Bloomberg, Soda, and the Nanny State

The "nanny state." Some have referred to this as the "wussification" of America: the idea the the government needs to be there at every twist and turn to protect you from yourself. Falling down and scraping your knee, you see, is the ultimate trauma and the government must ignore whatever liberty necessary to make sure you don't get a boo-boo.

Daddy—I mean Mayor Bloomberg has set his sights on yet another pointy corner that is the nursery we call New York City. Bloomberg is banning all sugary drinks over 16oz. Why? Because you might get fat and we're too dumb to know that. We're also too dumb, apparently, to figure out how to buy two drinks at the same time.

This coming after Bloomberg's salt and smoking bans.

Of course, you say, salt and smoking are bad for you. And so are big, sugary drinks!

And you're right. But it's none of your business. The only time the government gets to get involved with what I put in my body is when it's a substance that can make me a potential threat to those around me (think Causeway Cannibal).

Bloomberg may very well believe that he is acting benevolently: "assisting," as it were, in our decisions. But in truth, he is foisting his will upon the people of New York City. I have to wonder how much more liberty New Yorkers are willing to loose.

To quote Ben Franklin,

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" 

And for every new cupboard requiring a plastic lock (they don't know any better than to drink the stuff under the sink), the people of New York City loose more liberty and more of who they are: independent people who know how to take care of themselves. It's just their tyrannical mayor who doesn't believe that.

The ball is in your court, people of New York. What are you going to do?

UPDATE: May 31, 2012 14:41CDT
Real Clear Politics: Bloomberg on Soda Ban: "We're Simply Forcing You to Understand."
I rest my case.

UPDATE 2: May 31, 2012 20:20CDT
Politicker: Bloomberg to Support 'National Donut Day' Tomorrow
For pity's sake.


UPDATE 3: June 4, 2012 19:57CDT
New York Times: Bloomberg Backs Plan to Limit Arrests for Marijuana
It all makes sense now.

Reflecting on Memorial Day 2012

Through the past weekend, I noticed a common theme through the conservative media: Memorial Day has become too much about barbecues and sales and the weekend itself.

And I agree...mostly.

But when I think about Memorial Day, in addition to the services and the remembrance of the terrible cost of freedom, the images that pop into my mind are those of small town Americana; the gatherings, the celebration, and yes, the barbecues are, in a way, a perfectly fitting memorial.

What better way to honor those who fell for our freedom then to exercise those very freedoms? And how many of those brave souls spent the final moments of their lives recalling these scenes of home?

That being said we must never, ever forget. For if we forget, we can only be doomed to loose this land and all that she stands for.

Please Leave.

I was reading Laura Ingraham’s book The Obama Diaries today over lunch. I read the following quote and wanted to expound upon it.

“[Textbooks and teachers] also teach young people that it’s perfectly acceptable to loathe America while taking full advantage of all the benefits of living here.”

This reminded me of a belief that I’ve never fully thought through and has always sat on the “back burner” of my mind, so to speak. But I’ve thought it through now and say, with confidence, that if you don’t like America, LEAVE.

Seriously.

If you don’t like it, go find some place else that will allow you all the freedoms and opportunities you have here while somehow also fitting into whatever world view you’ve concocted. And good luck.

The reason, I think, that I’ve subconsciously rejected the idea of actually speaking this out loud is that it’s really harsh. And, believe it or not, I’m not a mean person. Plus, isn’t America supposed to be a “melting pot” of people and culture and ideas?

Yes! My idea doesn’t run counter to that, even if it seems to on the surface. But look deeper.

Wanting America to advance, wanting to fix problems and improve even more on this great society is not only okay but laudable. It’s those who seek to transform our country, to make it something that it’s not, to subvert the very intuitions that made our country exceptional: it’s those people with whom I have a problem.

I’ve stayed in quite a few hotels. If I have a problem with the hotel I’m staying in, what do I do (well, first I talk to the manager…my metaphor isn’t perfect. Stick with me.)? Do I demand that the hotel fix its backwards, unprogressive ways? Do I lead the staff in a complimentary-toiletry-armed workers’ revolution? Do I eat as much food as I could possibly stomach at the continental breakfast to try to “hit them where it hurts?” No. I leave.

I go to the hotel across the street. Besides, they have a pool.

But the fact of the matter is, there is no place as good as America. You could go to Canada or Western Europe for your free healthcare but you’d better be ready to get taxed to death.

You could go to China for your wealth redistribution but you’d better get ready to give up any opinion that isn’t endorsed by the state…if you want to live, that is.

Perhaps you’d like to move to Cuba: the socialist “paradise” that people are risking their very lives to flee every day. The good news is, you wouldn’t have to worry about any other boat traffic in that direction. You might see a lot of people with empty oil barrels strapped to their ’58 Chevy heading back the other way.

There’s always the option of moving to Latin America. I know a good bulletproof vest manufacturer I’d be happy to recommend.

Finally, there’s the most difficult option of all: perhaps you could take a look around you and consider the idea the America isn’t such a bad place after all and that attempting to impose your will on your neighbors isn’t fair.

After all, Constitutional governance isn’t about the imposition of anyone’s will on anyone else. Rather, it is a system by which we maintain the Civil Society for our posterity.

Join with us to help build a stronger America for ourselves and our children.

Or don’t. And find some other place to screw up.