Missouri Alcohol Laws

[wnordmann]

The founder of MADD Candace Lightner left the organization because they have shifted from anti-drinking and driving to anti-drinking.

Here is a good story about anti-drinking organizations and the quote about MADD's founder

Lightner has moved on from MADD, and since then has protested the shift from attacking drunk driving to attacking drinking in general. "I worry that the movement I helped create has lost direction," she told The Cleveland Plain Dealer in 1992. BAC legislation, she said, "ignores the real core of the problem....If we really want to save lives, let's go after the most dangerous drivers on the road." Lightner said MADD has become an organization far more "neoprohibitionist" than she had envisioned. "I didn't start MADD to deal with alcohol," she said. "I started MADD to deal with the issue of drunk driving."

While it seems safe to assume that nearly every parent in the United States opposes drunk driving, the same cannot be said for MADD's efforts to stop drinking. Neither is every politician on board. In October 2005, responding to noisy complaints from local residents and negative national publicity, the D.C. Council decided, by a 9-3 vote, to abandon the zero tolerance policy that snared Debra Bolton. "D.C. is once again open for business," said council member Carol Schwartz. She said visitors "can come in and have a glass of wine and not be harassed or intimidated."
That's good news. Sadly, it's not the case everywhere.

No one is going to say drunk driving is bad, and plenty will say drinking is bad.

[Witch Doctor Dale]

Comparing MADD members to Nazis is a shot below the belt.

[BeerGuy]

Comparing MADD members to Nazis is a shot below the belt.

I didn't compare MADD members to Nazis. My statement was a warning not to take a group simply on its word or stated purpose, and to beware of evil intentions couched in pleasantries and good will.

[Benjamin R]

Not to get too off topic, but...

Am I the only one who is scared shit-less to get on the highways anymore? I will do just about anything to keep from driving on the highway. There are so many drivers, going way faster then they should, while doing things they should never do behind the wheel. I can't count the times I've been passed at 60mph like I was sitting still, only to see the driver sitting so low in his/her seat they can't possibly see the road, talking, or god forbid, texting on their phone!

I could care less what you do, until it effects me, and your haphazard driving is directly threatening me and mine. I miss the days when all you had to worry about was the drunks. Even as a young reckless kid (and believe me I was) I was never as dangerous as I see these people being.

...sorry, back to bashing tea totalers.

[JE]

First off, as a German decendant I am offended by anyone making remarks about the Nazis...they were a blight on society and the world in general as we all know, and mentioning them gives them much undeserved attention! I know it was meant only as a comparison, but there are many other comparisons that could have been made...perhaps actually related to the subject such as the Anglo-Saxon (more specifically Andrew J. Volstead - the author of the Volstead [National Prohibition] Act) that were responsible for Prohibition in the first place...look it up.

Second, while people are standing on soap boxes and expressing their views, allow me to step on mine for a moment. If anyone would take the time to actually gather all the information as Mr. Nordmann above has started for us, you would realize that the original purpose of MADD was to bring an end to DRUNK DRIVING, not drinking in general.

Now, the recent past has taught us that MADD has overstepped it's boundaries a few times, but I would really like for any of you to tell me one "political" organization that hasn't...because in a nutshell that's all MADD is...just another organization out there to try and make a political statement. They cannot bring the "second coming of Prohibition" on their own...unless voters bring in someone that truly believes the views of certain members of MADD. Remember, not all of them agree with their views on alcohol, just the drunk driving!

In short, don't blame an entire organization due to a few "bad apples" that may find their way into any form of power within said organization. Now, I will step down from my soap box and allow you to soak this in a little bit...

[BeerGuy]

First off, as a German decendant I am offended by anyone making remarks about the Nazis...they were a blight on society and the world in general as we all know, and mentioning them gives them much undeserved attention!

As a descendant of both Ukrainian AND British Isles heritage, I have double the reason to mention the Nazis whenever possible, lest we forget the atrocities they inflicted on the entire world, not just my family. When we stop talking about something, it's the first step in forgetting it.

In short, don't blame an entire organization due to a few "bad apples" that may find their way into any form of power within said organization.

If it were only "a few bad apples". Unfortunately, the disease runs to the core of the MADD organization, and is pervasive in their current form. I am a big supporter of the MADD that Candace Lightner created, but that is long since gone.

[JE]

I have double the reason to mention the Nazis whenever possible, lest we forget the atrocities they inflicted on the entire world, not just my family.

Understandably, you hold some hostility, as many do and should (myself included)...I am not going to dispute that. There are things that you must remember, though...as a German decendant I have (as well most of the German family that I have) been accused, wrongly mind you, of being associated with that scum.

Now, you see why I would much rather not hear it mentioned...brings back some bitter feelings for me too.

Unfortunately, the disease runs to the core of the MADD organization, and is pervasive in their current form. I am a big supporter of the MADD that Candace Lightner created, but that is long since gone.

Okay...that makes more sense to me. Although I still feel this forum may not be the best place to bring it up, you are entitled to that view. There are many members of MADD that do not follow or agree with this new mentality...unfortunately they are also not the one's in charge...

[Hopking]

As a descendent of Germans and Irish, I am not offended by drinking jokes about the Irish, nor references to Nazi's. While many folks of German heritage, with close ancestors in Germany at the time claim that they did not know or were opposed, the fact of the matter is that the German people let this happen. As a whole, unless they were one of the subgroups being persecuted, they were onboard and feverishly patriotic about the Fatherland and most things that Hitler did. At the end of the war, you could not find anyone who had actually supported the National Socialists. As to patriotism, which Mark Twain claimed to be "the last refuge of a scoundrel", folks should pay close attention to what goes on in or own country with the beating of war drums, notions that we are better than anyone else, and our own colonial aspirations to affect other governments and corner national resources markets. This country is and has been replete with organizations that had noble purposes but lost their way in the pursuit of greed, self interest and power. In the pursuit of self interest, our own government has lost sight of the principles upon which our country was founded. That a particular organization like MADD can stray from it's original intent is not surprising.

Every one should lighten up and look at the issue in its pure form and not resort to loose references or name calling, neither of which I think actually occurred in this thread.

[bacillus]

Hopking:

I couldn't agree more! And since everyone else who has posted on this thread indicated their heritage, mine is composed of German, Swedish, and Dutch, in that order. However, since most people in my generation are at least 2 generations removed from this heritage I call myself an American.

So

Cheers

Prosit,

Skal,

and Proost

Have a great weekend all.

[JE]

Hopking and Kally...

Both of you are to be raised on our collective shoulders for lightening the mood of this thread and bring up VERY good points! Here's to you both for returning the torches and pitchforks to all of our toolsheds!

Hopking, I would also like to thank you for bringing up the very good points that you brought up...we should be more mindful of the happings here and I couldn't agree with you more!

[Kally]

JE - Thanks for the kind words. I just got back around to reading this thread and haven't stopped laughing

On that note, I'm reminded of a seminar I attended back in school when the scientist who discovered the double-helix formation of DNA (and subsequently proved evolution) was responding to a religious fanatic who had just accused him of calling us all monkeys- He said that rather than get upset, we should be glad that we are no longer monkees...

Cheers!

[Kevin Sullivan]

It wasn't long ago (20+/-) the driver in Missouri could have an alcoholic beverage in hand, yet had to remain sober, which at the time was .1%.
Demonizing drink, or those who do, is to miss the point. Safe driving is our objective and failure to remain a safe driver should be penalized, but not by making peripheral behavior illegal.