Ahh so here we are in the summer of 1922. I honestly cannot believe that it has been, wow, three and a half years since those ol' "Progressives" (as I hear some people calling the reformers of our American society of the past 20 years or so) gained passage of their precious 18th Amendment. Three and a half years! Three and a half years of "Prohibition!" Three and a half years since alcohol was made illegal!
And yet, here we are. The saloons have all been shut down, but for each one, two or more speakeasies have taken its place! You know of the speakeasies, do you not? They are, in essence, saloons, though illegal; people flock to them for the forbidden drink just as the birds of the African savannas flock to waterholes in times of drought. In this case, Prohibition is the drought, the waterholes are the alcohol-abundant speakeasies, and we are the birds, constantly being hunted down by superficially watchful lions - the police - yet always flying just outside of their reach.
Such is the trend I've come to notice. Prohibition was meant to stop the intake of spirits, but it has seemed to only increase the habit among Americans. Look at Jay Gatsby - he goes as far as offering alcohol at his very own parties, hosted at his very own house! Enforcement of the Amendment has not proved very effective. Also, I've noticed it has fueled the growth of many dangerous gangs. I mean, how else would a speakeasy gain access to alcohol? Bootlegging and the bootleggers who do it! They're the ones who make and sell alcohol, illegally of course.
These cannot be not the consequences that the drafters of the 18th Amendment could have predicted can they? Outright disregard for the law, the expansion of speakeasies, the rise of gangs.... And it's only been three and a half years!
I only hope matters improve. But I cannot say that I know if they will. I would not be surprised if the Prohibition is repealed at some time in the future... I guess we shall wait and see.
