Perdue misuses elected position

First, I will start off by stating that I am a Christian and more closely identify myself with Republicans than I do with any of the other parties. That being said, I am appalled by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue's attempt to teach me "time management."

The Georgia General Assembly is currently in session for their annual 40 days of work. One of the proposals that is under consideration would allow for state voters to have a chance to vote on whether they would approve a local option on Sunday beer and wine sales.

Georgia is one of three states that has a ban on all Sunday retail sales of alcohol, and all of the indications coming from the General Assembly make me believe that they will pass the proposal. The bill does not have a provision to allow liquor sales on Sunday.

Unfortunately, Perdue will not give Georgia voters the option of voting on whether the various municipalities around the state can determine whether or not they want Sunday alcohol sales. Perdue was recently interviewed by radio station Q100 and let the state know where he stands on the proposal. "I don't support [Sunday beer and wine sales]," he said. "I don't know whether it will pass the Legislature or not, but it will have a pretty tough time getting the last vote."

As with the national government, the executive branch, Perdue, has the last vote, and it appears he will use that vote to veto the bill when it lands on his desk.

When the state was voting on whether to ban gay marriage and civil unions, all I heard was how we should let the people decide what they wanted. Now this time around, Perdue has no intentions of letting the people of the state decide what they want. He is not under threat of losing a bid for reelection, as the state of Georgia has a two-term limit. Therefore, he is passing his own morals on the rest of the state.

The current law in Georgia encourages individuals to drink and drive rather than consume alcohol in the comfort of their homes. Why is it acceptable to go out to a bar or a restaurant on Sunday but illegal to go to a grocery store to bring the alcohol back to my apartment?

It's legal every other day except for Sunday, but something is different on this "special" day. On Sunday, it is okay for a person to go to a bar or restaurant and consume all of the alcohol that they wish.

Then, they get to drive home while being intoxicated. These same people could go to a grocery store and become just as intoxicated in the comfort of their homes without having to drive afterwards, endangering the lives of other citizens.

If the law is passed by the General Assembly and allowed to go to a vote, that does not mean that the entire state will be "wet," but it does mean that the cities and counties around the state would have the option to decide for themselves whether to allow Sunday sales.

The only argument against Sunday sales in the state has to involve religion. However, nobody can agree upon what the "day of rest" or Sabbath should be.

There is a very large percentage of the state and nation that observes the Sabbath as beginning Friday at sunset and lasting until Saturday at sunset. Most Christian churches observe a Sunday day of rest.

If we are not allowed to purchase alcohol to drink while resting comfortably in our homes on a religious day of rest, then we should not be drinking on the weekend at all. We also should not be allowed to eat pork or beef on the weekend because of the same religious standards around the state. That is why it doesn't make any sense to not allow individuals to exercise their rights in making a decision on their personal choice.

The government is not in place to be a moral authority, but it is in place to abide by the will of the people. If the people of the state want to allow Sunday sales of beer and wine, the governor should allow that to happen. If the state votes against allowing Sunday sales of beer and wine, then that should be the decision by which the state abides. Perdue should allow the state to vote on what they want instead of deciding what he wants for them.

In a final insult to his voters' intelligence, Perdue added a non-religious justification to why Sunday sales should not be allowed. "Think of it this way," he said. "It really helps you plan ahead for the rest of your life-buying on Saturday, rather than Sunday. Time management."

The only time that I want Governor Perdue, or any government official, thinking for me is when I have a tag on my big toe, and then there is only a minuscule chance I would approve.