A History Lesson From an Alcoholic

April 7, 1933, 75 years ago today.

A lil Charlie Chaplin wannabe was Chancellor of Germany, on his way to conquering most of Europe. The Great Depression gripped America, causing people to look left, right, and up when crossing Wall Street. But for a little while none of this mattered. Why? Because the 20th Century Dark Age known as Prohibition had officially ended. Yes, people (well men at least; probably white men) were free to return to McSorley's and other neighborhood saloons without having to remember any secret password. And they would continue to do consume alcohol without worrying about the puritanical hand of John Law until facists started enforcing DUI laws in an obvious attempt to fill unoccupied holding cells across America, giving Joe Taxpayer his money's worth.

So when you get a chance, celebrate your freedom by having a few pints or shots at your local watering hole. And when the barkeep asks you to pay, make sure you tell them that on this, the 75th Anniversary of the recovery of our most fundamental right to get crunked, would Thomas Jefferson or George Washington want you to pay for this most important right? I think not.

And then run. Fast.