Pennsylvania Is Run By Monkeys

This article in the Philadelphia Inquirer is proof positive that the people who are in charge in Pennsylvania are idiots in the strongest sense of the word, and so are the people who report on them. The article's discussion is based around the Supreme Court's upcoming decision on whether Pennsylvania convenience stores, grocery stores, etc. will be allowed to sell beer. The article had an opportunity to inform the reader of where Pennsylvania fits into this discussion on a national level, i.e. what other states' beer distribution laws are. It could have compared PA to other states that have more relaxed beer distribution laws and how that has impacted those other states. Instead the writer chose to focus attention on how beer distributors would be affected by such a law, implying that these distributors would be victims.
I'm sure there is some broader economic point that I am missing in this, possibly involving "The Man vs. Mom and Pop" debate. But the issue is whether PA should allow convenience stores to sell beer. Period. In making that decision the lawmakers (and journalists covering the debate) should look at how other states have been affected by passing laws that allow convenience stores to sell beer. The economic impact on beer distributors should carry no weight in the debate. If beer distributors' service is no longer needed in the same way, that's fine. Why should public policy and law ever be forced to sustain unnecessary businesses at the expense of principle and public convenience?