Rent Seeking - Defined.

[JayB]

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/10/21/vote-no-on-both-liquor-initiatives

 

"Most of the debate around I-1100 and I-1105—the hard liquor initiatives—is all about the big boys: big box stores and big grocery stores vs. distributors vs. labor unions and “Big Beer.”

 

Well, I’m not a boy, and I’m not so big. I’m certainly not Big Beer. As the owner of Schooner Exact Brewing and the president of the Washington Brewers Guild, I’m considered a small craft brewer—10 barrels at a time from a brewery two miles south of the stadiums. We’re a growing operation, adding an employee a month. But Initiative I-1100 in particular could kill my business.

 

So my biggest concern about I-1100 and I-1105 isn’t about cuts to public services or the massive increase in hard liquor outlets. Granted, those are important issues, but for me, defeating these initiatives is about survival, of my business and hundreds more Washington craft breweries and wineries across the state.

 

The reason for my opposition isn’t getting nearly enough attention amid all the back and forth on TV, in direct mail and on the internet. What makes I-1100—which was written by right-wing blogger Stefan Sharkansky—such a problem is the way it summarily eviscerates 39 state laws that give us future big boys a level playing field against the current big boys.

 

A few examples of what that means: If 1100 passes, big producers would undercut us smaller producers by offering large volume discounts to restaurants and retailers. Big companies could buy space on grocery store shelves, pushing aside smaller Washington-based beer and wine labels. Big companies could give away product and essentially bribe bar owners with promotional enticements.

 

The idea that I-1100 “modernizes” state liquor laws is a crock. This is really a power grab by some very large corporations who want to use their considerable weight to monopolize liquor sales. And this isn’t about “competition.” I’m all for competition. The truth is 1100 kills competition.

 

I-1105 is marginally less bad compared to I-1100 for small brewers and the smaller wineries, but we are certainly concerned about I-1105’s provision that repeals all liquor taxes in Washington State.

 

The Stranger dismisses the impressively broad coalition of business, labor, faith, law enforcement and local government urging a No/No as: “…oppos(ing) these initiatives because they want to protect the profits of beer megacorporations.” Oh really? F that. I wake up every day with the burning desire to take profits away from those megacorps—most of which, BTW, aren’t so mega, and employ thousands of Washingtonians. I would never have joined forces with them to fight these stupid initiatives if I didn’t have a damn good reason.

 

The central point The Stranger seems to miss is this: You don’t get good public policy by passing bad public policy. Initiatives I-1100 and I-1105 are bad public policy. That’s why the vast majority of craft brewers—including me—will be voting No and No on I-1100 and I-1105."

 

 

[Hugh Conway]

Why is big corporations using their market power and money to buy access now bad Jay? You love WalMart and the like who do exactly the same thing.

[Mal_Con]

You could give away the big brewers swill and it would not affect the craft brewers, very different markets. People will still go to Georgetown for growlers of Mannys even if the shelves of mini marts are filled with Bilge Light.

[Peter_Puget]

Why is big corporations using their market power and money to buy access now bad Jay? You love WalMart and the like who do exactly the same thing.

 

Fuck you must have shit your brain out with you last "hot carl."

[JayB]

Why is big corporations using their market power and money to buy access now bad Jay? You love WalMart and the like who do exactly the same thing.

 

Unlike the author of the above post. I don't think the purposes of laws regulating the sale and distribution of alcohol should include guaranteeing any subset of brewers or distillers a market for their goods.

 

Methinks you mistook the authors purposes for my own.

 

 

[JayB]

You could give away the big brewers swill and it would not affect the craft brewers, very different markets. People will still go to Georgetown for growlers of Mannys even if the shelves of mini marts are filled with Bilge Light.

 

Yes.

 

 

[Peter_Puget]

Why is big corporations using their market power and money to buy access now bad Jay? You love WalMart and the like who do exactly the same thing.

 

Unlike the author of the above post. I don't think the purposes of laws regulating the sale and distribution of alcohol should include guaranteeing any subset of brewers or distillers a market for their goods.

 

Methinks you mistook the authors purposes for my own.

 

 

Jay I already posted the vulgate version of this post.

[JayB]

Have to say I'm happily astounded by the tone of the comments on this one over at The Stranger...

[j_b]

Right, externalizing the production and shipping costs of liquor oligopolies isn't "rent seeking", it's only being incompetent at basic arithmetic.

 

Per usual, the corporatists and their libertarian toadies have no consideration for local economies, diversity and quality of offerings, and small business.

[Hugh Conway]

Methinks you mistook the authors purposes for my own.

 

I get lost in your circular logic and duplicity.

[prole]

Have to say I'm happily astounded by the tone of the comments on this one over at The Stranger...

 

Nooo, hipster douchebags are thoroughly inculcated with capitalist consumerist logic?! Say it ain't so!

[prole]

 

Those dumbfucks all drink PBR anyway...

[JayB]

Right, externalizing the production and shipping costs of liquor oligopolies isn't "rent seeking", it's only being incompetent at basic arithmetic.

 

Per usual, the corporatists and their libertarian toadies have no consideration for local economies, diversity and quality of offerings, and small business.

 

Yes - the quality and selection of wine, beer, and spirits in California is a pale shadow of what we've got here in Washington.

[Hugh Conway]

Yes - the quality and selection of wine, beer, and spirits in California is a pale shadow of what we've got here in Washington.

 

wrong, wrong, wrong.... but it's cheaper in CA - which is as much the large local population and consumption base as anything else. $2 chuck is only $2 in California, it's $3 everywhere else irrespective of shitty laws

[JayB]

Yes - the quality and selection of wine, beer, and spirits in California is a pale shadow of what we've got here in Washington.

 

wrong, wrong, wrong..

 

Are we in a nested sarcasm loop here or are you really not getting the whole facetious thing?

[Hugh Conway]

Yes - the quality and selection of wine, beer, and spirits in California is a pale shadow of what we've got here in Washington.

 

wrong, wrong, wrong..

 

Are we in a nested sarcasm loop here or are you really not getting the whole facetious thing?

 

you're failing at facetious.

[prole]

Yes - the quality and selection of wine, beer, and spirits in California is a pale shadow of what we've got here in Washington.

 

wrong, wrong, wrong.... but it's cheaper in CA

 

Yeah, and there are liquor stores on every fucking corner too! And they sell Faygo!

 

 

[j_b]

Right, externalizing the production and shipping costs of liquor oligopolies isn't "rent seeking", it's only being incompetent at basic arithmetic.

 

Per usual, the corporatists and their libertarian toadies have no consideration for local economies, diversity and quality of offerings, and small business.

 

Yes - the quality and selection of wine, beer, and spirits in California is a pale shadow of what we've got here in Washington.

 

of course, the only difference between Washington and California is the wine and liquor laws

[JayB]

Right, externalizing the production and shipping costs of liquor oligopolies isn't "rent seeking", it's only being incompetent at basic arithmetic.

 

Per usual, the corporatists and their libertarian toadies have no consideration for local economies, diversity and quality of offerings, and small business.

 

Yes - the quality and selection of wine, beer, and spirits in California is a pale shadow of what we've got here in Washington.

 

of course, the only difference between Washington and California is the wine and liquor laws

 

Supply follows demand.

 

 

 

 

[j_b]

hallelujah

[Hugh Conway]

Right, externalizing the production and shipping costs of liquor oligopolies isn't "rent seeking", it's only being incompetent at basic arithmetic.

 

Per usual, the corporatists and their libertarian toadies have no consideration for local economies, diversity and quality of offerings, and small business.

 

Yes - the quality and selection of wine, beer, and spirits in California is a pale shadow of what we've got here in Washington.

 

of course, the only difference between Washington and California is the wine and liquor laws

 

Supply follows demand.

 

bring on the golden shower!