Sunday, December 14 2008
Happy 21st Amendment, America!
I'd drink to that
December 5th marked the 75th Anniversary of the enactment of the 21st amendment to the US constitution, repealing the 18th amendment, also known as the Volstead act. It ended an experiment in social engineering that started on January 16th 1920 (pretty visionary of them to enact it on an important date like my (eventual) birthday).
While the ostensible reason for prohibition was to curb the use of alcohol (moderation and temperance, as advocated by prominent doctors) the idea was rapidly taken on by special interest groups including churches, pitting Protestant denominations against Episcopalians and Roman Catholics, the KKK and owners of soda fountains who figured they'd pick up extra business from thirsty boozehounds.
Jerk!
It was a heck of a ride while it lasted. Vineyard acreage in California increased during the period (the Volstead act prohibited the sale or transport of alcohol, but allowed for home wine and beer making up to 200 US gallons per household--go homebrew!), used furniture dealers prospered and branched out, dynasties got started, clever Canadians serviced the cross-border market, and hypocrisy was a drug on the market.
By the time Roosevelt signed the repeal (cool presidential quote: "I think this would be a good time for a beer.") even strong supporters of the idea admitted it was wrong-headed. John D. Rockefeller (yes, that Rockefeller) said
When Prohibition was introduced, I hoped that it would be widely supported by public opinion and the day would soon come when the evil effects of alcohol would be recognized. I have slowly and reluctantly come to believe that this has not been the result. Instead, drinking has generally increased; the speakeasy has replaced the saloon; a vast army of lawbreakers has appeared; many of our best citizens have openly ignored Prohibition; respect for the law has been greatly lessened; and crime has increased to a level never seen before.
It's a darn good thing we've come far enough to reject such silly notions as prohibition. Or do we? Fifteen states still ban Sunday spirits sales. Seven states ban all forms of spirits tastings. Seven states still have some form of a ban on the sale of alcohol on state and national Election Days.
The genie is out of the bottle.
I'm not smart enough to predict the outcome of social engineering, so I don't presume to think I'd have had better ideas for improving society than the folks of the early 20th century did. But I think we're all better off for controlling the outcomes of social behavior rather than controlling social behavior itself.
| Posted by Tim AT 6:53AM | 0 Comments |  |
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