End it, don’t mend it
The March 3 letter to the editor by Don DeAngelis on the possible privatization of Pennsylvania’s wine and liquor stores seemed to mimic others I recently read by such nonpartisans as the presidents of local unions.
Paraphrasing, DeAngelis said the stores are profitable, employing thousands of people who earn a “living wage,” the meaning of which is only known by a union worker or politician, and he can buy a bottle of liquor as easily as a loaf of bread.
Here’s what I don’t get: Why is the state in the business of selling anything? It is not a function of government at any level. That millions of Pennsylvanians must put up with the state store abomination for the sake of a few thousand union workers is absurd.
If the reason for the Liquor Control Board’s continued existence is financial, then I would humbly suggest that the commonwealth establish the Department of Public Appliances (DPA). All of those low-paid workers at the big box stores, and even the mom-pop appliance stores, could be let go and we could all go to the DPA anytime we needed an appliance. We could then be assured that we would be greeted by friendly, courteous, well-paid (by us) union workers, who would sell us one of several overpriced models they happened to carry in stock.
Once that restored financial health to the commonwealth, lawmakers in Harrisburg could then create a Department of Used Cars. Then Gov. Tom Wolf could drop his harebrained extraction tax proposal, cut personal, sales and business taxes and still have enough left over to fund every liberal boondoggle imaginable.
John P. Moore
Canonsburg