Hey Cowboy:
I thought you were in charge of that. Should we tax it?
Looks to me like we're getting the cart before the horse here. The original post was about the legislature considering a bill that would allow grocery stores to sell wine.
Before most gourmet grocery stores (Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, etc.) will begin to locate heavily in Tennessee (not to mention lil' ol' Oak Ridge), it will have to be legal to sell wine here. Those gourmet grocery stores make a large portion of their profits on the sale of wine in their establishments.
So, what do we, as citizens of the great state of Tennessee need to do to make sure that happens? I know a similar bill died before it made it out of committee last year.
I, for one, would really like to be able to purchase a nice bottle of vino as I'm purchasing what I'm preparing for dinner, and not have to make a special trip to Liz's or one of our other local liquor stores.
We can argue about whether or not any of them would want to set up shop here later!
Ideas? Suggestions?
Cagey, Nice job getting us back on topic! :-) Since this is a legislative issue, supporters need to voice their support to (a) the legislature and (b) the lobbying organizations who support this proposal (e.g., the Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association (
http://www.tngrocer.org/legislativeaffairs)).
Also let our local legislators know: Sen. Randy McNally (sen.randy.mcnally@legislature.state.tn.us) and Rep. Jim Hackworth (rep.jim.hackworth@legislature.state.tn.us), plus our State Lobbyist (Bill Nolan, williambnolan@aol.com). And it might not hurt to let the Governor (phil.bredesen@state.tn.us) know we'd like him to sign any bill that comes to his desk.
Finally, be prepared for some counter-lobbying by the liquor stores (who, according to some press reports, get half of their sales from wine).
So, I guess we also need to share this information with our friends, family and others who live in TN and would like to be able to buy wine at their grocery stores.
Obviously, those who live outside our fair city will need to contact their very own representatives, but I bet there's a website that can direct those folks to their own people.
Spread the word!
I'd be happy if they leave it alone and don't let the grocery stores sell wine. One less chance of me having to wait in the grocery store line while the young clerk who can't legally ring up the alcohol sale gets on the loudspeaker announcing "Code 3 on Line 4", and all of us in line groan and moan (and start moving to other lines) while the clerk waits for someone to come help.
Now, if grocery stores would have dedicated lines for alcohol sales that were staffed with clerks that could legally ring up sales, then I wouldn't gripe. Since I don't drink, I wouldn't be in that line. I'd still be stuck in the one where the customer is arguing about the price of the mushrooms she's trying to buy (which happened to me the other day)
I hate to be a party pooper but forget about the sale of wine in grocery stores, in our fair state, in our lifetime. Tom Hensley, better known as the "Golden Goose" is the lobbyist for the liquor industry and contributes heavily in campaign funds to our state legislators on both sides of the aisle. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING related to legislative changes in liquor laws is done without a nod from him. It has been that way for decades. It is not right or fair, but that is the way it is.
And no, Cowboy, I don't know how to get Netmom her gourmet beer. I'll keep researching it though. There has to be a way!
O.K. I'm curious - what is gourmet beer? Is it different than standard euro beers that can be found in places like World Market?
I agree it will be a challenge, but there were plenty of folks who said there was no way Tennessee would ever pass a law to make it "smoke free" because the tobacco lobby is so strong.
Lo and behold, that happened!
Never say "never." It will certainly "never" happen if people don't let the people in charge know how they feel. What do we have to lose?
"This doesn't dispute the large percentage of people in the 55+ demographic -- "
I'm talking about the 65+ demographic. Eligible for full social security benefits and receiving the checks. Hint: when I used the phrase "fixed income" I didn't mean still working but thinking about retiring. You still are changing the subject.
"George Dials at B&W Y-12 has said recently that fully half of his skilled laborer workforce (machinists, pipe fitters, etc.) is eligible to retire now . . . "
There you go again. What part of the phrase "fixed income" don't you understand. This is like the thread on Netmom's site. You just bring up irrelevant stuff to substitute for your inability to argue the actual point.
" . . . but it does show a marked trend away from your assessment."
It shows nothing of the kind; it only shows that your reading comprehension is poor. My assessment is that the Oak Ridge demographic currently includes a disproportionate number of people on fixed income. You know I'm right. That's why you keep changing the subject.
"I'd like to see your own data that has influenced your perspective."
I'd like to see you post something besides anecdotes about possible future retirees and about kids enrolled in certain elementary schools.
Real businessmen working in the real business world rely on real dollars to stay in business. George Dials and elementary school enrollments aren't gonna bring Trader Joe's to OR, your bafflegab nonwithstanding.
I certainly admire your optimism, but you obviously know no more about business than you do about research.
"but forgivable since you declare OR as your "former" home town."
WTF? OR is my "former" home town because (unlike you) I actually, you know, grew up there. I don't "declare" it to be anything. I don't happen to live there, although my in-laws still do and I and my wife (who also grew up there) still visit.