- Oct 7, 2011
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What's next for Big Brother? Shutting down kids' lemonade stands? Oh wait...
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This all started with Obamacare.
What's next for Big Brother? Shutting down kids' lemonade stands? Oh wait...
How sad. He's taken away our God given right to become obese.
But there's an even darker side to bans. They have a socio-economic impact, by which I mean, some people are more affected by bans than others. Bans widen the divide between the rich, who can find a way around them, and the poor, who perhaps cannot. And while Bloomberg's tactics are obviously part of what people dub a "nanny state" ideology, in which he's telling us what to do, he's telling some people what to do more than others. Rich people, among whom one is billionaire Bloomberg himself, are not going to be impacted by a soda ban the same way poor New Yorkers areif the wealthy prefer huge bottles of soda, they'll have no trouble continuing to find them. And the problem that Bloomberg's trying to "fix"obesityis, according to the stats and research, a "poor" problem, not a rich one. This makes Bloomberg's move seem ever the more paternalistic. A class of people whom he's judged unable to make the proper decision for themselves is now being told what to do, by someone who knows better. As he himself said, via the Post:
No big deal.
If you're still thirsty after one 16 oz soda, just go back for a 2nd.
You miss the point entirely. Doomberg is stepping on liberty, PERIOD.
An outright ban on soda would be stepping on liberty.
Limiting the size of the cups it can be sold in is just an inconvenience.
This issue is telling with regard to the hypocrisy of the right.
On this very forum, for example, post after post, rightists whine and bemoan the excess and overreach of the Federal government and its failure to respect the wishes of local communities, that jurisdictions should be allowed to enact laws and policies that reflect their local values.
It would seem conservatives dont believe in affording that privilege to the people of New York; local communities should be allowed to enact laws and policies only when conservative values are at issue.
The board hand-picked by Mayor Michael Bloomberg that must approve his ban of selling large sugar-filled drinks at restaurants might be looking at other targets.
The New York City Board of Health showed support for limiting sizes of sugary drinks at a Tuesday meeting in Queens. They agreed to start the process to formalize the large-drink ban by agreeing to start a six-week public comment period.
At the meeting, some of the members of board said they should be considering other limits on high-calorie foods.
One member, Bruce Vladeck, thinks limiting the sizes for movie theater popcorn should be considered.
"The popcorn isn't a whole lot better than the soda," Vladeck said.
Another board member thinks milk drinks should fall under the size limits.
"There are certainly milkshakes and milk-coffee beverages that have monstrous amounts of calories," said board member Dr. Joel Forman.
Read more: Health panel talks about wider food ban - New York News | New York Breaking News | NYC Headlines
And who didn't see this coming?
The board hand-picked by Mayor Michael Bloomberg that must approve his ban of selling large sugar-filled drinks at restaurants might be looking at other targets.
The New York City Board of Health showed support for limiting sizes of sugary drinks at a Tuesday meeting in Queens. They agreed to start the process to formalize the large-drink ban by agreeing to start a six-week public comment period.
At the meeting, some of the members of board said they should be considering other limits on high-calorie foods.
One member, Bruce Vladeck, thinks limiting the sizes for movie theater popcorn should be considered.
"The popcorn isn't a whole lot better than the soda," Vladeck said.
Another board member thinks milk drinks should fall under the size limits.
"There are certainly milkshakes and milk-coffee beverages that have monstrous amounts of calories," said board member Dr. Joel Forman.
Read more: Health panel talks about wider food ban - New York News | New York Breaking News | NYC Headlines
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"The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits."
-Thomas Jefferson
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