The federal government shutdown closed all non-essential branches of the government, including the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. The TBB is a part of the treasury department that approves new breweries, recipes, and labels for the beer industry. The timing of the October shutdown could not have been worse for me, a seasonal craft brew lover. After longing all summer for the hoppy interpretive taste of pumpkin and changing leaves, many new seasonal beers remain off the shelves until they can be approved.
Most notably, this fall’s Sam Adam’s Seasonal brew has taken a huge hit, however, it is safe to say that your basement’s keg of Bud Light won’t be effected by this libation crisis. We could tell by the red solo cups strewn across Walnut Street lawns on Monday morning, and the fact that Anheuser Busch is benefiting from the slowed craft brewery expansions. The craft beer industry, however, will bounce back. With over 2,500 microbreweries currently in operation, craft beers have taken seven percent of the total beer market share. Until the shutdown, this percentage was steadily rising, thereby proving that Americans do have good taste.
Also, attesting to our good taste, a poll released just last week found Americans’ approval of Congress dropping near all-time lows in wake of the government shutdown. Though approval ratings were low prior to the government shutdown, this poll reflected that just 5% of the American public thinks that Congress is doing an OK job. Politico’s Jon Allen joked that approval of Congress is “down to friends, family, non-recreational drug users.” The honest truth about all of this, however, is that these approval ratings do not matter. Congress is not popular as a whole, but each one of the 535 members is apparently popular with their own constituents who voted for them. Despite the five percent approval rating, there was also a 90 percent re-election rate for members of Congress last year. Though voters seem to like their elected members of Congress, Congress has been a huge source of political turmoil. So, these approval polls do not measure anything but frustration towards Congress.
I say with such confidence that the craft brew industry will recover, even in competition against a big business like Anheuser Busch, because the current biggest consumers of craft beer are aged 21-34. The increase in popularity of anything in a young generation is without a doubt promising, as it attests to changes in popular opinion in the near future. (Maybe what I meant to say earlier is, young Americans have good taste. Or better, young Americans who don’t pay five dollars for a red cup filled with foam have good taste.) Regardless of whether or not the approval polls really mean anything, they show that our government is clearly ready for some changes. In my opinion, the only variable that can truly break this cycle, is the involvement of the newer, younger voter. However, in the 2012 election, only half of the eligible voters aged 18-25 cast a vote. To my surprise, many 18-25 year olds who did not vote were currently enrolled college students. Had every eligible young voter participated at the polls this past November, roughly 23 million more votes would have been casted; that is 23 million new votes that could not just select the same name on the ballot as last year, or 23 million votes with fresh and unbiased understanding of the candidates. Those 23 million votes could really change the way our Congress is currently operating.
As probably the youngest member ever of the Chester County League of Women Voters, and an avid CSPAN watcher, I get it – politics is not exactly a thrill for everyone. But, especially now when the functionality of our government clearly depends upon it, our participation in democracy is necessary. Luckily, Marc Brownstein of the Disco Biscuits is around to tell you why. He is the co-chair of the organization you may have seen at a festival this summer, HeadCount. The mission of the non-partisan group is to use the power of music to register voters. HeadCount does not care about what party you support or where you land on an issue. The organization is here to remind you that you must speak to be heard. When talking to Brownie about the importance of young voters given the current situation in Washington, D.C., he said, “Well, you can not vote and let Congress stay in office, or you can vote them out and replace them with new blood. If you disapprove, I think it is essential to vote in these mid-terms and I anticipate the turnout will be at an all-time high.” He was passionate about the importance of educating college-aged youths on political issues for several reasons. First, because he feels education will lead to increased participation, and second because “you can’t participate without a basic knowledge of what’s going on, and things move fast enough that you need to be politically active just to keep up.” Brownie remarked, “It’s important to know what’s going on so that we can protect our rights and our interests as citizens.”
So, I’m begging you, crack open a bottle of Dogfish Head 90 minute, throw on The Disco Biscuits, and have an intellectual conversation about politics.
Genevieve Meehan is a fourth year student majoring in political sience and minoring in peace and conflict studies. She can be reached at GM733919@wcupa.edu.
Mon. Apr 29th, 2024
