I remembered reading the original article on fark (which was green lit last week-ish) and wondering how in the HELL that fly by night pittsburg hole in the wall operation manged to land such a sweet contract.

Turns out, all you have to do is be married to one of the LCB directors.

And for those of you who might not know what the LCB is, this state has an official state run and legal monopoly on the sale and distribution of liquor - run by the liquor control board (LCB).

And yes, they are corrupt as hell. this is yet one more story in a long LONG line of stories concerning corruption in the LCB.

And how does this happen and somebody not lose their job? It's not like they are even trying to hide their corruption anymore.

sullyman: And how does this happen and somebody not lose their job? It's not like they are even trying to hide their corruption anymore.

As soon as I saw the original article I knew SOMEONE had to have an angle. Someone at that PR firm was either bribing someone or sleeping with an LCB member.

The LCB is about as close as you can get to being above the law in this state. So long as they don't murder someone on the news, they're pretty much immune to prosecution.

Only thing worse than the LCB? Turnpuke commission.

2wolves: Only thing worse than the LCB? Turnpuke commission.

PA government, from the state offices down to the local zoning officers and magistrates, is all about graft, one hand washing the other, coverups, trading favors, and someone's brother in law getting a cushy job.

At least in the more developed areas. The backwoods areas are just reactionary and foolish.

/lived in Scranton for 8 years
//lived in Pike County for 10

"State agencies must go the extra mile, especially during difficult financial times, to assure taxpayers that there is no favoritism or conflict of interest occurring in the awarding of contracts to private vendors," he said.

How much is going to be spent on the investigation?

Goimir: 2wolves: Only thing worse than the LCB? Turnpuke commission.

PA government, from the state offices down to the local zoning officers and magistrates, is all about graft, one hand washing the other, coverups, trading favors, and someone's brother in law getting a cushy job.

At least in the more developed areas. The backwoods areas are just reactionary and foolish.

/lived in Scranton for 8 years
//lived in Pike County for 10


Bud Dwyer agrees with you

oh yah I went there

Weaver95: sullyman: And how does this happen and somebody not lose their job? It's not like they are even trying to hide their corruption anymore.

As soon as I saw the original article I knew SOMEONE had to have an angle. Someone at that PR firm was either bribing someone or sleeping with an LCB member.

The LCB is about as close as you can get to being above the law in this state. So long as they don't murder someone on the news, they're pretty much immune to prosecution.

That explains utah's liquor laws too well for comfort.

/ I need to move :(

FTA: "State agencies must go the extra mile, especially during difficult financial times, to assure taxpayers that there is no favoritism or conflict of interest occurring in the awarding of contracts to private vendors," he said.


Can we please stop couching everything in terms of these "difficult financial times"?

Githerax: "State agencies must go the extra mile, especially during difficult financial times, to assure taxpayers that there is no favoritism or conflict of interest occurring in the awarding of contracts to private vendors," he said.

How much is going to be spent on the investigation?

knowing this administration - probably about 4 hours and $25.

It's not like they're related or anything - what % does Murtha get?

Weaver95: knowing this administration - probably about 4 hours and $25.

That would imply that someone in this administration is willing to work for $6.25/hr. Not bloody likely.

HOW RUED

In old times, corruption would build until the dynasty collapsed and a strong ruler would simply wipe it clean and institute capital punishment for corruption. Is this even possible in modern times, or desirable?

thenateman: FTA: "State agencies must go the extra mile, especially during difficult financial times, to assure taxpayers that there is no favoritism or conflict of interest occurring in the awarding of contracts to private vendors," he said.


Can we please stop couching everything in terms of these "difficult financial times"?

well we ARE having financial difficulties. the local economy hasn't been doing all that well even before the recent market implosions. What we SHOULD do is make several changes to the tax code, thwack about half our small business regulations and outlaw monopolies - to include STATE owned monopolies. Ideally we'd also reign in a lot of small town tin pot dictators too, 'cause they're strangling businesses with rules, regulations and surprise taxes every other weekend.

But we're not going to do any of that. Fast Eddie just doesn't give a f*ck about anyone NOT from philly.

CaesarSneezy: In old times, corruption would build until the dynasty collapsed and a strong ruler would simply wipe it clean and institute capital punishment for corruption. Is this even possible in modern times, or desirable?

No, because "conservatives" love both corruption and capital punishment, while "liberals" won't even pull the trigger on Pedobear.

Weaver95: And for those of you who might not know what the LCB is, this state has an official state run and legal monopoly on the sale and distribution of liquor - run by the liquor control board (LCB).

And yes, they are corrupt as hell. this is yet one more story in a long LONG line of stories concerning corruption in the LCB.


spoken like a true PA resident. I never knew your insanity originated from the keystone state.

I just moved to Pennsylvania last year. Corruption in local and state politics seems to be a whole new league here, a sort of special olympics for the ethically retarded.

/with apologies to all other kinds of retards

I gave the contract to my wife's cousin because he supplies my weed, okay?

Now take your stinking beer and get your lousy asp the fark outta here before I call Simon and Vinny to come and beat the shiat outta you.


A troll's work is never done...


Slashie impaired

Zagloba: CaesarSneezy: In old times, corruption would build until the dynasty collapsed and a strong ruler would simply wipe it clean and institute capital punishment for corruption. Is this even possible in modern times, or desirable?

No, because "conservatives" love both corruption and capital punishment, while "liberals" won't even pull the trigger on Pedobear.

I can't speak for the rest of the country, but half this state is still wondering why people spend so much time talking on those little magic boxes. They also JUST found out that the internet is located on something called a 'computer'.

So we have that going for us. Which is nice.

Sounds like they need to hire a firm to teach ethics.

Weaver95: And for those of you who might not know what the LCB is, this state has an official state run and legal monopoly on the sale and distribution of liquor - run by the liquor control board (LCB).

And yes, they are corrupt as hell. this is yet one more story in a long LONG line of stories concerning corruption in the LCB.



I heart my home province.

Weaver95: They also JUST found out that the internet AOL is located on something called a 'computer'.

FTFY

thenateman:

Can we please stop couching everything in terms of these "difficult financial times"?

You don't understand. 9/11 changed everything.

Corruption and graft can work well...if you live in chicago
its required

thenateman: Can we please stop couching everything in terms of these "difficult financial times"?

In these difficult financial times, can we really afford not to couch everything in terms of these difficult financial times?

gopher321: oh yah I went there

Hey man, nice shot.

Daniefish: Weaver95: And for those of you who might not know what the LCB is, this state has an official state run and legal monopoly on the sale and distribution of liquor - run by the liquor control board (LCB).

And yes, they are corrupt as hell. this is yet one more story in a long LONG line of stories concerning corruption in the LCB.



I heart my home province.

Hey, what's wrong with the LCBO? Their prices are comparable to everywhere else in Canada, they're efficiently run, they've got everything in one spot, and they've got a user-friendly website which lists the stock in each and every store.

sullyman: And how does this happen and somebody not lose their job? It's not like they are even trying to hide their corruption anymore.

Welcome to Pittsburgh politics.

I dearly love my city, but the politicians here suck beyond suck. Corruption and nepotism is what works here. You can go through any appointed position or awarded contract and 90% of the time, someone got a kick back or someone's brother got hired.

Addendum:

The thing that kills me is that it's so ingrained in the people, that it's just an accepted part of life. Instead of getting pissed off and acting, when people hear of this type of thing they just shrug their shoulders and go back to what they were doing.

look at our mayor for Christ's sake. He'll rezone and entire district for Steelers tickets. No one bats an eye.

Manic_Repressive: gopher321: oh yah I went there

Hey man, nice shot.

Thanks; Bud just blows my mind.

A $173,000 contract to train 4,000 employees in courtesy, strike anyone else as outrageous?

berylman: A $173,000 contract to train 4,000 employees in courtesy, strike anyone else as outrageous?

nvm, that's in line with others

I don't care about who got the contract. I'm more concerned about the fact that this contract existed in the first place. I don't give a damn how rude the store clerks are as long as I walk out of the store with my liquor. It's not as if there's any competition, what other reason could you possibly have for spending money on improving customer service?

Gov. Ed Rendell recently said that any apparent conflict should be investigated...Wagner said his agency will conduct a thorough review to ensure that the contract was awarded according to state law.

Sounds like a foregone conclusion. Expect nothing less from Rendell.

/Speaking of Bud Dwyer:
//What did the .357 magnum say to the wall?
///"This Bud's for you."

Heh. Weaver called this one right when it was on Fark the first time.

Goimir: 2wolves: Only thing worse than the LCB? Turnpuke commission.

PA government, from the state offices down to the local zoning officers and magistrates, is all about graft, one hand washing the other, coverups, trading favors, and someone's brother in law getting a cushy job.

At least in the more developed areas. The backwoods areas are just reactionary and foolish.

/lived in Scranton for 8 years
//lived in Pike County for 10

I had PA government and law enforcement summed up to me as Byzantine. Sounds like that was a correct interpretation.

Githerax: "State agencies must go the extra mile, especially during difficult financial times, to assure taxpayers that there is no favoritism or conflict of interest occurring in the awarding of contracts to private vendors," he said.

How much is going to be spent on the investigation?

Depends on who's blowing the guy awarding the funds to run the investigation, I guess.

Can anyone explain to me why state-run liquor monopolies are legal?

Forget learning to be polite. They should learn to store wine bottles on their sides so that the corks don't dry out (even the non-premium wines). Been screwed more than once by this.

Kierkegaard's Pseudonym: Can anyone explain to me why state-run liquor monopolies are legal?

Because the state surpreme court said their legal.

Right on the comment about Tastykake Ed not giving a damn about anybody that doesn't reside outside the City of Philadelphia and Bucks, Chester, Montgomery and Delaware Counties. I say we trade those localities to New Jersey and get them to get rid of the tolls coming into the Commonwealth. I think that's a fair trade.

As for the PLCB, does this surprise those of us who are native or current Pennsylvanians? Not in the least. One of the most mismanaged systems in the entire Commonwealth. Right up there with the State Police, who have all sorts of wonderful tactics for quota time (hiding behind anything that can conceal their cars, low profile lights on the cruisers and CAMOUFLAGE paint schemes). The Turnpike Commission, as someone rightly pointed out, is yet another graft machine. You HAD to be in the party in power to get a job there, and get in on a recommendation from someone with connections (my sister got in because her boss knew someone who knew someone who was a county commissioner somewhere).

Ah, Bud Dwyer. Man, that takes me back. The local news showed up to the point he put the gun in his mouth. And I think I was 8 or 9 when that occurred. Ah, good times.

gopher321: Manic_Repressive: gopher321: oh yah I went there

Hey man, nice shot.

Thanks; Bud just blows my mind.

This is clearing my head.

Weaver95: I remembered reading the original article on fark (which was green lit last week-ish) and wondering how in the HELL that fly by night pittsburg hole in the wall operation manged to land such a sweet contract.

Turns out, all you have to do is be married to one of the LCB directors.

Pittsburgh - Sorry, I'm originally from western PA

Weaver95: But we're not going to do any of that. Fast Eddie just doesn't give a f*ck about anyone NOT from philly.

Philly sucks too.

And, really, I don't expect much different from the state whose political parties need "walking around money" to properly run primaries and general elections.

SemiSpook: Right on the comment about Tastykake Ed not giving a damn about anybody that doesn't reside outside the City of Philadelphia and Bucks, Chester, Montgomery and Delaware Counties. I say we trade those localities to New Jersey and get them to get rid of the tolls coming into the Commonwealth. I think that's a fair trade.

As for the PLCB, does this surprise those of us who are native or current Pennsylvanians? Not in the least. One of the most mismanaged systems in the entire Commonwealth. Right up there with the State Police, who have all sorts of wonderful tactics for quota time (hiding behind anything that can conceal their cars, low profile lights on the cruisers and CAMOUFLAGE paint schemes). The Turnpike Commission, as someone rightly pointed out, is yet another graft machine. You HAD to be in the party in power to get a job there, and get in on a recommendation from someone with connections (my sister got in because her boss knew someone who knew someone who was a county commissioner somewhere).

Ah, Bud Dwyer. Man, that takes me back. The local news showed up to the point he put the gun in his mouth. And I think I was 8 or 9 when that occurred. Ah, good times.

I seriously doubt that Fast Eddy gives a damn about Bucks County - lived here for a decade, and when I'm done school I'm getting the hell out. I know it doesn't help me that I'm not a registered democrat, or that the first time I wrote to him with an issue it was a teacher's strike (My classmates and I were young and naive and thought he might help end our strike as he did with the SEPTA strike (especially as ours had been going on much longer and was affecting the education of thousands of residents). He didn't, it lasted a month.) and I wasn't yet old enough to vote. But, he does love ignoring me when I get the time to write. Of course it's only been a little more than a week this time. And I might have told him what I think of his corrupt politics.
Mind you, the email was about a different topic; maybe I'll take the time to send an email or a letter about this one, too, seeing as I'm on break for another day or so...

So there's something out there that's worse than the New York State Liquor Authority? I didn't think that was possible.

SomeoneDumb: And, really, I don't expect much different from the state whose political parties need "walking around money" to properly run primaries and general elections.

aka - bribe money.