Two Blue Laws, One Stone

Or, bill. Looks like the Indiana legislature is on its' way to repealing two laws that deal with alcohol sales. From the Lafayette Journal-Courier:

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Senate has given final legislative approval to a bill allowing Indiana's microbreweries to sell beer for carryout on Sundays.

The Senate voted 28-17 Monday to endorse House changes to the bill. The measure now heads to the desk of Gov. Mitch Daniels for his consideration.

The bill would limit the amount of beer a microbrewery can sell to about two cases per transaction. Indiana's 32 microbreweries have limits on how much beer they can make each year.

The bill also repeals a law that prohibits alcohol sales during voting hours on election days.

I remember how arcane and of the 1950's South I thought these laws were upon arrival in Indiana in 2002. Good to see them repealed.

There's still work to be done, though. I had no idea that Indiana limited production of microbreweries. What kind of madness is that? If Barley Island or Three Floyds are able to sell from vats the size of Rhode Island (to quote a beer ad of yore), why shouldn't they? In this economy? Let them sell!

(H/T: Doug Masson)

Money Has Nothing To Do With Results

I find the proposition that money = results with regards to public schools positively infuriating. Allison Maguire is running for Pike Township School Board, and she posts some interesting numbers that underscore this.

We spent $12,572 per student during school year 07-08, we pay teachers $52,000 on average, yet we are consistantly below state averages on the ISTEP Math and Language Arts scores and National SAT scores.

When you look at the graphs provided on the State's website, you see the Pike Township scores below the national average for every category, for every year, and falling.

With most things run by government, solutions become axiomatic towards more money. If scores are failing? Must be underfunded! If scores are rising? That's a good program that deserves to be rewarded!

We're a very stupid people.

Reason Saves Cleveland

As one who grew up and lived in Cleveland for some 34 years, I will be very interested to see the results of Drew Carey's project with the Reason Foundation, called 'Reason Saves Cleveland'.

My opinion of Cleveland was that it was a city that had an iron grip clutching to the past that left- the days of exceptionally high-paying jobs that required workers to show up and bring a marginal skill set with them. Virtually all public policy I ever reviewed could predictably lead to brain and wealth drain. Truly, you have to be a fool to live in the City of Cleveland, in my opinion.

I will follow with interest. Alas, my opinion of the City is that it is rather the logical conclusion of the old adage, "You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink". In Cleveland's case, "You can hold the horse's head under water, and it wouldn't drink to save it's life. The only water it will take in will drown it."