Woman Charged With Harassment

Agnes Shipp 
January 13, 1997 
Agnes Shipp, Formerly Of Garfield Street, Honey Pot Section Of Nanticoke, Died 
Monday At The Nanticoke Villa, Where She Was A Resident For The Past Three 
Years.

Thursday, January 16, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





Some sobering arguments for state to get out of liquor business &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I was outside a bank in Kingston years ago when a car with out-of-state
plates pulled up. The driver was bewildered: He couldn't he find a liquor
store. I &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; filled him in on state stores. ``Great!'' he said, ``I need some beer.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Oops -- wrong directions. I pointed him towards a beer distributor"Thanks,"
he said, "I'm bringing a six-pack to my friends' picnic." Still more
directions -- this time to a bar, since he needed less than a case. He laughed
as he waved goodbye. "Where am I? Oz?" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nope. Just Pennsylvania, where the state owns all the liquor stores --
though not for much longer, if the legislature comes to its senses. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fine people run state stores. I've always been treated very well there, and
I'm old enough to remember choosing from bottles displayed one by one, like
bowling trophies. The problem is that government doesn't belong in the liquor
business, or any other business. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The consumer is best served by entrepreneurs, large and small, who take
risks to make profits. Business owners naturally look for ways to increase
customer satisfaction and sales volume. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The pressure of competition tends to drive service, selection and quality
up, while driving price down. A state monopoly is immune to all of this.
That's why Pennsylvanians don't enjoy conveniences in the adult beverage
department that our neighbors do. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We drive farther. Stores close earlier. Wine selection is poor compared to
other states. We can't even shop for beer and wine in one place, let alone
beer, wine, and the high-octane stuff. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We often pay more. We can't choose a lower-priced label that the store
owner has taken the trouble to discover. There is no store owner. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 My solution? Give the sale of hooch back to the free market. The state can,
of course, set standards for ownership. A liquor store license brings heavy
responsibility, just as a firearms license does for a sporting goods store or
a state inspection permit does for a garage. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If a store owner knowingly sold to minors, for example, that license should
be back in the courthouse by sundown. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But let's have four or five places to buy bourbon in the Back Mountain,
instead of one. Do you think prices would drop? Maybe one of the dozen
retailers that might open in Wilkes-Barre would carry a white wine other than
Chardonnay. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Now let me throw rocks at some arguments I've heard in support of the state
monopoly. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Criminal elements would take over the liquor stores. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This will happen only if the state regulates the number of retail licenses.
If one is issued to any person of good character who wants one, then the
monopoly will be broken and the huge profits that attract criminals will be
missing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Heavy government regulation does breed crime, as Al Capone taught us during
prohibition. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Resist the temptation to control the number of permits and criminals will
stay in richer and easier enterprises like narcotics. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 State store employees will lose their jobs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 They will change employers. New retail outlets will need good people with
state store experience. I favor giving current store managers a free license
to start their own stores. If they don't want the opportunity, they can manage
for someone else. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Some contend that store employees won't be paid as much. That's possible.
Wages in privately-held liquor stores may turn out to be lower. If that
happens, it will tell us that the state has been overpaying under the current
system, using our money. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Is it healthy for everyone to pay higher prices so that the state can pay
employees more than the job is worth? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The state needs the income. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That's true. Government always seems to need as much income as it can get.
So keep the state stores. Take over the gas stations and dry cleaners, too.
They make a good buck. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sure, the state may need the profits from liquor sales, but it has no right
to run any business. That's not the proper role for government in a free
market. Harrisburg will have to get by on taxes and fees, like most other
states. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 More and better liquor stores will encourage people to drink. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 People don't need any encouragement. They do just fine on their own. Show
me a statistical link between sobriety and government ownership of liquor
outlets. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pennsylvania cannot pretend that it maintains a monopoly on the wine and
spirits trade just to protect us from over-indulging. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The state is in that business for the money. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That's wrong. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A toast to private enterprise. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Salud. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 David Parmelee is a partner and co-founder of RSA/Fox Automotive, a
Mountaintop sales consulting firm. His column appears on alternate Thursdays. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Some Sobering Arguments For State To Get Out Of Liquor Business 
I Was Outside A Bank In Kingston Years Ago When A Car With Out-of-state Plates 
Pulled Up. The Driver Was Bewildered: He Couldn't He Find A Liquor Store. I 
Filled Him In On State Stores. ``great!'' He Said, ``i Need Some Beer.'' 
Oops -- Wrong Directions. I Pointed Him Towards A Beer Distributor.