Friday, October 28, 2011

The Start Of A Lawless Time...!


Often the best of intentions can lead to terrible results. As the old saying goes "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions!"

I'm sure that if the folks in the government had known what the passing of prohibition was going to lead to, they would have done things differently. At least, I would certainly hope so!

Here is a little history of what turned out to be the start of the most crime-ridden times in our history!

Oct 28, 1919:
Congress enforces prohibition

Congress passes the Volstead Act over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Prohibition Amendment.

The movement for the prohibition of alcohol began in the early 19th century, when Americans concerned about the adverse effects of drinking began forming temperance societies. By the late 19th century, these groups had become a powerful political force, campaigning on the state level and calling for national liquor abstinence. In December 1917, the 18th Amendment, prohibiting the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes," was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. In January 1919, the 18th amendment achieved the necessary two-thirds majority of state ratification, and prohibition became the law of the land.

The Volstead Act, passed nine months later, provided for the enforcement of prohibition, including the creation of a special unit of the Treasury Department. Despite a vigorous effort by law-enforcement agencies, the Volstead Act failed to prevent the large-scale distribution of alcoholic beverages, and organized crime flourished in America. In 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was passed and ratified, repealing prohibition.

Many gangsters and crooked politicians made a lot of money during the time of prohibition, and the flow of booze was never totally stopped. Only when booze was legal and taxed did the crime slow down...and the money from the taxes could be used for some much needed "public works" programs. Sort of the lesser of two evils!

Nice and cool this morning, so let's have our coffee on the patio. No 'skeeters out that I can see!

12 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

Is that "Irish" coffee?

HermitJim said...

Hey Gorges...
Just straight, I'm afraid! Dull but harmless!

Thanks for coming by this morning!

Sixbears said...

It was a busy time around here in those days, located where we are next to the border of Canada. Plenty of booze made the trip south. Plenty of boozers made the trip north.

Momlady said...

Just goes to show that the government can's stop people from doing.

Anonymous said...

Prohibition really isn't that effective, the Black Market is made of people who supply whatever it is if you have the coin to pay for it. Drug cartels in Mexico are really causing some havoc in that country, heard something like 30,000 killed in that country due to drug wars alone! Terrible cost.

Man, I'm loving this front too, blew in last night around 1 am, its in the low 60's right now - why do I have to come into work tuh day! :^)

We'll probably leave the doors open to air out the place.

Ben in Texas said...

The failed prohibition act just proved that you can't regulate people's morals.

JoJo said...

They have been showing all the things that happened during that time on PBS lately. It sure did cause lots of deaths and bad times.

It is 45 at this time I am loving it. Of course it will ber 82 this afternoon but I can handle that. Going to the Desert Museum today.

JoJo said...

They have been showing all the things that happened during that time on PBS lately. It sure did cause lots of deaths and bad times.

It is 45 at this time I am loving it. Of course it will ber 82 this afternoon but I can handle that. Going to the Desert Museum today.

HermitJim said...

Hey Sixbears...
I would imagine that a toll booth would have made lots of money back then! Your area was sort of a cross roads for them all!

Thanks for coming by this morning!


Hey Momlady...
Folks will always find a way to do what they want, so I can't see the point in trying to legislate them into behaving.

Has to be a middle ground somewhere.

Thanks, my friend, for coming over this morning!


Hey Anon 7:43...
It is pretty nice here as well! We even got a little rain!

Now if the 'skeeters will stay away!

Thanks for dropping by this morning!


Hey Ben...
I think you hit the nail on the head!

Thanks, buddy for coming by today!


Hey JoJo...
If nothing else, it made a lot of very wealthy crooks all over the country.

Take plenty of pictures of the museum, will ya? I'd like to see it!

Thanks, sweetie, for coming by today!

Bob from Athens said...

At least back then they finally woke up and realized that prohibition would never work. Sometimes I wonder if I am the only one or one of a few that see the parallels between prohibition and the drug trade today. How many lives would be spared every day if todays drugs were legalized and taxed.

TROUBLEnTX said...

Sounds a lot like MADD today.

Bob Mc said...

This is exactly why I am in favor of legalizing marijuana. Not that I am in favor of drugs, I’m not; but it has been proven that prohibition doesn’t work. The Mexican cartels of today make the gangsters of the 1920’s and 30’s look like a bunch of pikers! Take the money out of the equation and most of the trouble would go away.