#9 - 3/7/'15

With good intention, Prohibition was established. However, enforcing the policy was almost impossible, but only brought more trouble. Smuggling, bootlegging, corrupt officials and police officers rose from this occasion. The ratification of the 18th Amendment, which banned manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor was the worst part. I believe that if the Dry Forces were not so strict (not ratifying the Volstead Act and allow little bit of casual drinking), Prohibition would have worked fine. To the citizens who viewed beer and wine as an integral part of the life, the complete ban of alcohol must have been ridiculous. If the government were better aware of the secondary effects, then it could have avoided the unexpected decadence of the society. This brings us to one of the main questions from the presentations; "Once a change has been made in society, policy, or law, can you change back to the way it was before?". Although the 21 Amendment, which repealed the 18th Amendment, was created, it could not contribute any good to the society. It simply did not change anything, because by that point, there was more than 30000 speakeasies, home-made alcohol, and major impact on the society, for it only made drinking more popular, and encouraged solitary drinking. Instead of alleviating the troubles, it only aggravated the situation. Thus, once a change has been made, it cannot be reversed, for these reasons.