• strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Declaration of views_handler_argument::init() should be compatible with views_handler::init(&$view, $options) in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/handlers/views_handler_argument.inc on line 0.
  • strict warning: Declaration of views_handler_filter::options_validate() should be compatible with views_handler::options_validate($form, &$form_state) in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/handlers/views_handler_filter.inc on line 0.
  • strict warning: Declaration of views_handler_filter::options_submit() should be compatible with views_handler::options_submit($form, &$form_state) in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/handlers/views_handler_filter.inc on line 0.
  • strict warning: Declaration of views_handler_filter_node_status::operator_form() should be compatible with views_handler_filter::operator_form(&$form, &$form_state) in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/modules/node/views_handler_filter_node_status.inc on line 0.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.

Light rail also chafes hide, Sunday liquor does not

To the Editor:
Thank you, Rich. This push for taxpayer-subsidized light rail has been chafing my hide as well. If there truly was a viable market for this type of mass transit, there would be no need for large and perpetual taxpayer subsidies.  
And herein lies the answer to your second question as to why do away with Sunday liquor laws. If we are against government forcing light rail on a free market that does not want it, we ought to be against government interference in free markets in general and let owners of any legal business determine what days they want to serve their customers.  
Times are a-changing. And just like trolley cars, these “blue laws” are relics from the past. Yes, I too remember when no stores, liquor or otherwise, were open on Sunday (many even closed at 5 p.m. on weekdays). But since then we, as a people, have created demand for sorts of services on Sundays and the free market has responded. Gas stations are now open all day every day (and we can now buy groceries while we are filling up). We can access our bank accounts 24/7 (online and through ATMs), and the list goes on and on.
Like you, I have a little need for Sunday liquor sales, but if enough of my neighbors want the convenience of being able to buy a bottle of wine or a six-pack on a Sunday, and if the store owner is willing to incur the costs/risks associated with being open on Sunday, who are we to invoke the power of government to stop them?  
If The Chronicle publisher determined that there was strong demand for a weekend edition and that they could do it profitably, would it not chafe you if government said you could only publish on Wednesdays?  
You repeatedly cite “money” as the motivation of those who want to do away with Sunday liquor sales and seem to imply that money is an unworthy motivation, evil perhaps. I want the businesses in the community to make money. Why does The Chronicle double dip, making money from both subscribers and advertisers? You are serving two markets, and I’m glad that our community still values and is willing to pay for local news delivered in print form.
I am also glad that government has not levied a carbon tax or some regulation against print newspapers. That seems farfetched, right? Who would ever lobby the government for such a restriction by deeming newspapers to be an old-fashioned and unneeded relic of the past, when modern technology enables the same news to be delivered digitally more often and more quickly and without encouraging global deforestation, contributing to global warming, consuming toxic press wash chemicals or needlessly filling our landfills?  
It’s easy to assume that the job of our state representatives is to pass more laws, but we are at the point where we have accumulated so many laws and regulations that I find it refreshing, and it is about time they do a little spring cleaning each year and rid the citizens of the burden of outdated, antiquated restrictions.  
Steve Beddor
Norwood Young America