Friends, Texans, craft beer lovers indulge me for a moment.
While the anger and frustration we all feel at the loss of HB602 is more than justified, we need to organize our ire and direct our energies towards the positive. Reacting against state Senators is certainly a tempting option, but I believe working towards educating politicians and Texas beer drinkers to appreciate the local craft beer available in our state and the economic benefits gained in supporting Texas based industry will do far more for our cause.
Yes, on Thursday, May 26th, I did make a few angry phone calls myself, but in hindsight, I realize a better plan of action would be to sit down with my state Senator, buy him or her a Texas brewed craft beer and explain my position.
We have two years of time before the Texas Legislature returns to session, and I propose rather than martyr ourselves and further isolate ourselves from other beer drinkers, we should make use of this time by sharing a beer with someone who might dismiss us as "beer snobs".
I urge you to not see the end of HB602 as a resounding defeat, but instead accept the challenge of thinking local and encouraging others, even non-beer drinkers, to see how supporting the craft beer industry is a way to promote the great state of Texas.
Ultimately, this fight goes beyond a good pint and encourages us to buy local to boost our own economy. Along with shopping local and eating local, persuade others to drink local and we can start making the change that will force legislators to see how our Texas industries can do more for our state than outside, foreign corporations with deep pockets and ulterior motives.
Buying Texas born and brewed beer keeps our money in our economy.
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