NYC Soda Ban

[Meow Mix]

First they came for consumers of ridiculously large sugary sodas,
and I didn't speak out because I don't drink those.

Then they came for large buttery popcorns in theaters,
and I didn't speak out because I don't consume those.













...ok, so what's next? How long until I can finish this stanza, when they finally "come for me?" How many more petty freedoms are going to be stripped by a nanny government that wants to make health decisions for us?

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/13/health/new-york-soda-ban/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/city_health_weasels_go_pop_wILeWUatbVzPN9x28huxjK

 

[Revoltingest]

Then they came for pole dancers in titty bars,
and I didn't speak out because I don't watch those.

 

[Wirey]

The government keeping stupid people from harming themselves isn't necessarily a nanny state. Think of the children of poor people who are going to get milk or juice instead of poison.

Now, put on your bubble wrap and stop moving!

 

[Quagmire]

When I first saw this I was like, "Great, instead of Big Brother the U.S. has wound up with Big Annoying Aunt Gertrude".

After reading the article I've changed my mind a bit. I believe that people have the right to be as stupid and self-destructive as they want to be as long as there's no spill-over to the rest of us. Problem is, there always is.

This, for instance:

New York City spends an estimated $4 billion each year on medical care for overweight people, the mayor said in an earlier statement.

I also think that, whether or not an adult's self-destructive habits are anyone else's business, I do believe that passing those on and/or encouraging them in their children borders on child abuse, and I think laws like this would help keep the children's still-developing bad habits in check.

 

[Draka]

Large popcorns? Really? Who orders a large popcorn for themselves anyway? Those are ordered for date nights or groups for sharing. It's cheaper that way. I've never heard of any single person eating a large popcorn on their own anyway. The only thing banning a large popcorn would accomplish would be making the movie theater an even more expensive place by making people order even more popcorn, just in smaller sizes.

 

[Rakhel]

Whole milk is the new bad boy.

 

[Reptillian]

Nothing new here, they tried banning alcohol in the 1920's after all. The US government has a long history of dictating what it's citizens can and can't do "for their health". I think it's our civic duty as Americans to fight this soda pop prohibition by making Dr. Pepper in our bathtubs and selling it in Big Gulp Speakeasy.

 

[Meow Mix]

Then they came for pole dancers in titty bars,
and I didn't speak out because I don't watch those.

That would be a lie on my part :X

Plus, I was one at a point. Guess I dodged that bullet!

 

[Meow Mix]

When I first saw this I was like, "Great, instead of Big Brother the U.S. has wound up with Big Annoying Aunt Gertrude".

After reading the article I've changed my mind a bit. I believe that people have the right to be as stupid and self-destructive as they want to be as long as there's no spill-over to the rest of us. Problem is, there always is.

This, for instance:

I also think that, whether or not an adult's self-destructive habits are anyone else's business, I do believe that passing those on and/or encouraging them in their children borders on child abuse, and I think laws like this would help keep the children's still-developing bad habits in check.

How much burden do hang gliders put on the medical system?

Bungee jumpers?

Rock climbers?

Parasailers?

Sky divers?

Recreational drivers?

Is my point made?

What if we found that, say, Mexican food is far less healthy than Chinese food? (I'm making this up, this is just hypothetical) Wouldn't the next "logical" thing then be to ban it?

 

[Iti oj]

:yes:

Nothing new here, they tried banning alcohol in the 1920's after all. The US government has a long history of dictating what it's citizens can and can't do "for their health". I think it's our civic duty as Americans to fight this soda pop prohibition by making Dr. Pepper in our bathtubs and selling it in Big Gulp Speakeasy.

:yes: my names iti oj and i endorse this message.

 

[Quagmire]

How much burden do hang gliders put on the medical system?

Bungee jumpers?

Rock climbers?

Parasailers?

Sky divers?

Recreational drivers?

Is my point made?

Beats me. If it's 4 billion per city I think we should take a look at that.

What if we found that, say, Mexican food is far less healthy than Chinese food? (I'm making this up, this is just hypothetical) Wouldn't the next "logical" thing then be to ban it?

If it's fatal? Again, we should take a look at that, especially if kids are being encouraged to participate.

 

[Falvlun]

How much burden do hang gliders put on the medical system?

Bungee jumpers?

Rock climbers?

Parasailers?

Sky divers?

Recreational drivers?

Is my point made?

I don't think so, seeing as obesity linked diseases are a huge burden on our medical system, and a growing problem in our culture, whereas high-risk recreational sports contribute only a small fraction of those costs.

As for the OP, I'm not a huge fan of governmental bans, since I don't think they work all that well (though I did like the trans-fat ban NY put into place earlier). I do think, however, that incentives for eating healthier, and decentives for unhealthy stuff (those sin taxes), along with better education are well within government's range.

 

[Meow Mix]

Beats me. If it's 4 billion per city I think we should take a look at that.



If it's fatal? Again, we should take a look at that, especially if kids are being encouraged to participate.

Hmm, at least that's consistent. I guess we just fundamentally disagree on the nature and authority of government. I disagree that the government ever has any business "saving people from themselves" regardless of the cost.

Now, if health insurance upcharged obese people for consuming unhealthy products, that's entirely different.

But the government has no business making health choices FOR us.

 

[Meow Mix]

I don't think so, seeing as obesity linked diseases are a huge burden on our medical system, and a growing problem in our culture, whereas high-risk recreational sports contribute only a small fraction of those costs.

As for the OP, I'm not a huge fan of governmental bans, since I don't think they work all that well (though I did like the trans-fat ban NY put into place earlier). I do think, however, that incentives for eating healthier, and decentives for unhealthy stuff (those sin taxes), along with better education are well within government's range.

I'm ambiguous on the trans-fat ban; I think I'll have to research that more. Prima facie it seems different from making a health decision to save a private citizen from themelves. I'll have to research exactly what it entailed.

 

[Quagmire]

Hmm, at least that's consistent. I guess we just fundamentally disagree on the nature and authority of government.

Guess all you like. Seems to me it would be more efficient to actually read my posts and try and understand my points though.

To each their own.:yes:

I disagree that the government ever has any business "saving people from themselves" regardless of the cost.

And I disagree that the welfare of children is exclusively the parents responsibility, or that tax payers should have no say in how their tax dollars are spent (see, now I'm just giving your posts a quick skim and "guessing" about what you're "really" trying to say. I'm easy. Always willing to play by the other persons rules. :yes

 

[Meow Mix]

Guess all you like. Seems to me it would be more efficient to actually read my posts and try and understand my points though.

To each their own.:yes:



And I disagree that the welfare of children is exclusively the parents responsibility, or that tax payers should have no say in how their tax dollars are spent (see, now I'm just giving your posts a quick skim and "guessing" about what you're "really" trying to say. I'm easy. Always willing to play by the other persons rules. :yes

lol, to be fair, you only wrote two sentences, there wasn't that much to go on

And my guessing was qualified with "I guess," which means "I have a hunch that..." not "I know that..."

So nyah! *throws feces at Naykid*

 

[Alceste]

At least it's slightly more sane than Congress declaring pizza a vegetable.

Still, what's to stop the fatties buying two sodas?

 

[Revoltingest]

At least it's slightly more sane than Congress declaring pizza a vegetable.

No, Congress did not declare pizza a vegetable - The Washington Post

 

[Meow Mix]

No, Congress did not declare pizza a vegetable - The Washington Post

*cranes neck back and forth while snapping at Alceste*

What now?!

 

[Revoltingest]

*cranes neck back and forth while snapping at Alceste*
What now?!

I recommend calling me a "poopy head".
(Has a nice ring to it.)