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Letter to the Editor
Sep 10, 2012 | 5796 views | 7 7 comments | 19 19 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Dear Editor:

I found it hard to believe that the Polk County Commissioners are slapping the voters in the face with another resolution to permit the sale of alcohol on Sunday. The voters have already turned this down on a recent vote.

Why are the elected officials so hell bent to approve more alcohol sales?

Our young people are already troubled with the problems with alcohol and drugs. Even the students in middle school are being arrested at the schoolhouse for alcohol and drug abuse.

We should elect public officials who have the character and spiritual insight to see that this is a degrading situation.

Further, we were saddened last Saturday night when we saw a sign in the middle of Marble Street in Rockmart that read “Bar Open.” I have been impressed by the individual who came into town and bought up properties and fixed them up nicely. But folks, I hope you feel as I and many others that a trade off for fixed up building for “open bars” is a bad deal.

We know other establishments are selling alcohol, but it is degrading to the community and should be reconsidered.

I hope the ministers and other concerned citizens will get involved and take a stand against this open alcohol movement.

Remember, the elected officials always approach this from a tax standpoint or argument. I remember years ago when open alcohol sales became an issue. The elected officials made the same case to those in attendance at the public meeting. Brother George Robinson stood at the end of the meeting and made the follwing profound statement: “Brothers, I know we have rattlesnakes, but lets keep them in the mountains as long as we can.”

This was true then and is still true today. Open alcohol sales give the appearance to young people that alcohol consumption is acceptable for all. We that are of the Christian faith know that the consumption of alcohol is a tool of Satan and destroys many, many lives and the lives of their families.

Thank you for reading this and considering the frustrations of many people in the community.

Sincerely,

Benny Tolbert

Rockmart
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Comments
(7)
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PolkCountyCitizen
|
September 12, 2012
Here we go again about the wine. The bible does not say GRAPE JUICE, it states wine. Wine when drank with a meal is perfectly alright. Wine is good for you. Guess we will just have to wait this one out and looks like it won't be long until we can ask in person.
Reply
misticosombrero
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September 11, 2012
Business owners in the County (who are your neighbors and fellow-tax-paying citizens, and maybe even a member of your church) who already sell alcohol Monday-through-Saturday are short-shrifted on Sundays every time a customer bypasses their business to buy alcohol on Sunday from someone else in the Cities of Cedartown and Rockmart. People who do purchase such an item on Sunday also, usually, purchase other items which increases the the enterprises sales and hopefully profits. Why 'penalize' these businesses in the county in favor of the Cities? Voters decide...not the elected officials.
Reply
Lakecreek
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September 10, 2012
This is a hot button topic in this little county. Sales item passed on the ballot for city sales yet failed in the county. I'm a believer but I also know its time we get with the times. Revenue has been going out of the county for years it's time that changed. Folks will always go else where or buy in advance they always have and will. Education at home is the only thing that will help with the younger generation. Responsibility starts and ends at home.
Reply
concernedcdtparent
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September 10, 2012
Forbidding the Sunday sale of alcohol in Polk County is NOT going to change the drug/alcohol problems that folks are dealing with. It's not going to change a "young person's" feelings regarding whether or not alcohol is/is not appropriate.

Your ultra-conservative view regarding this is annoying and you attach a negative stigma to us who are also of the Christian faith, yet have a totally opposite view.

I'm a Jesus-loving Christian and I like beer (in moderation), just as Jesus liked wine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are against this resolution, but I didn't read any idea of an alternative that would bring in any revenue.... Do you not have any innovative ideas?

Reply
hotrod32
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September 10, 2012
I am sure you never shop anywhere in the county that sell's alcohol too like walmart,gas station's, Ingles, Kroger, etc. since it is so degrading to our community. If the downtown offends you then stay away. Like concenedcdtparent said this vote is not going to fix the problem with drugs and alcohol and the choice our teen's make. It is nice to see downtown fixed up instead of run down looking. It is the community and these people that think this way that are holding back things coming to our county. No one wants to come to our county because the constant slack you get from the citizens. If the sale of alcohol offends you then stay home and do not venture out in the county especially on a saturday night to see a open bar sign. "Jesus did drink the wine"
twelch
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September 11, 2012
the wine that Jesus drank was NOT fermented and to compare yourself to Jesus in the first place is appalling. No it is not going to change a young persons view but it sure will make it harder for them to get ahold of it and maybe that may stop a few. and you gotta start somewhere.
MmmHmm
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September 13, 2012
"NOT fermented"? Then it would be called grape juice. Wine is wine. If it isn't fermented, then it isn't wine. Simple as that. It's amazing how quickly a Christian can change each part of the bible on the fly just to win an argument. Yeah, that's real faith you have there. More like real fake, just like religion in general. Since the concept of Jesus is an amalgymation of numerous deities from previous religions and bits of paganism, the whole argument is moot anyway.
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