The question of a county going wet versus dry tends to draw emotional, knee - jerk reactions from polar opposite parties on both sides of the issue anywhere it arises. Topics that often come to the surface revolve around crime or violence, prosperity or poverty, and underage drinking or alcoholism. In reality, alcohol - like pretty much anything else in society - is a personal responsibility choice. No one will hold a weapon to another person’s head to force them to drink. On the other hand, there are some in the community that want to limit personal choice as a means of dictating a perceived code of conduct or morality they wish to maintain.
What the root of the matter is that alcohol beverage sales should come down to a majority - rules - decision - a free and open vote of qualified electors voicing their opinions and conscience. The citizens of our county must have an honest dialogue about where we are and where we want to go....and then have the ability to come together to vote and ultimately live by the decision.
In other words, our collective future is not something a select few on either side of the issue can determine. Change can be pretty hard to swallow for wet or dry believers in the community. However, throughout the course of humanity - and, in particular, a representative democracy, people have to look at the reality and put away the emotions in making decisions that will impact our economic, political and social well - being. It should - and must come down to a vote of the people.
Whether Clarke County is wet or dry is basically a moot point. The fact is that people who don’t want to buy alcohol won’t. Additionally, the people that do want to buy alcohol will do so - legally by traveling to neighboring cities and counties, or in some instances, illegally through bootleggers or other less than reputable means.
Alcohol, in and of itself, is not the end all be all solution to a community’s problems. At its best, the sale of alcohol can result in additional taxes collected from merchants and consumers; and it can produce jobs through additional employees needed in businesses that must grow to serve customers. Further, it can help in the potential recruitment of a more diverse business climate - restaurants, hotels and other ventures that will produce additional tax revenue.
More than all of that, alcohol choice will also keep individual tax dollars from exiting the county and going to places such as eastern Jasper County, Lauderdale County, northern Jasper County, Choctaw County and Waynesboro. At a time when governmental entities are finding their coffers stretched to the max and an electorate not willing to pay in more taxes, creative solutions must be found to keep tax dollars at home and used for projects such as better roads and schools, more police and fire protection and improved parks and recreational ventures.
The question each voter must ask is whether he or she is satisfied with the status quo in Clarke County. Societally speaking, the definition of insanity is to continue to do the same things and expect different results. Being dry and going wet each carries a unique set of challenges and each citizen must weigh the cost versus the benefits of such a decision.
In short, going the wet route will provide an opportunity to begin expanding the local tax base without putting more of a burden on the county’s overburdened taxpayers. Let’s move Clarke County forward by rationally talking about the pros and cons of wet versus dry, put the issue on the upcoming ballot and decide if we want to move forward and embrace change or keep things the way they are and hope for the best.
The Choice.
Patricia Arrington
Lawrence Buckley
