Big anti-PLCB piece in Philadelphia Weekly

The issue of Philadelphia Weekly that came out yesterday features a lengthy anti-PLCB screed by Tom Cowell; nice work. (There was a good editorial on the wine kiosks the day before in the Lebanon Daily News, too.) The blog got some mention (bottom of page 2), but much much more importantly, Cowell had clearly been reading it and getting ideas: the number of stores compared to Chicago, how relatively little money we actually get from a complete monopoly on booze sales, the stupidity of the rebranding scheme, the way the PLCB is really just the tool of the legislature.

Which is exactly why this blog is here, to inspire thought and action. Cowell took it and ran with it, talked to union head Wendell Young, found some more issues (the patronage inherent in the State Store System, for example), and got a new crowd of folks stirred up. I'm very happy to see it happen.

Keep spreading the word. PRIVATIZE IT NOW!

(And if you feel like supporting me in the comments to this piece...feel free, but remember to keep it on track: it's all about abolishing the PLCB and rewriting The Almighty Liquor Code!)

Why Didn't I Ever Ask?

It just hit me like a ton of bricks.

If Pennsylvania's State Store System is as wonderful as PJ and Joe "CEO" say it is...

How come you never see out-of-state plates in the parking lots?

It's like the Worker's Paradise. The Berlin Wall wasn't put up to keep people out of East Germany...

I'll grant, you may see some NJ plates in stores close to the Delaware River. But I'll betcha it's more about people ducking NJ auto insurance rates than it is about visiting the wonderful State Store System.

Still...if you see an out-of-state plate in a State Store System parking lot, and you can get a picture that clearly shows the plate and the store, send it. I dare ya.