During the 1980 Presidential debate Republican candidate Ronald Reagan used the phrase “There you go again” against his opponent Jimmy Carter. In a fatherly way it disarmed Carter as Reagan chided him for his various political positions on a variety of topics. If Reagan were alive today I suspect that the phrase would find a new foil in the person of Michigan Governor Granholm. It seems that not a week goes by that Granholm doesn’t surface with another one of her fractured non-sensical ramblings.

Case in point is her plan to allow liquor stores, restaurants and saloons to expand alcohol sales until 4:00AM. Granholm also wants to rescind the Sunday noon sale of liquor and allow sales much earlier. A spokesperson for the Governor sees this as a way to enhance revenue for the state as merchants would have to purchase permits for the extended sales period. This in turn is seen as a way for businesses to expand their profits.

As it is now saloons and restaurants must cease sales of alcohol at 2:00AM when the familiar exhortation of “last call” is heard. Several things come to mind:

-                       is it really necessary to allow saloon patrons an extra two hours to liquor up before they hit the road? As it is now most of the imbibers have returned to the confines of their home before workday traffic begins. If the time frame were extended to 4:00AM the possibility exists that early morning travelers on their way to work will now be confronted by a flotilla of over served Jack Daniel and Bud Lite aficionados!

-                      And is it really necessary to rescind the Sunday liquor laws so that thirsty Michiganders can quench their thirst earlier then the noon restriction? Boaters now complain that in order to fill their coolers with brewskies on Sunday they have to plan in advance because of the ban on Sunday sales until noon. Just what our Coast Guard needs more alcohol influenced boaters on our already crowded waterways!

-                     Over-extended police agencies certainly don’t need an influx of possible DUI offenders roaming the highways and byways. And yes I am aware that most patrons will be responsible drinkers but we all know there is a segment that will not be as mature.

Let’s hope that as Granholm winds down her less than illustrious reign as Governor she concentrates on just identifying and naming more “Cool Cities” which is a perfectly harmless activity. The alternative would be for President Obama to name her Ambassador to Canada so that she can return to the relative obscurity she so richly deserves. In the meantime our representatives in Lansing need to paraphrase the famous words from Seinfeld Show character The Soup Nazi - “No liquor after 2:00AM and before noon on Sundays for you! Next!!”

Bill Kalmar

Former Director of the Michgan Quality Council