Posted on 06/04/2012 5:20:31 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
In an erstwhile attempt to protect the American public, our government is imposing more and more restrictions, taking away our individual freedoms, and arrogantly proclaiming that their elite ruling class knows what is best for the rest of us.
The most recent example of government overreach is the announcement by New York City’s mayor that NYC will outlaw the serving of soft drinks in any container larger than 16 ounces. Now, understand that alcohol, milkshakes, and all manner of other beverages are not being regulated in such a manner, but the mayor has decided that soft drinks, served in restaurants, are the singular cause of obesity in New York and is the enemy-of-the-moment. He also sees another perfect opportunity for a government power grab under the guise of “kindness.”
In fact, when defending his absurd proposal, Mayor Bloomberg compared the sugar in soft drinks to asbestos and said that it was the government’s responsibility and “obligation” to “warn” its citizens. Some warning! Let me think…oh yeah, Prohibition didn’t work, but it was well-intended.
STOP! YOU’RE KILLING ME WITH YOUR KINDNESS!
Let me cite another example. Did you know that by the end of the year, the 100 watt incandescent light bulb is due to be phased out completely and that its demise is the beginning of the end for all incandescent bulbs? Bet you were in the dark about that (sorry, the pun was so obvious I couldn’t let it pass). Edison’s invention which has serve us well for over 100 years is no longer what is best for us (determined by the government) and so will be made unavailable. Hey! Did I get to vote on that? It’s my lamp, after all.
The law which was passed had good intentions, but, as usual, Congress can’t see beyond its immediate nose to consider the implications. The purpose of the law was to make lighting more efficient and less costly (government kindness) and so bulbs, beginning this year were required to be 25% more efficient than in the past. Enter the CFL (curly tube) and the LED lamps.
Both CFLs and LEDs meet the efficiency requirement, but cost astronomically more. Incandescent bulbs can be purchased for about a dollar for a 4 pack. CFLs in a 3 pack run between $10 and $15. LEDs can cost up to $30. How much electricity do I have to save to pay for that?
But the new bulbs are “green,” and the light bulb producing companies and new “green” producers are experiencing a windfall. The tree-huggers feel good about themselves. The lobbyists who made this happen are fat and happy, and we get to pay at least 10 times more because our government is taking care of us.
STOP! YOU’RE KILLING ME WITH YOUR KINDNESS
I have cited two examples of government power grabs that are currently under way. There are literally hundreds of examples. I do not have the space to enumerate, much less elaborate, on all of them. But I’ll bet you can immediately think of other instances where our individual freedoms are being stolen from us by our Nanny-state government. Send us your best illustration of government “kindness” exposed. It’s time to end the madness!
---
Duane A Miller is COO of The Proud Americans
Nanny State PING!
The Constitution was written down on paper to LIMIT the federal givernment..
Expressly, precisely, exactly for that reason..
No wonder the democrats and a few RINOs HATE the Constitution..
Actually, it is written on hemp vellum. Produced by Goe. W., or the like.
Yes, pot. The constitution is written on pot.
You see the problem?
“Erstwhile” means former.
That’s embarrassing.
By limiting the size of sodae you can buy he is making Soda Companies rich.
No one buys a Liter bottle of soda to drink all at once. You buy them to take home . You buy the 16 ounce bottle to drink with lunch or when you are thirsty.
At most groceries you can buy a Liter for the same or less than the 16 ounce. By forcing people to buy the 16 ounce bottles the Soda Companies get rich on the packaging.
Well, in that case, I wish all these attempts at control were “erstwhile.”
Cuomo wants to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana; Bloomberg wants to ban large size sodas.
it isn’t bottles in stores. It’s drinks in restaurants. Apparently convenience stores are not included. So it’s triple-idiotic. So you can’t go in a restaurant and get a large soda. But you can still get your 32 oz fountain drink at the gas station. go figure.
Agreed
So, does the law prevent free refills in restaurants?
Bloomberg Backs Plan to Limit Arrests for Marijuana
This is the NY Slimes headline as reported on Drudge
” but the mayor has decided that soft drinks, served in restaurants, are the singular cause of obesity”
It is not his singular item, it is just a step in his ladder of total control. I just love the outcry by the folks that celebrated the foundational construction to these actions. Choke on your smoking bans everyone, it will not stop there or with soft drinks.
“Soda Companies get rich on the packaging.”
Product manufacturers don’t “get rich” from packaging, the only companies that do are the packaging manufacturers. Product manufacturers as a rule try to minimize pkg costs to become as low as possible and consider it a pass through, post product cost mark up...
Mark Steyn was commenting on a sign in a pond he saw in Central Park, on a warm spring day, proclaiming thin ice, and he wondered why every bit of open water in NYC would not be required to bear a sign saying ‘Do Not Drink.’
I don’t think so. It doesn’t prevent you from ordering more than one either. It’s just baloney.
Thanks for the ping!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.