I won’t drink to that.
I’ve been hearing about New York City’s incredibly stupid ban on large drinks and other “unhealthy” foods. I’ll start by saying I don’t drink soda (I used to drink a lot of soda, but that’s kind of beside the point), and I haven’t been to the Big Apple in a few years. I don’t have a dog in this fight, so to speak.
Nonetheless, I’m really sick of the increasing nanny state and inconsistent laws. Apparently even with this ban, some stores like 7-11 can sell larger sizes of drinks while small mom and pop shops and restaurants can’t. It has something to do with states regulating some stores and the city others. I honestly don’t know the nuances of it, but it seems rather unfair to have a double soda standard where a business at 123 Main St. can sell something and the business at 125 Main St. can’t sell the exact same thing.
It seems ridiculous to tell consumers it’s fine to have only certain quantities of products available to them. If I have 20 ounces of Coke, it’s OK, but 40 ounces is somehow bad? What’s to prevent me from simply ordering two 20-ounce sodas or even more?
Michael Bloomberg was challenged about the unfairness of the law, allowing certain businesses to sell the larger sized drinks. His reply? “The State of New York should do this, too.”
What an unmitigated ass. How did anyone with any sense allow this to pass?
I don’t like being told what to do. Nobody does, really. Sometimes it’s necessary, but this crosses the line. It’s the government wielding power under the disguise of health and good intentions. It’s invasive, costly and completely unnecessary. It’s the government protecting people form themselves, but offering no real protection. (Gee, kind of reminds me of the TSA, but that’s another rant).
Worse, every single provision of these bans is easily and legally circumvented, which makes the entire law utterly pointless. It’s government perpetuating itself with no benefit to the people at the expense of the people.
Like I said, I don’t drink soda, but I do go to New York every few years as a tourist. I won’t be doing that now. I cannot support such stupidity. I still love New York, but her mayor needs to reconsider the difference between what is really good for the city and what is pandering to some misguided health lobby trying to protect people form an evil that doesn’t exist. Cocaine is illegal in New York in any size, but I don’t see that ban stopping anyone who wants it in any quantity they can afford from getting it.
Mayor Bloomberg: get your well-intentioned, misguided head out of your ass and I’ll come visit New York. Heck, we can even have a large Dr. Pepper if you want. Until then, it’s unsweetened iced tea for me here in Denver. Really really large glasses.
Great write-up; my thoughts exactly on this and so many other laws, but I have to question your observation:
Based on the number of individuals out there supporting a more and more intrusive government and fewer and fewer liberties, there must be nearly a majority of people that want to be told what to do because they find a sort of illusion of safety in believing that elected (read “bought”) leaders are magically endowed with some omniscience that none of the rest of us could ever have.
Sometimes I find it difficult not to dispair when pondering the state of our population.
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