohol on sundays. you should just move west. you’d fit in better 🙂
Wagner’s reasoning has some major problems:
1) Wagner provides no factual support any sort of relationship between Sunday sales and a “decline of society”. Wagner reasoning here is fuzzy headed, lazy, and crude. He obviously was not a philosophy major.
2) The so-called “decline of society” is a myth. I’m 42. In my life, I have witnessed various changes in society. Yes, some trends have been for the worse. Even more, IMHO, have been major improvements. Many people fall prey to a cognitive bias the idealizes the past. Wagner is one of them.
3) It’s absurd to think that repealing this law will make acquiring alcohol easier for alcoholics. Alcoholics can get all of the alcohol they want. The law only inconveniences everyone else.
4) Wagner’s justification involves religion. Our government and body of law is purely secular. There are many that do not hold religious beliefs and do not look to religious doctrine for moral guidance. His religious presumptions de-legitimize his position right out of the gate.
The real reason Ohio legislators will repeals this law is that the level-headed legislators in Ohio don’t see enough political payoff in repealing this law to justify the political hassle of fighting the religious activists. Simple as that. I predict that we’ll go to our graves before this law is repealed.
Thanks for raising the point, though. If you want to start a political action committee, I’ll be the first to join! 🙂