Bring back Blue Laws? No, thanks.

 

 

I had to pinch myself — to make sure I was not dreaming — when I read a column in our local paper, by Moore County GOP chairman Bob Levy, calling for the restoration of Sunday Blue Laws.  Bob is a good guy, and a good Republican who has done great things with the local party during his tenure in office.  But here, with this column, he is just flat wrong. 

It’s a nice idea for people to rest more and spend more time with their families.  Who could be agains that?  But having that practice mandated by government flies in the face of capitalism  and falls right into the lap of statism and socialism.  Stuff like what Bob is calling for has been government policy for decades in places like Greece and Spain.  Judging from all of the news coverage of the economic unrest and rioting in those countries,  it’s worked *so well*.

If you choose to close on Sundays — as Chik-Fil-A does — that is your right.  You do risk losing revenue from people who go shopping and out-to-eat after church.  In these tight economic times, most businesses NEED every bit of revenue they can get their hands on.

The whole bit about Sunday being  a day of rest is part of the doctrine preached by many religions.  Blue laws really push the limit by having governments enforce religious doctrine on church-goers and non-churchgoers.

I’ve lived in a community with blue laws.  It’s pretty frustrating to realize  — on Sunday morning — that you are out of milk, and there is nowhere open to go buy any.  I have a friend whose job keeps her pretty busy Monday through Saturday. Sunday is her only day available to get shopping done.  Blue laws would put her — and others like her — in a bind.

One great way to create an environment where people don’t have to work so hard or so much: cut taxes and roll back the size and influence of government.  As late as the mid-70s, it was quite common for  a family to live off the income of one working parent.   As taxes increased and government grew,  the cost of living grew to the point where it was often a necessity for mom and dad to work outside the home just to make ends meet.