We will start with the usual disclaimer that we support without reservation any Government official specifically referenced in the provisions of UCMJ Article 88.
The Legal section at Socotra House is taking the weekend off, so they sent a text about staying away from any comment on the situation at the Border, which as DHS Secretary Mayorkas has noted several dozen times is “totally closed.” They went on to say there were other things to downplay, like the subway incident in New York. So we were pretty much done for the weekend as well and were ready to formally throw the Patio bar open through Monday morning.
But the news cycle wasn’t done with us. And this one, absent any guidance, is one we have to address out at the bar. A quick update is required to set the stage. You may recall some post-pandemic talk about the criticality of the World Health Organization (WHO). Their leadership was essential in global survival due to the skilled administrators nominated by the Chinese. You may also recall that superb performance caused a recent former President to pull the United States out of it.
Thankfully, the current administration sent a letter to the UN, to whom the WHO is chartered, saying we are back in to demonstrate US leadership in World Health issues. We would rather get out to the bar, so will keep it short. The organization to which we just swore fealty has another important health initiative, and we want to highlight it with a toast while we can.
The WHO has announced that consumption of alcohol has health risks and should be outlawed. Canada has already announced their government considers any consumption of alcoholic beverages to be unhealthy. Recommended use is “zero.” A permissible maximum was established as two drinks a week. The WHO is a little more strict, and prefers us to go all in with “zero.”
Since we are back in, and some of our neighboring countries have already plowing ahead, we can expect this to start percolating downward through our own nation, since the WHO now insists that no amount of alcohol is “good for your health.” Some alert readers have already chimed in to demonstrate their support. In America, the 18th Amendment banned alcohol back in 1919, and the positive benefits to national health were widely applauded for 14 years until crowds demanded it’s repeal. It is the only amendment to our Constitution that has ever been voted out.
We are sure with the new leadership at the WHO and enthusiastic support of the US Government this time it will work out well, and we will all enjoy dramatic improvement to public health. There will be issues, of course. We will need a lot more law enforcement, tax scrutiny and surveillance to ensure compliance. But they tell us it is healthy, and our public health system has demonstrated extraordinary competence in forced mandates for vaccinations and boosters for all hands.
The 18th Amendment was the product of decades of anti-saloon and temperance crusaders. It was discussed in the way our Constitution specified. We don’t know who was in those crowds who got rid of it, and based on life expectancy, they are unlikely to still be around. This time, prohibition can be slid in sideways as a “health measure,” not a Constitutional directed by an organization that is headquartered in Geneva.
That is some real progress. Based on our experience with Covid, the WHO is exactly the right organization to implement the new Prohibition. We understand Eliot Ness may have some grandchildren who are ready to step up and fix things.
It is a privilege to live in times like this!
Copyright 2023 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com