It seems that everything is presented as an imminent threat to our entire country and a means to destroy or way of life. Here's an example.
New York City announced a “notice of public hearing and opportunity to comment on proposed rules.” to discuss a proposed rule change. Note this is just an announcement to discuss the rule, and to give the public an opportunity to understand what the proposed rule would entail, and to publicly comment on the proposal. No rule has been changed, and at this point it can easily be modified or abandoned.
Essentially, the proposed rule is trying to ensure that restaurants using older ovens are aligned with the regulations applied to newer ones. As of May 2016, the city requires that every new stove must have “an emission control device for odors, smoke and particulate matter.” The city estimates that well under 100 restaurants would be impacted by the new rule.
There are several federal and state grants and low interest loans to help the older businesses defray, or possibly eliminate the cost of the upgrade.
I understand reasonable people might disagree on the details of the proposed rule change, and some might oppose it. The purpose of the hearing will be to allow the public the opportunity to add their input to the decision. All considered, it is a modest proposal.
Unfortunately, the modest proposal was presented as anything but that.
Give us pizza or give us death strikes me as a particularly crazy response by right wingers and their broadcasting networks. Fox showed a clip of the above crazy guy, and Hannity even interviewed him on his radio show. Neither of the mentioned sources portrayed the modest proposal as anything less than an attack on the American way of life, an a specific effort to put the 1900 pizza places in New York City out of business. In case you missed it, less than 100 businesses would be effective.
Do you think that is crazy?
