Irate constituency vs. determined lobby
The letter below was sent to The Frederick News Post to encourage individuals to ask the Maryland legislature to pass a bill that would restore the right of Marylanders to buy and ship wine from out-of-state wineries to their homes:
FrederickNewsPost.com
Irate constituency vs. determined lobby
Originally published January 16, 2010
I am writing to encourage individuals to ask the Maryland
legislature to pass a bill that has been around so long it has acquired
more dust than any old bottle of wine in my basement. This bill would
restore the right of Marylanders to buy and ship wine from out-of-state
wineries to our homes. It is a right that Maryland citizens once shared
with the citizens of 37 other states. Years ago it was taken away by
our legislature, acting at the behest of liquor distributors that
feared the impact Internet sales would have on their business.
The
only thing that can overpower the influence of a determined lobby is an
irate constituency. In the end, our votes are more decisive than the
incredible sums of money lobbyists spend. You may never have thought of
buying a bottle of wine online, but I'm sure the thought of one your
rights having been taken away by deep-pocketed lobbyists makes your
blood boil. If it can happen with the right to buy wine, what's next?
I
encourage everyone to visit the website of Marylanders for Better Wine
and Beer Laws and learn about this issue. Their address is
www.mbbwl.org.
Then sign their petition and let the Maryland
legislature know, in no uncertain terms, that you want to see the
rights of Maryland citizens restored. Pass the word on to your friends
and other contacts as well.
Our forefathers once started a
revolution over a cup of tea. Signing a petition is the very least we
can do for a bottle of wine.
DAVID NIELSEN
Mount Airy