The Repeal of what, you may ask. The repeal of Prohibition. On December 5th, 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitton, repealed the 18th and the spectre of Prohibition was banished from the land.

Of interesting note, this was why FDR was so popular. Yes, here's a Libertarian giving Franklin Delano Roosevelt, progressive hero and icon, props for a good idea. The history books talk about the alphabet soup of agencies and programs, the massive government spending, leading us into a World War and all the rest, but none of this would be possible without this restoration of liberty.

Here is an excellent article from the Ludwig von Mises Institute outlining what happened and why. The main point is this: Liberty is Popular. Imagine that. The huge transfer of activing from the criminal market to the legal marketplace was well received by the public. As was the incredible reduction in prices for a glass of beer or wine. Plus all the new jobs which were created.

The Great Depression (which was only made "great" by FDR's policies) provided the crisis for the change. In this rare case, the change was to reduce government power and oppression and reach into our lives. Perhaps in this current crisis we can find major government programs and prohibitions to repeal to unleash the forces of liberty and improve the lives of all Americans.

Hey, it happened once, it could happen again.