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One of this nation’s most socially liberal states (read previous post) has one of the most asinine, conservative liquor control boards ever – in the history of the world. When Dad owned restaurants, I remember him saying that liquor laws in Washington are beyond outrageous. Now I know why. I can hardly buy a 40 oz. in this city, and tourists (save Utah Mormons) are shocked and appalled that they can’t buy liquor at a grocery store. I nearly cried in joy last time I was at a grocery store in Oregon.

But this shit crosses the line. The Stranger reports, “The state liquor control board proposed a new statewide license for nightclubs that would eliminate all-ages shows at establishments that serve alcohol – even if alcohol isn’t being served during the show.” That eliminates Seattle clubs, like Neumos and the Showbow, and Tacoma clubs, like Hell’s Kitchen and Jazzbones from hosting all-ages shows. They might as well bring back the Teen Dance Ordinance.

It’s a crime really. Go ahead and put limitations on those of us who can legally drink, but how many more walls can you put up against those who already don’t have legal access to alcohol? Reality check: Underage drinkers aren’t getting their drinks at the clubs they attend, they get them from grocery stores, older siblings, or their parents’ pantries beforehand. I’m usually politically correct, but I dare say that this proposal is retarded.

The new proposal also redefines “nightclubs” as being “any place that operates primarily between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.; is open five days a week or less; charges a cover fee; has live entertainment; has a higher occupancy than the number of seats; or doesn’t offer menus along with drinks – would have to get a license under the proposed regulations.”

Oh, and the liquor control board would be able to withhold a license if it felt the number of licenses in the area was “adequate for the reasonable needs of the community.” WTF?! How is that defined? What are “primary operating” hours? WTF? WTF? WTF?!

If this proposal passes, it will be up to the few non-alcohol serving all-ages clubs and educational institutions to host all-ages shows from now on. And those few venues will be empowered and literally monopolize all-ages events in their respective communities. This could be dangerous, as promoters and clubs could take advantage of the naïve all-ages audience and spike door charges and limit band line-ups (read: Club Impact).

So, I was looking forward to taking Sergio to see Common Market and Blue Scholars at Neumos, an all-ages show this Saturday. But now I’m really looking forward to taking Sergio to the show, as he might not be able to see a decent show again for a few years. We’ll be sure to swing by the supermarket on the way and buy some brews so that we can have a drink and pour a dose for the soon-to-be fallen all-ages venues.

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I was too high on the holidays (pun) and missed this story published on Christmas day.

The Tri-City Herald reports that “Washington is among the top five pot-producing states, producing a $1 billion-a-year crop that is second in value only to the state's famed apple harvest.” But that’s not all, (drumroll, please) marijuana is now “the biggest cash crop in the United States, bringing in more annually than corn and wheat combined.”

Yep. The Tri-City Herald article is based on public-policy researcher Jon Gettman’s newest report, which positions the U.S. government’s multi-bazillion dollar effort to control marijuana cultivation and trafficking as a total waste.

“Marijuana has become a pervasive and ineradicable part of the economy of the United States,” Gettman says. “The focus of public policy should be how to effectively control this market through regulation and taxation in order to achieve immediate and realistic goals, such as reducing teenage access.” (Read: legalize it.)

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Gerald Ford, the 38th and only unelected president in American history, died yesterday at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif at age 93. The defining moment of Ford’s short time in the White House was pardoning Richard Nixon, from whom he inherited the presidency after Watergate.

He later wrote in his autobiography, “I simply was not convinced that the country wanted to see an ex-president behind bars. We are not a vengeful people; forgiveness is one of the roots of the American tradition. And Nixon, in my opinion, had already suffered enormously.”

The pardon hurt his bid for re-election, and he knew it. He was defeated by Jimmy Carter in his bid for reelection. “It could easily cost me the next election if I run again,” he said. “But damn it, I don't need the polls to tell me whether I'm right or wrong.” I think few politicians keep that attitude about polls today.

"An outstanding statesman, he wisely chose the path of healing during a deeply divisive time in our nation's history,” said former President Jimmy Carter. “He frequently rose above politics by emphasizing the need for bipartisanship and seeking common ground on issues critical to our nation.”

We might also remember Ford for his personal actions. In 1978, Ford and his children staged an intervention to persuade his wife, Betty, to seek treatment for abuse of medication and alcohol. The successful treatment led to founding the Betty Ford Center.

Undoubtedly, Ford will be recognized as one of the weakest presidents in American history – not all by his own faults. The Nixon administration’s abuse of power resulted in weakening presidential authority and empowering Congress, nearly reducing Ford to only symbolic command.

With the creation of the Patriot Act, Homeland Security and their offspring, we’ve tipped the scale back to a dominant president and weak Congress. War is forevermore omnipresent and can no longer be an excuse to skip the checks and balances this nation was founded upon. We should be reminded that, like Nixon, empowered presidents can be unethical and exploit their jurisdiction beyond the interest of the American people they serve. Should a president again overstep his or her authority and compromise American values, I hope that we can once again be restored by someone with the grace and dignity of Gerald Ford.