Alcohol is a drug, considered by some to be the most dangerous drug in America because of its wide acceptance and the ease of access, resulting in major problems on the job, in the home and on the streets.
It seems to be acceptable to argue against cocaine, heroin, meth or whatever other names are given to abusive substances, but alcohol is being wrapped in a pretty package and sold to us as a cure-all for ills of Madison County. Using some of the expressed reasoning, someone might question – “Why not legalize all drugs? Would that not bring even more business to Madison County?” I would say that businesses attracted to Madison because of the ability to sell alcoholic drinks, may not be very beneficial to the quality of life in our community and just where can we expect all those projected jobs to come from?.
How many of the 20,000 plus or minus, citizens of our county are adults with the financial ability to support “upscale” restaurants? I for one, cannot, and I believe a majority of our county residents also walk a similar tight budget line. A lot of restaurants come and go in wet counties, also, so it’s not just because “drinks” cannot be sold, that we have had that happen in Madison.
Some say going “wet” will encourage development at the Interstate exchanges as in Live Oak. Really? Take a serious look at the Highway 129 exit and tabulate just how much development has actually been established in the last couple of years, or due to access to alcohol?
A whole lot of money is being spent on this issue, including more than $33,000 of county taxes. Who is really going to benefit? It is my understanding that beverage taxes are state collected. However, Madison would receive a “trickle” and there should be some new jobs in the city police and county sheriff’s departments. Sounds like more taxes to me!
The word “drink” is generic in that it can refer to water, juice, punch, coffee, an alcoholic beverage, or — even what you take before a colonoscopy. In response to “Bible scholar” statements, according to the late Adriane Rogers, Bible scholar extraordinaire, in scripture, the word “wine” is generic. When Jesus turned water into “wine” it was “oynos”, meaning “fruit of the vine” or “grape juice”, but definitely not “shekar” which was an intoxicating “wine” to be used ONLY as a narcotic for illness and otherwise, not even in moderation.
We should definitely think twice before opening that “pretty package” we are being sold. It could be a time-bomb in disguise!
VOTE NO AUG. 28
Claudia Anderson
