Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, October 18, 2011
Politics This Is What Democracy Looks Like? Fuck! Liquor Initiative Hits Record for Most Heavily Funded Initiative Battle in State History.
Posted by Dominic Holden on Tue, Oct 18, 2011 at 3:20 PM
The corporate war over Washington State's liquor laws now has the distinction of being the most heavily funded initiative battle in state history, with combined contributions from the two sides sides totaling $25 million. The previous record was $16.5 million last year over I-1107, a measure to repeal a soda tax, according to records at the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission.
In favor of Initiative 1183, which would end the state's monopoly on retail sales of hard liquor, the Costco-backed campaign contributed another $2.3 million to the effort last week, election records show, bringing the Yes on 1183 Coalition contributions up to $13.5 million. The other side of the liquor fight is the massive conglomerate of liquor wholesalers, funding the dishonest Protect Our Communities—who are lying, lying, and lying—which has reported $11.5 million in donations.
This isn't what democracy looks like. Well, this isn't what it should look like. This is a hijacking of the initiative process for a corporate pissing match, between a company that wants to sell liquor and the idiot fucks who sell liquor now and will lie nonstop to do it, over who gets the markup on future liquor sales. Who really wins? Television, cable, web, and radio companies selling $25 million in ads.
Which side will the Stranger Election Control Board endorse (the greedy 1 Percent or the greedy 1 Percent with slightly less money who lie through their teeth)? Stay tuned to Slog. All of our general election picks are coming out very soon.
1
It is, however, exactly why we need to defeat I-1183. If it is worth $25 million in economic activity this election cycle, how much growth can we generate next time?
2
They're both lying.
Who loses? The employees of the companies that pour money into these fights, instead of spending that money on benefits for employees (it's slightly different for trade organizations,but they're funded by companies that could spend that money on their workers).
Also the American people. We're like the peasants of the middle ages, watching nobility with their trained armies, stomp all over our lands and fight it out for who gets be crowned king. In the meantime, our crops are trampled, our food and livestock stolen, our women and children taken, our homes burned, and we're lucky if we come out of it alive.
Who loses? The employees of the companies that pour money into these fights, instead of spending that money on benefits for employees (it's slightly different for trade organizations,but they're funded by companies that could spend that money on their workers).
Also the American people. We're like the peasants of the middle ages, watching nobility with their trained armies, stomp all over our lands and fight it out for who gets be crowned king. In the meantime, our crops are trampled, our food and livestock stolen, our women and children taken, our homes burned, and we're lucky if we come out of it alive.
5
I suspect the Stranger is not being honest and forthright about its interest in this issue. It's not accurate to suggest (and you do weekly) that the side in favor is being truthful and the side against is not. For a paper with a history of bending the rules to get a free drink or meal (ie the FB reciept from the Cha Cha story), it screams out that there is some personal stake in this vote.
6
Beat me to it Will. When in doubt, assume Danny and the flying monkeys are acting in their own self-interest.
7
I-1107 spending was all on one-sided, so we haven't seen Costco outspend the soda boyz yet (unless you count the failed initiative from last year as part of the running Costco total).
8
Hey biffp, I wonder why you come here to this blog, if The Stranger, "Danny", and the flying monkeys stick in your craw so....
Are you a masochist, is that it?
Are you a masochist, is that it?
10
You know what, Merry? Biffp is as much a part of this community as you are. Maybe moreso, since he has the balls to say what he thinks instead of sucking up to the echo chamber and spouting the party line like you do. I'd rather have 10 of him here than one of you.
11
You know what, 5280? The time you referred to Lindy West as a manatee tells me everything I will EVER need to know about you. (Not to mention all the times you've disgraced yourself in gun threads.)
And, BTW, I don't recall addressing my comment @8 to you, so... STFU.
Thanks!
And, BTW, I don't recall addressing my comment @8 to you, so... STFU.
Thanks!
12
Merry, I'm just calling bullshit. For some reason, the Stranger just seems to think that journalistic integrity does not apply in here. I've seen repeated instances such as the one last week justifying a complete lack of investigation with the excuse that others were doing the same. Presenting one side and not being forthcoming about a vested interest, would be a serious violation, adn I'd like to see it addressed.
13
If this thing passes, privatized liquor sales will have arrived. It will be fucked up and changes will be made, but we will have our privatized liquor sales.
If it doesn't pass, we get the crappy status quo. The powers that be will be retrenched and the forces of change will be discouraged, again. So pass it and then tweak the rules later.
If it doesn't pass, we get the crappy status quo. The powers that be will be retrenched and the forces of change will be discouraged, again. So pass it and then tweak the rules later.
16
Dominic. The state is the wholesaler who THEN sells at it's OWN RETAIL outlets & a small percentage of private outlets. Do you think the profit from the LB to the state & all it's social programs will equal the tax revenue of retail sales of Kirklands Best Vodka (insert other hard liquor here) ??? Neither side is talking the bottom line!!! Maybe you should ask your parents about liquor laws. ;)
17
Good catch, Dom!
I've taken an impromptu poll among Cali transplants here, as they had something akin to that down there.
The ones who are for the privatization of the liquor distribution also voted for Reagan for gov, Proposition 13, and if they were still there at the time, also Schwarzenegger for gubanator.
The ones who are against the liquor privatization initiative voted against all the above.
Note any patterns here????
It's always about the privatization of everything, doing a little bit here, a bit in that state, something at the national level, but privatization equals monopoly, and we all know who monopolies benefit and screw.
http://dailybail.com/home/holy-bailout-f…
http://disinfo.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-conte…
I've taken an impromptu poll among Cali transplants here, as they had something akin to that down there.
The ones who are for the privatization of the liquor distribution also voted for Reagan for gov, Proposition 13, and if they were still there at the time, also Schwarzenegger for gubanator.
The ones who are against the liquor privatization initiative voted against all the above.
Note any patterns here????
It's always about the privatization of everything, doing a little bit here, a bit in that state, something at the national level, but privatization equals monopoly, and we all know who monopolies benefit and screw.
http://dailybail.com/home/holy-bailout-f…
http://disinfo.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-conte…
19
So sgt doom, what about us CA transplants who are for the liquor initiative but are against all the CA things you mentioned?
20
Which side is telling bigger lies? The way this campaign is being presented to us is maddening! Neither side is really advertising truthfully regarding what they really want. The no-1183 side is telling bigger, more blatant lies (the selling in mini-marts red herring). However, I'm not convinced that the initiative, as written, would be better that what we have now. Which side to vote for? It's not like either side is actually for the citizens of Washington. Truly, this is a battle between two different corporate interests, masquerading as a citizen initiative. Democracy in action... if large companies are citizens, anyway.
21
OK, I'm going to have to give an Honorary Win to Lindy, for having people say bad stuff about her for no reason.
Yes, that's two wins. But we all lose when money decides elections.
Yes, that's two wins. But we all lose when money decides elections.
22
I applaud Corporate America for stimulating the local economy with this large influx of support and funding for local political machines...
Or something like that.
I can't say fuck em like I want it, instead I have to say that I'm unemployed and broke and this is close to the only gig in town (IF it's actually in town, and not money forked over to national corporate PR/campaign firms). Are they hiring and how do I sign up?
Or something like that.
I can't say fuck em like I want it, instead I have to say that I'm unemployed and broke and this is close to the only gig in town (IF it's actually in town, and not money forked over to national corporate PR/campaign firms). Are they hiring and how do I sign up?
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