Liquor by the drink

In response to several letters favoring the approval of liquor by the drink in our area, the Rev. Mashburn wrote about his failure to understand why Baptists would vote to approve such a referendum. I'll share with you why I think even the Baptists should be voting for this.

While all churches enjoy a free ride at the expense of us all via their tax exempt status, this means each of us must cough up additional taxes to pay their way. Most churches are awash in cash when their members are not. We Christians may be rich in the spirit but we are not rich in the wallet. We are now facing a lifetime of unanticipated high gas prices and ever-escalating prices with an upcoming huge property tax increase that will be hitting hard upon our already decreased and strained disposable incomes.

Our solution to this looming crises is to approve liquor by the drink. Tourists drive through Cherokee County instead of stopping over for even a lunch. If we had more to offer, they would be staying longer. As I stated in a prior letter, all our local businesses will profit by the increased number of visitors who stop over and stay longer rather than heading to other areas where more is offered. Sheila Goodwin, a local friend, stated it best when she said "we are stagnating here. The locals alone cannot support this county. We must have touriists who have a reason to stay."

We need to attract tourists who will stay and spend. Other areas are voting in favor of this proposition and are prospering. Because of the rapidly increasing cost of living, fewer people are traveling and there is a scramble to attract those who still are. We can either make changes to attract tourist dollars or begin to wither on the vine.

Each tourist will contribute to out area's tax income and future tax increases will be either avoided or lessened because of their presence. The concept of having liquor by the drink allowed in our area does not mean bad elements will be coming into our area.

It does mean, however, increased prosperity for our area's merchants and a tax break for us all. We'll never be able to enjoy the tax-exempt status enjoyed by the churches, but we can vote relief into our own pocketbooks. For the churches to stand in the way of a vote for liquor by the drink in our area is the same as part of the problem being against the solution. Because this referendum may be our last opportunity to save our area's economy, all our citizens should be behind Bill Wells' proposition and should be in favor of approving liquor by the drink.

Wayne Packard