Idea went flat

Just wondering ...

Missouri has an official just about everything, right? An official bird (bluebird), song (Missouri Waltz), animal (mule) and more.

Legislators are always adding to the list, usually when school children earnestly petition their government for change.

School children, however, are too young to drink, so state Rep. Curt Dougherty, an Independence Democrat, had to take it upon himself earlier this year to introduce a bill to make Budweiser the official state beer. His argument was that Bud “is bringing prosperity to our state and manufacturing a product in our state that many people enjoy.”

That was in March. Who knew that by July, the brewer of Budweiser would be scarfed up in a corporate takeover? You could almost down a cold six-pack in the amount of time it took Anheuser-Busch’s board to go from “surely you jest” to “where do I sign?” once InBev – a Belgian company – got serious about buying the St. Louis beermaker.

So much for state symbols.

Wait a minute.

Isn’t there another Missouri-owned-and-made beer that brings prosperity to our state? One that many people enjoy? One that’s a lot closer to home that St. Louis?

Why, indeed there is. It’s Kansas City’s own Boulevard Brewing, which offers a whole line of beers. OK, we’re still leery of putting the state’s seal of approval on any corporate symbol. America is a better place for having Coke and Pepsi – and no government favoritism. But if we have to go there, can’t we at least pull for the hometown team?