tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post3197751826406878449..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Beer and DemocracyJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-74655226756129305252011-08-19T13:02:50.133-05:002011-08-19T13:02:50.133-05:00Sounds more like special interests getting laws in...Sounds more like special interests getting laws in acted to benefit them. i.e. the Beer Making equipment dealer, benefited from the law, he wanted is so he could sell more equipment. This wasn't about freedom or deregulation, it was about profit.<br /><br />With that said there was the unintended consequence of a robust beer industry that has save millions of people from Bud, and allowed the US to catch up with the rest of the world (beer wise)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-26303567414120440812011-08-19T02:02:25.186-05:002011-08-19T02:02:25.186-05:00If this was the only notable act of deregulation d...If this was the only notable act of deregulation during the Carter years, it could be seen as an accident. I'm not a Carter fan but the longstanding association with 1970s Democrats with big, inefficient, bureaucratic-minded government and 1980s Republicans with deregulation is a perverse reading of the historical record. The reality was that some sectors of the economy were over-regulated in the 70s (really, the airlines were ridiculous) and that the wonks of Carter's day knew that much. Not only did they get no credit for that effort from the public or the media, the GOP went on to successfully campaign against Democrats as if they were closet socialists. Once in power, the Republicans kept pushing the dereg button whether or not it made sense, warping a smart policy initiative into ideological simplicity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-87119903972184284222010-08-10T15:01:52.474-05:002010-08-10T15:01:52.474-05:00How about toasting the anonymous "supplier of...How about toasting the anonymous "supplier of beer-making equipment"? Sounds like he should get a little of the credit as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-78697766507184281032010-08-10T08:48:09.968-05:002010-08-10T08:48:09.968-05:00Alas, I had to give up beer a few years ago. Howe...Alas, I had to give up beer a few years ago. However I enjoyed many a fine brew by companies that exist thanks to Rep. Conable's attention to his constituents.<br /><br />As an overly weighty footnote, it's worth noting that a good chunk of "Obama's agenda" was crafted by Congress. It's fashionable among some on the left to bemoan Obama's unwillingness or inability to twist arms the way Lyndon Johnson did. What's far less noted is Obama's skillful recognition of Congress' own powers and his quiet (for the most part) insistence that Congress do its job.massappealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17883213166005005577noreply@blogger.com