Slog
News & ArtsMonday, July 30, 2012
News The Monday Morning News
Posted by Goldy on Mon, Jul 30, 2012 at 8:02 AM
The Agony of Defeat: Apparently, there's an Olympics going on somewhere with a giant ferris wheel (no, not Seattle), and a bunch of Americans are big, silver-encrusted losers.
But It's Okay When Democrats Do It: Suzan DelBene contributes another $400,000 to her own campaign, bringing her total to $2.4 million for the primary alone. Not that she's trying to buy an election or anything.
It's the End of the World as We Know It. Koch-funded climate change denier Richard Muller has changed his mind. And yeah, humans are responsible.
First Rule of Urban Living: Never Make Eye Contact. A gun battle and car chase led to a three car collision on I-5 near Boeing field after two men made eye contact at a festival in Seward Park.
Garbage In, Garbage Still In: Still no agreement as a Teamsters strike against Waste Management enters its sixth day, interrupting recycling and garbage collection in parts of King and Snohomish counties.
I Guess That Makes Romney a Dummy: "It was Romney's voice but Netanyahu's words," the Israeli newspaper Haaretz wrote of Mitten's carefully staged Jerusalem speech. Huh. And I thought Israel was supposed to be our puppet.
Those Non-Union South Carolinians Sure Do Know How to Build an Airplane: The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating after debris fell from the engines of a new 787, sparking a grassfire that shut down Charleston International Airport for more than an hour. Probably some empty beer cans left in the engine, or something.
The Market Cures Everything: Following privatization of Washington's state store system, liquor sales are up... in neighboring Oregon and Idaho. Both states have a state-run liquor system. Irony.
How Dare They Attack the First Amendment?! Three local underage girls—two 13-year-olds from Pierce County and a 15-year-old from King—are suing Backpage.com after allegedly being pimped on the online classified website.
A Republican Speaks the Truth: "There are national groups the Republican Party has that are better funded than the Democratic Party and they are going to come in here with a lot of money," says former Washington State Republican Party chair Chris Vance.
Scalia's Constitution: United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia says there is no right to privacy, no right to abortion, and no right to birth control in the US Constitution. But hand-held rocket launchers would be A-ok.
Finally, Governments Are Embracing Pot Legalization. In South America.
1
Well, *I* for one am glad those young jackasses decided that "eye contact" would be a great reason to put everybody else's lives in jeopardy. I hope the remaining suspects drive their worthless asses off a bridge.
2
Every time the new liquor sales system is discussed, the same voices quote that the State has no business running a commercial business.
Right now, right here I am asking them to explain their side.
The previous State-run system worked well. It was efficient. Stores were clean, well-stocked, and offered great customer service.
It was a model of a well-run business. Let's hear it, you free-market-uber-alles folks. Explain your case, please.
Right now, right here I am asking them to explain their side.
The previous State-run system worked well. It was efficient. Stores were clean, well-stocked, and offered great customer service.
It was a model of a well-run business. Let's hear it, you free-market-uber-alles folks. Explain your case, please.
4
Privatized liquor still makes me mad. High prices, no selection, good jobs lost. But I can buy bacardi at midnight. USA USA USA
7
Scalia is an asshole (and intellectually incoherent), but this is being misrepresented.
The link is titled "Scalia: ‘Handheld rocket launchers’ could be constitutional", which is not the same as "would be A-ok."
Moreover, he said specifically, it will have to be decided. Which is to say, he was not offering a specific opinion on a case that he may have to decide in the future, which is ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE for a Supreme Court Justice.
The link is titled "Scalia: ‘Handheld rocket launchers’ could be constitutional", which is not the same as "would be A-ok."
Moreover, he said specifically, it will have to be decided. Which is to say, he was not offering a specific opinion on a case that he may have to decide in the future, which is ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE for a Supreme Court Justice.
9
"The preliminary tornado count for July 2012 is twenty tornadoes (as of July 29)," reports Tornado Expert Dr. Greg Forbes. "That's around 80 percent below average. At this pace, we're on track for a record low number of July tornadoes."
http://www.weather.com/safety/tornadoes/…
10
#2
"Stores were clean, well-stocked, and offered great customer service."
...not in the hinterland of King County.
"Stores were clean, well-stocked, and offered great customer service."
...not in the hinterland of King County.
11
Ancient's right. The problem with Scalia's media-whoring is that his statements get misreported and since he's a Justice, people don't understand that he's mainly just babbling, not stating judicial decisions. And he's right: the Constitution of course doesn't protect abortions or birth control. Privacy could be construed, but 4 Justices won't.
12
Not even orthodox Jews will fight for Israel. But Rmoney thinks American youth should because of some nebulous "morality" I only hope Iran and Israel destroy each other before we get the chance. And it is foolhardy to think anything Israel does will stop Iranian nuclear ambitions.
13
@2: Good Lord, give it some time! It will take several more weeks to stores to reach their capabilities for merchandising liquor, and it will take months if not years for stores and taxpayers to pay the extortion and racketeering taxes and penalties to the WSLCB.
14
another victory for gun safety today, thank god we have the second amendment, those nra members sure stopped that shooting on I 5 yesterday. Too bad you can't say the same thing about the freeway shooting yesterday in brest, france, lillehaven norway, and margate england. oh also canberra australia and wellington nz! yup because they have gun control there it's so unsafe their freeway shooters don't get taken down by armed citizens. too bad they don't have a second amendment and gun freedom in those countries. They wallow in violence, we in America are so free, we have far fewer shootings and massacres because the plethora of guns sure keeps us safe!
17
@2 Not really. There were any number of scotches that were unavailable. Probably other liquors as well but that's what I specifically noticed. And it was illegal to go online and buy them. Then you have limited hours and the need to drive to a special store to buy a product there was no reason to drive to a special store for. It was far from a great system.
The current system is transitional and not that great, but better. We need to do away with the requirement to go through a distributor and lower square foot specialty stores should be allowed as well. But I think those will come with time.
The current system is transitional and not that great, but better. We need to do away with the requirement to go through a distributor and lower square foot specialty stores should be allowed as well. But I think those will come with time.
18
@14: do you talk like you write? I hope so. Picturing you rocking back and forth and occasionally wiping the drool from your chin is fun.
19
@2 But... but... Socialism! Death Panels! 9/11!
And I want my booze on Sundays in a cherry-colored glass and served by naughty nurses or I'M GONNA DESTROY THE ENTIRE SYSTEM! It's my right as an American! Why do you HATE me so??? Ahahahahahaaaaa!!!!
And I want my booze on Sundays in a cherry-colored glass and served by naughty nurses or I'M GONNA DESTROY THE ENTIRE SYSTEM! It's my right as an American! Why do you HATE me so??? Ahahahahahaaaaa!!!!
20
@2 There were plently of problems with state run stores. It is much more convenient this way and we have a good selection. Yeah it may cost a bit more but you have to pay for convienence
21
Phoebe: You've already proven your opinions worthless.
Giffy: i respectfully disagree. Every neighborhood had one or more stores, and in the ladt few years hours of operation had expanded to include late evenings and Sundays.
Still waiting to hear a good reason ehy the State shouldnt run a commercial business- of any sort, not just booze.
Giffy: i respectfully disagree. Every neighborhood had one or more stores, and in the ladt few years hours of operation had expanded to include late evenings and Sundays.
Still waiting to hear a good reason ehy the State shouldnt run a commercial business- of any sort, not just booze.
22
Oh and Goldy the free market isn't there for everything but that doednt mean we shouldn't use it when appropriate. Oh and be glad someone like delbene is rich plenty of money is needed for the general
23
Privatization of booze will just take time to work it out so everyone is happy. I mean look how long it's taken private medical insurance to make everyone happy...and it's still "in the works".
This will work out just fine in 30 or 40 years.
This will work out just fine in 30 or 40 years.
24
@21 Fine I believe government should be there to provide what free market can't things such as health care.
25
It's really taking a while for the liquor shakeout to happen. I was in Metropolitan Market this weekend, and was greatly impressed by their selection of super-high-end stuff -- the point that there was nothing on the shelves I could afford. I used to love my rum in the $25 to $35 range, but all they had was $60-plus (many of which were the same brands I used to get for half). I still can't believe that Zaya is $70 now -- that's double. Damn. I ain't buying $70 booze, sorry.
Meanwhile, at my old state store, the private store that replaced it apparently carries Jim Beam and ONLY Jim Beam -- a hundred thousand bottles of it, and nothing else. Sigh.
The 10,000 square foot rule has got to go.
Speaking of which, there's a new liquor store in the Shell station at the corner of Denny and Aurora which I don't understand. There's no way it's 10k ft -- but wasn't it a Starbucks before? How did they get a license? I can't go in and ask, of course, because although I drive past it at least weekly it's across the road and I have no idea how to get over there in a vehicle through that godforsaken intersection.
Meanwhile, at my old state store, the private store that replaced it apparently carries Jim Beam and ONLY Jim Beam -- a hundred thousand bottles of it, and nothing else. Sigh.
The 10,000 square foot rule has got to go.
Speaking of which, there's a new liquor store in the Shell station at the corner of Denny and Aurora which I don't understand. There's no way it's 10k ft -- but wasn't it a Starbucks before? How did they get a license? I can't go in and ask, of course, because although I drive past it at least weekly it's across the road and I have no idea how to get over there in a vehicle through that godforsaken intersection.
26
@ 2, you pose a false question. You don't have a free-market liquor system in Washington. You have one rigged by regulation to favor large stores and not permit small ones.
You may have only been allowed a choice between one shitty option or another, but that doesn't mean that the arguments against the state-run system are now invalid. It just means that they still aren't being allowed to exist in Washington.
You may have only been allowed a choice between one shitty option or another, but that doesn't mean that the arguments against the state-run system are now invalid. It just means that they still aren't being allowed to exist in Washington.
27
@21, your assertion that "every neighborhood had a store" is laughably false. Get a map of Seattle and measure the miles in some of the densest city neighborhoods without stores. Unfortunately this lack can never be remedied now, because of the 10,000 sq. ft. rule -- and who wants a 10,000 sq. ft. store of ANY kind in their neighborhood?
28
@21 I had to go from the CD to capitol hill and find parking to access a store with those hours. The one in my neighborhood closed early. Now I just walk to the store and only have to drive somewhere when I want something special. Or I just order online.
I think there are plenty of times the state should run a business. I love City Light for example. But usually it makes most sense when it is a product that everyone needs and that essentially requires a monopoly. Or, like healthcare, where real competition is unfeasible.
Alcohol is not one of those things. No more than any other discretionary product.
I think there are plenty of times the state should run a business. I love City Light for example. But usually it makes most sense when it is a product that everyone needs and that essentially requires a monopoly. Or, like healthcare, where real competition is unfeasible.
Alcohol is not one of those things. No more than any other discretionary product.
29
Washington's privatized liquor prices are now on par with Utah's Church-State liquor stores, give or take a buck or two. Next time I make the drive up to Washington, I will be stopping at either ID or OR liquor stores. I don't think WA still has a bootlegging law on the books the way Utah does....
@5 Glad to hear your friends are OK after their scary ordeal.
@5 Glad to hear your friends are OK after their scary ordeal.
30
@29, I was in a Utah store over Christmas -- a dreadful place indeed, but the prices were lower than our new arrangement. The selection was poor but the prices were less than our old WSLCB system.
31
@11: Personally, I'd like to see a constitutional amendment to make the right to privacy explicit.
32
@30 - You have to find the stores in the richer or less Mo areas to get a better selection - Sugarhouse, Holladay - etc. But yes, on the whole, their selection is much worse than the WA liquor stores. But UT liquor stores also have to make room for (real) beer and wine and all the designer malt liquors (Mike's, etc) that WA sells in grocery stores. Sad that the prices in WA are now on par with UT. I used to get "shopping lists" from people in Utah when I was driving back down from WA because liquor prices were so much cheaper. Now I just fulfill beer and wine requests.
33
Scalia's from the University of Chicago law faculty, just like Obama, so what did you expect????
The other day Slog mentioned the preemptive arrests of those the corporate McNews identified as “anarchists” --- the organizers of various political protests.
We have been attacking these modern day Palmer Raids for quite some time (so it’s about time the Slog made mention of them), the most anti-democratic actions by our anti-democratic president, Obama.
These preemptive arrests began under the previous President Bush, and have continued and expanded under President Obama.
There is no excuse Obama can trot out for their totalitarian, anti-American agenda!
Obama is the most dishonest president in my lifetime; he lies and lies and lies --- seldom has he ever been caught telling the truth.
Obama, who has been extremely active in structured jobs offshoring, attacks Romney for the very same thing --- they are both antithetical to the existence and future of the American worker.
If political change still works, then the only recourse, the last recourse, of the American electorate is to vote for Dr. Jill Stein (Green Party) in 2012.
No more bullcrap from pirates like Sandy Weill, formerly of Citigroup, who strenuously promoted the dismantling of the American economy. Weill, is aping that scoundrel Warren Buffett who, while actively lobbying against changes to tax law, tax reform, and credit derivatives’ oversight, poses as some kind of “tax justice” advocate!
Otherwise, at some future date, when it finally dawns on the vast majority that we exist in a corporate fascist police state, bloody and violent revolution will be the only answer!
What has occurred, and continues to occur, in what is left of the shell economy, is that the American-based multinationals have offshored jobs, technology and investment; they haven’t amortized in America and without amortization of any sort, there can be no future!
The economic meltdown resulted from an approximate seven-year ultra-leveraged bank run, exactly what took place in the 1920s, leading to the Great Crash and Great Depression.
This is how they amass their great fortunes, the massive wealth transfer and thievery, the great leveraging when they steal everything, with the resulting great deleveraging which screws the majority of the public, while destroying human progress.
The masters of chaos will always endeavor to make life a living hell for as many as they can --- they aren’t about progress or real prosperity, only their psychopathic acquisition of wealth --- they must own and control everything!
Please ignore the bathhouse bimbos of The Stranger, who gush on and on about rightwinger and Wall Street stooge Obama, for he, like Romney, will only make things infinitely worse.
A true revolution in America would be to elect an authentic democratic candidate like Jill Stein, not another Wall Street sock puppet like Romney or Obama!
More...
The Obama Raids
The other day Slog mentioned the preemptive arrests of those the corporate McNews identified as “anarchists” --- the organizers of various political protests.
We have been attacking these modern day Palmer Raids for quite some time (so it’s about time the Slog made mention of them), the most anti-democratic actions by our anti-democratic president, Obama.
These preemptive arrests began under the previous President Bush, and have continued and expanded under President Obama.
There is no excuse Obama can trot out for their totalitarian, anti-American agenda!
Obama is the most dishonest president in my lifetime; he lies and lies and lies --- seldom has he ever been caught telling the truth.
Obama, who has been extremely active in structured jobs offshoring, attacks Romney for the very same thing --- they are both antithetical to the existence and future of the American worker.
If political change still works, then the only recourse, the last recourse, of the American electorate is to vote for Dr. Jill Stein (Green Party) in 2012.
No more bullcrap from pirates like Sandy Weill, formerly of Citigroup, who strenuously promoted the dismantling of the American economy. Weill, is aping that scoundrel Warren Buffett who, while actively lobbying against changes to tax law, tax reform, and credit derivatives’ oversight, poses as some kind of “tax justice” advocate!
Otherwise, at some future date, when it finally dawns on the vast majority that we exist in a corporate fascist police state, bloody and violent revolution will be the only answer!
What has occurred, and continues to occur, in what is left of the shell economy, is that the American-based multinationals have offshored jobs, technology and investment; they haven’t amortized in America and without amortization of any sort, there can be no future!
The economic meltdown resulted from an approximate seven-year ultra-leveraged bank run, exactly what took place in the 1920s, leading to the Great Crash and Great Depression.
This is how they amass their great fortunes, the massive wealth transfer and thievery, the great leveraging when they steal everything, with the resulting great deleveraging which screws the majority of the public, while destroying human progress.
The masters of chaos will always endeavor to make life a living hell for as many as they can --- they aren’t about progress or real prosperity, only their psychopathic acquisition of wealth --- they must own and control everything!
Please ignore the bathhouse bimbos of The Stranger, who gush on and on about rightwinger and Wall Street stooge Obama, for he, like Romney, will only make things infinitely worse.
A true revolution in America would be to elect an authentic democratic candidate like Jill Stein, not another Wall Street sock puppet like Romney or Obama!
34
Why this site doesn't always upload links is a mystery:
The Palmer Raids:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmer_Raid…
The Palmer Raids:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmer_Raid…
35
@21: How can option be proven worthless when its an opinion? Such a statement proves you to be illogical.
36
I was in LA at the beginning of the year and a friend took me to an amazing liquor store. It even put Bev-Mo to shame. Anything you could think of they pretty much had it in stock. Also, the prices on average were about half what WA State Liquor stores charged!
I can only dream that we get to a point like that.
@Fnarf - try Ron Viejo De Caldas (8 yr) from Colombia if you can find it. It made a rum convert out of me.
I can only dream that we get to a point like that.
@Fnarf - try Ron Viejo De Caldas (8 yr) from Colombia if you can find it. It made a rum convert out of me.
37
I suspect that the massive rearrangement going on at the Lynnwood Walmart has to do with an expansion of their liquor offerings beyond the current half aisle of dross. These are professional retailers - it won't take long before things are humming along nicely.
38
@18 ad hominem much?
tell me again the safest nations and wether they have gun controls; the most unsafe nations, and wether they do; then explain to me how daily shootings like this one reported today are evidence that widespread availability of guns, reduces crime.
cuz obviously it doesn't moron. now, go ahead, make another ad hominem attack showing you got noting.
tell me again the safest nations and wether they have gun controls; the most unsafe nations, and wether they do; then explain to me how daily shootings like this one reported today are evidence that widespread availability of guns, reduces crime.
cuz obviously it doesn't moron. now, go ahead, make another ad hominem attack showing you got noting.
39
@13:
It won't take stores "weeks to reach their capabilities for marketing liquor"; they're already there, and what you see now is, with perhaps a few minor tweaks, what you're going to be stuck with. The big chains have been selling booze for literally decades in other states; they know how to market, they know how to gauge customer demand, and they know which products will reap the greatest return in terms of profit-margin. If you don't see your favorite brand of potable at your local store, you'll just have to drive around until you find another store that does stock it - assuming ANY do, because it's rather unlikely they'll do special orders, although I suppose it never hurts to ask.
And there's nothing in the least bit extortionate about the state taxes on your booze - those exact same taxes were always incorporated into the retail price you previously paid at the state-run store. The reason prices are so much higher than before is two-fold: distributors have increased wholesale prices in order to cover themselves in the event they fail to meet the State's requirement they generate $150 mm in tax revenue for the current year, and; they're in the business to turn a profit on this merchandise, something the state-run stores weren't affected by, since the tax revenue itself was intended to cover operational costs.
Anyone who thinks this situation is going to change, whether it be weeks, or months, or even years from now, is simply deluding themselves. So long as people are willing to pay 20%, 50% or even 100% markups on booze compared to the old days, retailers have absolutely no incentive to lower their prices. And I seriously doubt the incursion of big-box booze emporiums, such as the ones that have just opened up recently in the hinterlands, are going to have much impact on that, since I don't see how they're going to be able to undercut the market enough to put pressure on other retailers to follow suit. After all, if "convenience" is the driving factor here (and for most people who supported privatization that appears to be the case), then it doesn't make sense that these same folks are going to drive miles out of their way, just to save a couple of bucks on an item they can get closer to home.
But hey, I could be totally wrong about that. I guess we'll see soon enough...
@20:
I don't know what you mean by "good selection", but the stores I've been to since the turnover wouldn't meet that description under ANY criteria. In every case the selection is much smaller, the prices are (with a few exceptions that change from week-to-week) significantly higher, and frankly, it's not any more convenient for me than it was before when I had three WSLC stores within walking distance of my home and office. I'm sure many others, particularly those who did not have such easy access to locations in the suburbs or in small towns, find it much more convenient to be able to buy booze in their local supermarket, but I still have to question whether that really makes up for the considerable increase in cost on most items. Unless you're throwing a party or are a maintenance alcoholic, I don't see how being able to buy cheap, bottom-shelf liquor in 1.5 liter quantities at odd hours is a significant improvement over the old system.
More...
It won't take stores "weeks to reach their capabilities for marketing liquor"; they're already there, and what you see now is, with perhaps a few minor tweaks, what you're going to be stuck with. The big chains have been selling booze for literally decades in other states; they know how to market, they know how to gauge customer demand, and they know which products will reap the greatest return in terms of profit-margin. If you don't see your favorite brand of potable at your local store, you'll just have to drive around until you find another store that does stock it - assuming ANY do, because it's rather unlikely they'll do special orders, although I suppose it never hurts to ask.
And there's nothing in the least bit extortionate about the state taxes on your booze - those exact same taxes were always incorporated into the retail price you previously paid at the state-run store. The reason prices are so much higher than before is two-fold: distributors have increased wholesale prices in order to cover themselves in the event they fail to meet the State's requirement they generate $150 mm in tax revenue for the current year, and; they're in the business to turn a profit on this merchandise, something the state-run stores weren't affected by, since the tax revenue itself was intended to cover operational costs.
Anyone who thinks this situation is going to change, whether it be weeks, or months, or even years from now, is simply deluding themselves. So long as people are willing to pay 20%, 50% or even 100% markups on booze compared to the old days, retailers have absolutely no incentive to lower their prices. And I seriously doubt the incursion of big-box booze emporiums, such as the ones that have just opened up recently in the hinterlands, are going to have much impact on that, since I don't see how they're going to be able to undercut the market enough to put pressure on other retailers to follow suit. After all, if "convenience" is the driving factor here (and for most people who supported privatization that appears to be the case), then it doesn't make sense that these same folks are going to drive miles out of their way, just to save a couple of bucks on an item they can get closer to home.
But hey, I could be totally wrong about that. I guess we'll see soon enough...
@20:
I don't know what you mean by "good selection", but the stores I've been to since the turnover wouldn't meet that description under ANY criteria. In every case the selection is much smaller, the prices are (with a few exceptions that change from week-to-week) significantly higher, and frankly, it's not any more convenient for me than it was before when I had three WSLC stores within walking distance of my home and office. I'm sure many others, particularly those who did not have such easy access to locations in the suburbs or in small towns, find it much more convenient to be able to buy booze in their local supermarket, but I still have to question whether that really makes up for the considerable increase in cost on most items. Unless you're throwing a party or are a maintenance alcoholic, I don't see how being able to buy cheap, bottom-shelf liquor in 1.5 liter quantities at odd hours is a significant improvement over the old system.
41
@36, I'm already a rum convert, but I'm always looking for a new church to worship in.
What's the name of the LA store, for the love of Pete?
What's the name of the LA store, for the love of Pete?
42
Thank God I joined the Army. No state tax on my booze, good internationalised beer and liquor selection, all in a government run store.
43
This weekend I bought a mixed rum liquor - Kahlua, the large size bottle - at Costco.
With taxes (on the receipt for the item and at the end) it cost MORE than at the WSLCB store it replaced.
Epic fail, Costco. And I spent $633 that trip, but I'm never buying liquor at Costco again.
Did get a bargain on replacement LED bulbs for my "flame tip" bathroom vanity lights, though. No good LED bargains at the store other than that, but you can get bargain CFL bulbs for 99 cents or 1.99 for 4 to 6 bulbs which is hard to beat.
With taxes (on the receipt for the item and at the end) it cost MORE than at the WSLCB store it replaced.
Epic fail, Costco. And I spent $633 that trip, but I'm never buying liquor at Costco again.
Did get a bargain on replacement LED bulbs for my "flame tip" bathroom vanity lights, though. No good LED bargains at the store other than that, but you can get bargain CFL bulbs for 99 cents or 1.99 for 4 to 6 bulbs which is hard to beat.
45
@21 nope false
there was no liquor store in my neighborhood ( international district) until state run ran out. now liquor is being offered at uwajimaya's, lam's seafood ( right across the street from my house) and red apple on 23rd ..i haven't checked at viet wah grocery, i haven't been there yet but it wouldn't surprise me if big john's pfi has it as well beacon hill ( and mt baker and columbia city, madsion park , madronar ) didn't have liquor back then. i bet they do now.
there was no liquor store in my neighborhood ( international district) until state run ran out. now liquor is being offered at uwajimaya's, lam's seafood ( right across the street from my house) and red apple on 23rd ..i haven't checked at viet wah grocery, i haven't been there yet but it wouldn't surprise me if big john's pfi has it as well beacon hill ( and mt baker and columbia city, madsion park , madronar ) didn't have liquor back then. i bet they do now.
46
If lower prices lead to enough increased consumption to make up the difference in profits, they will lower the price.
That's one of the reasons why the Demon Liquor fanatics opposed privatization: they were terrified lower prices would increase consumption.
So long as people are willing to pay 20%, 50% or even 100% markups on booze compared to the old days, retailers have absolutely no incentive to lower their prices.
If lower prices lead to enough increased consumption to make up the difference in profits, they will lower the price.
That's one of the reasons why the Demon Liquor fanatics opposed privatization: they were terrified lower prices would increase consumption.
47
@43, what kind of an idiot calls Kahlua a "mixed rum liquor"? Yes, it's made on a rum base, but it is a COFFEE LIQUEUR. There is no rum flavor; the rum is just there to give it alcoholic weight. The flavor is 100% coffee and vanilla (and tons of sugar). Christ only knows what crimes you're going to commit with 1.75 liters of the stuff.
Really exciting to hear about your light bulb purchasing.
Really exciting to hear about your light bulb purchasing.
49
@47 - Answer: Will in Seattle.
I read that and was so whut that I had to go back and read it again, which is awful, because it meant more Will in my life and god knows the less of that I have the better.
I read that and was so whut that I had to go back and read it again, which is awful, because it meant more Will in my life and god knows the less of that I have the better.
50
Phoebe: Your predictable wingnut posts have been reliably rebutted enough times in the past to render you useless. Although your snarky post about your recent doctor visit did convey a strikingly progressive opinion about health care.
Fnarf:I was in that store Saturday. Not worth the bother of going in.
Surprisingly, my neighborhood True Value now carries beer, wine, and liquor. How odd.
Everyone else: okay, i stand corrected. But I swear, even out in Snohomish there were three liquor stores within a five-minute drive.
Fnarf:I was in that store Saturday. Not worth the bother of going in.
Surprisingly, my neighborhood True Value now carries beer, wine, and liquor. How odd.
Everyone else: okay, i stand corrected. But I swear, even out in Snohomish there were three liquor stores within a five-minute drive.
51
@46:
Or, they just keep the price as it is, and take a higher per-unit profit off whatever quantities they're selling now. After all, I seriously doubt any individual store (except in very small towns where there may only BE one store selling alcohol), is going to pull in the same volume of business as did a typical WSLC store. Just on Capitol Hill alone the number of liquor outlets has increased dramatically; from two locations previously, to I believe six currently, and I would guess the customer base has been spread fairly evenly between them, which means individual stores aren't going to see anywhere near the same volume as state stores did before, which in turn is a disincentive to lowering prices.
That, and the fact that, of the six locations in the area, five are owned by national chains and three are the same chain. Kroger isn't going to put its own stores in competition with each other, and while Safeway and Trader Joe's might have some incentive to try to pull in a few more customers by undercutting QFC, the margins aren't going to be there unless the volume were to increase dramatically; and I just don't see that happening, given the current distribution of sellers in the area.
Or, they just keep the price as it is, and take a higher per-unit profit off whatever quantities they're selling now. After all, I seriously doubt any individual store (except in very small towns where there may only BE one store selling alcohol), is going to pull in the same volume of business as did a typical WSLC store. Just on Capitol Hill alone the number of liquor outlets has increased dramatically; from two locations previously, to I believe six currently, and I would guess the customer base has been spread fairly evenly between them, which means individual stores aren't going to see anywhere near the same volume as state stores did before, which in turn is a disincentive to lowering prices.
That, and the fact that, of the six locations in the area, five are owned by national chains and three are the same chain. Kroger isn't going to put its own stores in competition with each other, and while Safeway and Trader Joe's might have some incentive to try to pull in a few more customers by undercutting QFC, the margins aren't going to be there unless the volume were to increase dramatically; and I just don't see that happening, given the current distribution of sellers in the area.
52
@ 50, maybe the difference was "drive."
When I first landed in Seattle in the 90s, I had to settle for a place in the High Point section of West Seattle. At the time, the nearest liquor store was the one in the Junction. That was about a five minute drive (plus another five to find parking), but at about two miles away I considered it out of the neighborhood. (Things got a little better when the one at California and Morgan opened, but it wasn't long after that I relocated to Greenwood.)
Just for the sake of comparison, my unhip, working class neighborhood in Denver has FIVE liquor stores within a one-mile radius of my house. It used to be six. The nearest is a five minute walk. All are independent, family-owned stores. (The downside is that none have a great selection of spirits, but that's a reflection of the local market. If I lived in the Highland neighborhood, all of them would stock top shelf stuff.)
When I first landed in Seattle in the 90s, I had to settle for a place in the High Point section of West Seattle. At the time, the nearest liquor store was the one in the Junction. That was about a five minute drive (plus another five to find parking), but at about two miles away I considered it out of the neighborhood. (Things got a little better when the one at California and Morgan opened, but it wasn't long after that I relocated to Greenwood.)
Just for the sake of comparison, my unhip, working class neighborhood in Denver has FIVE liquor stores within a one-mile radius of my house. It used to be six. The nearest is a five minute walk. All are independent, family-owned stores. (The downside is that none have a great selection of spirits, but that's a reflection of the local market. If I lived in the Highland neighborhood, all of them would stock top shelf stuff.)
53
The Third Amendment only makes sense if the founders believed in a right to privacy, even if they didn't put it in those terms. And the Ninth Amendment forbids the line of logic that says "if it's not explicitly in the Constitution, it's not protected."
54
@52, you never figured out that the liquor store at the Junction (along with all the shops along there) have copious free parking directly behind the store? Those lots have never been full when I've been there.
55
Actually, it used to fill up pretty good back then. Not so much during the day, but good luck finding anything at 7:30 on a Friday night (generally the only time I'd think to buy booze, at least when I was younger).
56
I voted for privitazation, because I despise the liquor control board and their combo of Puritanism and corruption, and I would vote for it again right now because of that. (I'm old, and I have an excellent memory)
Of course, with all that said, I don't drink hard liquor.
But still - something here doesn't compute: the state no longer has the overhead, from the oddly located stores, to the curiously underpaid clerks and managers (seriously, you'd make more money at a unionized Safeway or Kroeger than at a WSLCB store. Even more at Costco, because you wouldn't have union dues. And the curiously low pay made for an abysmal pension) so why are the taxes so high?
But the bigger picture here is about taxation, isn't it? If we had an Income Tax, like most normal states, this wouldn't be an issue.
Of course, with all that said, I don't drink hard liquor.
But still - something here doesn't compute: the state no longer has the overhead, from the oddly located stores, to the curiously underpaid clerks and managers (seriously, you'd make more money at a unionized Safeway or Kroeger than at a WSLCB store. Even more at Costco, because you wouldn't have union dues. And the curiously low pay made for an abysmal pension) so why are the taxes so high?
But the bigger picture here is about taxation, isn't it? If we had an Income Tax, like most normal states, this wouldn't be an issue.
57
@56:
The taxes aren't higher, they're exactly the same as they were before privatization. But, even though the State no longer has the overhead, that just means more of tax revenue from liquor sales will be going into the General Fund to pay for all the other stuff we need that isn't being properly funded through sales tax revenue.
The taxes aren't higher, they're exactly the same as they were before privatization. But, even though the State no longer has the overhead, that just means more of tax revenue from liquor sales will be going into the General Fund to pay for all the other stuff we need that isn't being properly funded through sales tax revenue.
58
And 57 comments in, the trolls that piped up in every single liquor-privatization thread bleating that the state has no business being in the business have failed to materialize.
59
@58:
Probably because they're all too busy scratching their heads in confusion over why they are still unable to buy Makers Mark for $25 a gallon...
Probably because they're all too busy scratching their heads in confusion over why they are still unable to buy Makers Mark for $25 a gallon...
60
So where can you get the airplane bottles the state stores used to sell? They were handy for sneaking booze into Safeco.
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