It Could Happen!!!

by Chuck McGlawn
Let me pose a hypothetical on which you can chew. In 1851, Maine was the first state to introduce prohibition, which was not quickly repealed. It turned out to be an outstanding success. By 1855, A dozen other states had joined Maine in becoming what is known as being "Dry State". These were the first successful alcohol Prohibition laws passed in the United States. In 1880, after the Civil War, women joined the dries and soon the temperance movement was back in full force. The WCTU was formed and the Prohibition Party became more powerful. By 1900, more than 50% of the continental United States had become dry. A loophole was found, the postal service. Because the federal government instead of the state government ran the postal service, liquor could be mail ordered from a wet state. In 1913, the Interstate Liquor Act was passed, preventing mailing liquor to any dry state. This got rid of all possible legal methods of getting alcohol therefore opening up new avenues for illegal methods. Control of liquor distribution went to crime syndicates. See, http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/5-27-2006-97505.asp

Here is the hypothetical; suppose, this trend continued until every State was dry by 1920 except North Dakota, New Mexico, Washington, Georgia and Kansas. It is my belief that if the other States remained dry, Life in North Dakota, New Mexico, Washington, Georgia and Kansas would take a turn for the better. Being spared the effects of probation would have its benefits. Criminal elements would begin migrating to Dry States for the profit potential of illegal alcohol. The wet States would not experience the rise in deaths cause by the drive by shootings from gang wars over territory, or deaths caused by the sale and consumption of bad booze. The wet States would not experience the increased taxes to support a growing law enforcement to respond to increased crime. The wet States would not feel the effects of graft and the corruption of their judicial system. Moreover, begin to experience a rise in property values relative to the dry States.

Wet States would become huge exporters of good booze, unemployment would drop, major distillers, breweries and vintners would move to the wet States, the tax base would broaden, investment money would begin to flow into those wet States. The end-result would be a general rise in the population and standard of living. More importantly public pressure from Dry States to follow the prosperity would increase and the US would have learned an important cause and effect lesson.