St. Louis Residents Fight to Keep Anheuser-Busch

[TheIceBurglar]

i dont like the change in ownership, and i dont know about the new cans

[pervertedpenguin69]

man made beer, God made pot, God is good man is not.

[HYeahMFr]

Another nail in the coffin of one of America's greatest cities.

[JFizoust]

Bud is still my King!

[abrahamWCE]

well, they could use the last resource: blowing the headquarters of Anheuser Busch to make sure that no one will buy the company...

[dbctv]

I'd rather Brahma... The original Brazilian beer...

Bud become the american-brazilian beer... LOL

[dbm5150]

brew your own !drink some of the micro brews all better then that over produced urine!

[dbm5150]

wow the poor trash that drink that piss are upset!bud is pure crap!i guess all the mobile home trash will have to switch to rolling rock!drink up white trash this buds for you!

[whiteflourlover]

rolling rock is owned by anheuser busch

[whiteflourlover]

not only that but they bought rolling rock from inbev in 2004

[CBCadet02]

Anheuser-Busch has a fiduciary duty to their stockholders to do what's in their best interest. Yes, the Busch family and their stockholders made out well on the sell but they had no choice. This sale was a 100% reluctant action by Chief III Sticks and the Board of Directors. If they didn't sell, A-B would lose hundreds of million of dollars in a class action lawsuit among other suits filed by their stockholders.

[Bigstarrocker9]

founder Adolphus busch would be turning in his grave hearing of this

[wy3f]

Yea Well It's Time to move to a real lager AMERICAN BEER made here in PA.

Screw BUD & AB for selling out!I now drink Yuengling I bet they wont sell out!!!

Bud Light Lime Cut me a break!are u fer real?

I use to love bud & bud light oh and there american tradition passed down over generations,what A bunch of CRAP!!!

Now they have A new beer called bud America!

Get frekin LOST!Hello Pottsville PA!!!

D.G.Yuengling & Sons & MORE!!!

I'm DONE WITH BUD & AB PROUDUCTS!!!

[Mortskcab]

My dad says he is drinking Miller or Coors from now on, the belgians will be sorry they bought bud because they just lost alot of bud's loyal customers and profits will drop like a rock.... if this rivalry between us and these euro trash continues, it will not surrprise me if it leads to an other world war

[Badoso5]

Inbev/CEO: Brazilian Carlos Brito, 48.

[warningviris]

most of ya are fucking idiots drink micro...or brew yaself...

[tman247890]

AB fuckin sold out. At this rate nothing will be American owned. Its really a sad thing

[MPCHustle]

real Alcoholics don't give a flying fuck about this

[Slav06]

lol Americans are so dumb

[grantsinmypants2]

The Governor wants to stop the deal?

Here's a few ideas:

Disolve ALL corporate income taxes in the state of Missouri - and urge other Governors of other states to do the same.

Use "states rights" to put MO back on the gold standard, thus allowing Busweiser's liquid assets to be more valuable.

Propose bills in the state legislature abolishing all regulations, labor laws, etc.

Just a few ideas...

[FranklyMisterShankly]

Thinking like this got Missouri to vote for Bush twice, which in turn led to a devalued dollar and the sale of Anheuser-Busch at bargain basement prices thanks to a much stronger Euro. Why not just hand over Missouri to the Chinese, so they can abolish all labor regulations, pollute at will, force you to have abortions if you dare to have more than one kid, and if you so much as protest in any kind of an organized manner, turn the cops on you and throw your ass in jail for the next 20 years.

[grantsinmypants2]

You're a moron. In what was, exactly, is the government's power to control the value of currency a free-market characteristic?

money is a commodity like any other and it should be privately issued and privately controlled. So is labor

Oh, yeah, the Chinese have no labor regulations. Except for that whole "the people own equally what you produce"

Shut your mouth, wise up, and quit believing your liberal buddies when they say Bush or the Republicans are anything close to free marketers

[FranklyMisterShankly]

Nope, you're the uneducated, uninformed moron here. The fed gov't has the power to increase or decrease the amount of currency in the market through adjustment of the interest rate, thus putting more or less money into the economy via the Federal Reserve. Increasing the nat'l debt (like we did for this idiotic war) relies on issuing gov't bonds, most of which are currently owned by Chinese banks. Your ignorant ass needs to sign up for some Econ 101 courses at the local community college.

[grantsinmypants2]

Right, it does have that power. Which is why, in my original comment, I advocated returning to the gold standard. In other words: abolishing the Fed.

[FranklyMisterShankly]

The gold standard is a libertarian fairy tale. First of all, there isn't enough gold in the world to back up all the American currency currently on the market (some $4 trln of gold versus $8 trnl in US funds). A fractional reserve could be just as easily manipulated as Bernanke's current incompetent/spineless Federal Reserve. Christ, what simplistic Ron Paul campaign slogan do you get your facts from?

[grantsinmypants2]

I dont support Ron Paul. Nor do I support a fractional reserve system. I support the private ownership of all gold except what is necessary to pay for the police, military, and court systems.

The reason why each individual dollar is so cheap is because there isnt' enough gold to back it all up. you're right. So peg the dollar to gold and many of them would go away, making each remaining one more valuable. It could still be manipulated, but not as easily. A step in the right direction

[FranklyMisterShankly]

"each individual dollar is so cheap because there isnt' enough gold to back it all up. you're right." That's not why the USD is so cheap & don't ascribe your own assumed reasons to me. Pegging the USD to the world price of a precious metal may result the opposite problem: a massive deflation like in 1870s or during WW I, when the world price of gold was wildly unstable. It was those deflationary pressures on currency that were at least partially responsible for the depression of the 1930s.

[grantsinmypants2]

Again, I don't support "pegging" the currency to anything. I don't support the gov't being in charge of the currency period. I'm just saying that if they insist on controlling it, they can do the least amount of damage if it's backed by gold b/c even evil countries like N. Korea and Iran want gold.

The Great Depression was caused by gov't intereference. Cheap money mostly, but if you're right about gold - I'm still right. Foreign gov'ts messing with their curriencies.

[FranklyMisterShankly]

"So peg the dollar to gold" - you've just stated you support pegging currency to gold. Do you even know that you're arguing for?

Throughout the entire history of man, currency was issued & backed by gov'ts. I'd love to hear how you intend to have a privately issued stable currency that isn't crowded out by, let's say the Euro (ie Gresham's Law), esp for a large US economy. Go ahead: this is where you get to explain yourself.

[grantsinmypants2]

I'm not going to answer you. Not only are you clearly dishonest - attributing to me a support for govt pegging when i made it clear that I advocate that as an INTERMEDIATE step towards money privatization.

But more than that, you're sitting here blatantly advocating your "right" to force me to accept your medium of exchange. As if issuing my own IOUs somehow threatened you. You and your ideas are manifestly evil. You deserve no answer except the one you've already introduced: brute force

[FranklyMisterShankly]

I cited your own words in regard to "pegging the USD to the price of gold." That's dishonest? This is an academic argument we're having. If you're not properly informed & equipped to state your case (which as I've demonstrated, you're clearly not), you're free to leave. If anything, you reacted with hostility first ("You're a moron. (...) Shut your mouth, wise up"). Now you respond with cheap personally-aimed epithets ("dishonest & evil")? I'll be waiting for your explanation on money privatiz.

[FranklyMisterShankly]

"the people own equally what you produce"

I don't know where you get your news from, but that image of China hasn't been true for at least the last 15 years. There have been large peasant riots in China for the last decade over rising social inequality, esp mass expulsions from land, unilaterally taken over by developers without any compensation to its former owners. Your poor understanding of world affairs speaks volumes on your general ability to comment on socioeconomic matters of the day.

[grantsinmypants2]

Way to evade the pt I just made and go back to something else. But Ill indulge you...

Social inequality, land thefts... how do you think those occur? Would those occur in a nation ruled by laizzs-faire capitalists where individual rights (including the right to work at a dangerous, unregulated job) were the order of the day. Deep in the culture?

NO! Instead, they only exist in a society where "national progress" trumps indiv. rights. it's the same as 1960s Chinese "social justice."

[FranklyMisterShankly]

Individual rights always get trumped by corporations whose chief purpose is to make profits (as opposed to championing indiv rights) & which gets treated as a "person" under the law. "National progress" actually has little to do with it - nobody from overseas invests money in China for the sake of "national progess" - their only concern is profit making. Chinese manufacturers are actually relatively unhindered by labor & environmental laws, thus abuse workers & pollute at will to make a profit.

[FranklyMisterShankly]

I have no idea what your point really is, especially after I adequately demonstrated that the gold standard is a pipe dream. Do you want me to provide models, graphs & article citations to make it more plain for you?

[FranklyMisterShankly]

"You make America work and this Bud's for you!" Here's to all those Missouri residents who elected Bush twice, because he was the one candidate the average American could have a beer with. Now you can raise your InBev (or whatever the hell it's gonna be called) and thank him for devaluing the dollar to fight his "patriotic war," thus allowing the Brazilians & Belgians to buy this piece of Americana at bargain basement prices.

[humanedomain]

"unsolicited" . . . well regardless its a sad day and it WAS an end of an era for the midwest

[qbdtereee]

I as a Belgian beer drinker, say Inbev has nothing to do with brewing beer, it's just a bunch of international profit sharks, after taking over Belgian breweries like Jupiler, Belle-Vue, Hoegaarden and Leffe, beer prices increased about 80% in Belgium, consuming dropped, people got sacked and beer quality also decreased. I hope Belgian beer never tastes like Bud, I rather drink lemonade, but I hope for all Americans to preserve Buds original taste as well as jobs in the breweries.

[liketospeed666]

Yeah, this country is sold to the highest bidder. You should NEVER be able to sell land or companies to foreign interests....fuck this

[underpaidrockstar]

America is selling itself.

[AcabBruges]

you have to be an american to think that we belgians are going to drop you all out and replace it with belgian workers :-p

[sleeplessingc]

i am from st louis, and every one i know is passionately angry about this. this is not funny. its not that it happened its how it happened. we feel that inbev was totally disreguarding of the st.louis public, and that inbevs ceo has a reputation that preceeds him. We know very well what he means to do to the blue collar worker here. were not stupid! so fuck him and fuck you!!!!!

[mrtraffiker]

@sleeplessingc i also as a south side resident who lives no feather then a mile from busch feels the same if your making fun shut your fucking mouth

[wololoaeo]

A part of A-B's workers will surely lose their jobs, soon (with the takeover by Inbev) or later, because its profitability is quite far from that of its competitors, so A-B will keep losing market... I think the acquisition makes sense for every stakeholder.

[dropkickstef]

budweiser is just horsepiss in bottles,it does'nt even get you drunk!We belgians need something stronger!!And boy do we have that!!!!!Sorry,but we have the best beers in the world!America already makes the best motorcycles in the world!I like to drive my harley but i drink belgian beer!(not at the same time)

[kissoffski]

Belgians? Didn't we save your sorry asses in the mid 40s?

[dropkickstef]

what has the fucking war to do with this!!!i don't even want inbev to take over budweiser,it's an american icon and i respect that!but i really think (and with me most of belgians)it tastes like shit!!

I even have some bud's in my fridge!

never drink it but i like the bottle!!hope it stays american,i don't want those people to lose theire job!

[flavourdan]

No, not really. America did tip the scales when they finally decided to get involved, but Russia did the vast majority of the fighting in WW2.

[kissoffski]

I didn't see any Russians on Iwo Jima and I don't give a shit what you think. American soldiers and our aid kept Europe from collapsing. You sir are obviously too young to remember the war.

[flavourdan]

Wow Kissoffski, you shouldn't talk if you know nothing. Russia was too busy fighting the Germans (helped by nobody) to fight Japan. America lost no soldiers as Europe collapsed - they refused to help until years later. And US aid was only provided because the US was the only country left unscathed by the war due to their lack of fighting, and to restore Europe as a capitalist trading partner. Don't try to say the US did something that wasn't in their own interest.

[sleeplessingc]

look we as a people love europe. its how inbev did this. we are angry at inbev. my grand was at omaha beach and survived by the grace of god, and was proud to do it. from an american class union worker to a working class european, it is the fault of no european what has happened here, and we union workers have nothing but respect for you. our beef is with inbev and how they did it. 2 words+ hostile takeover. st.louis is deeply angry and we will never forget.

[flavourdan]

The USA set the standard for taking over foreign companies and industries, so you can't complain when it happens to you.

[nuke67]

America also gave Europe billions to help rebuild and never got a penny of that money back, And the U.S. is what kept the Soviet Union from taking over all of Europe after the war, wasn't for the U.S. Europe would be speaking Russian and flying the hammer and sickle.

[flavourdan]

After the war the US and Russia fought for influence over Europe. The US won with their Marshall Plan - Russia had nothing to invest because they did almost all the fighting in WW2. The money the US spent in Europe was for their own benefit. Europe was restored as a US trading partner.

[FranklyMisterShankly]

The French gave so much money to the American revolt against Britain, that their national debt led to the French Revolution and the decapitation of their king by an angry mob. If the French kept their money, Americans would still be singing "God save the Queen!" I guess everyone's even now.

[relaxer007]

santé !

(=cheers)

[swtravergirl]

Hell no, Bud won't go!

There was a rally held on Saturday at Al Hrabosky's before the Cardinals game to get people to sign petitions. Al gave a speech and then we all marched over to the stadium to get as many signatures as we could. Al even walked around with a clipboard and asked people to sign. There will be another one July 5 before the Cards/Cubs game. We're trying to get as many people to come as we can. Please tell everyone you know.

[relaxer007]

Good luck, but it's all economics...

A petition is nice, but the only people who will decide are the Shareholders of A-B. If they take the money instead of being a patriotic american, you can blame them... (see Waren Buffet).

On the other hand, don't be afraid that 'your bud' dramatically will change: It's the best beer in the US. They would be fools if they did...

Inbev started only in 1998 with fusion and overtakes, because it already saw the future: a global beer market. A-B didn't...

[vromman]

Belgians are the true kings and emperors of beer, Budweiser couldn't be in better hands!

[jeffwest617]

They should stick to waffels , if you like them so much go and join them , I think we should stop all their beers from entering the US, or at least put huge a tax on them .

every one has their own likes and dislikes , If you like a thick hoppy beer good for you but that is not what the rest of the world thinks because Bud Light is the best selling Beer in the World........

[Rapido2101]

That is so typical American. Someone else is better in something than we are, o, let's put high taxes on their products. We won't change the taste of your beer. But Americans should realise that we don't need America in our economy. Why do you think you have so much poverty and we don't. Embrase the world economics, or are you a communist. You know the thing your country fought against.

Irony got to love it...

[swtravergirl]

You don't need America in your economy. We don't need Belgium in ours. I disagree that we should put higher taxes on Belgian beer. I love a good Stella Artois every now and then. I don't even think the taste of Budweiser will change. What will change, however, is the hundreds, maybe thousands of St. Louis residents who will lose their jobs when InBev comes in. Not to mention there will be no more Busch Gardens in Tampa, no more Sea World, no more Grants farm. I hope it doesn't go through.

[kissoffski]

You don't need us in your economy? If It wasn't for us your grandparents would have starved to death you fucking idiot.

[Rapido2101]

I hope for you that if there's a takeover there won't be any people sacked. I don't think anyone would want that. But you kissoffski are the true ignorant. In the second world war, we didn't starve. Indeed the US came, but mostly because it was to save its own ass and stop the Russians. We were mainly liberated by Canadian, British and Polish soldiers. We respect the contribution of the US in the war but this has NOTHING to do with this. So grow up or get an education...

[Linkman81]

You don't have poverty because your country is the size of Wisconsin.....uh...you have 10 million people, we have 300 million. Do the math genius. America is the greatest nation in the world. All the best from every country come here to live a better life. Why else would InBev want to buy AB? Oh, and we have a poverty level of 12%, and you have 8% not too different. Check your research before you open your mouth and look stupid.

[Rapido2101]

With all do respecte but I didn't say anything about poverty. Our country isn't that big but as you probably know seize doesn't matter if you're talking about poverty. Small countries can be poor and large countries can be poor. I think you don't have to say that all the best of the world want to come to the US. Europe is as strong as the US. I America is a great market for INBEV, just as Europe is for yours. So let's hope everything turns out for the best and everyone keeps his job.

[sleeplessingc]

very well said and I appreciate your good will here. it is recieved with the spirit in which it was given. A) its not that it was done its how inbev did it. B) our problem is not with belgium its with inbev. make no mistake st.louisans are deeply angered by this and we will never forget it. ever. We are peace loving people. butt we have good memories, and we are far from stupid. This is a black day for st.louis. black indeed.

[wdavi014]

I'm an American and I'm proud to be one, but I can't stand cocky, arrogant and ignorant Americans. Linkman, it's opinionated people like yourself that allow other countries to rip on us. If you think America is the greatest nation in the world then awesome, but don't throw it in the face of people from other nations. Your seem to be one of those who don't contribute to the greatness of this nation but shoots his mouth off instead.

[Linkman81]

Fair enough

[rResurgam]

And so what? Americans own European companies, even some iconic ones... For a country that is supposedly for global trade they sure are protective of their companies. Or should it only work one-way?

And Belgium's FN Herstal owns Winchester & Browning and makes much of the US military's small arms (M16, SCAR, M249, M240, etc.) Belgian Delhaize owns Foodlion and a whole bunch of other similar outlets in the US...

[rResurgam]

It's the same with the Airbus USAF tanker deal... Europeans buy American stuff, but in reverse? Blasphemy... get over yourselves ^^

Where is the outrage that the US Coast Guard's latest helicopters come from Eurocopter? Or that the new US Presidential helo is European?

[malucao255]

It's not "Belgium brewer" ... It's a Belgium-Brazilian brewery. And mostly controlled by brazilians (board of directors, CEOs, etc)

[rResurgam]

Belgian brewer.

[malucao255]

Correct ... "Belgian" ...got mixed up with the country name...

[twinsalazar]

huh?