NANNY STATE

What happened to personal responsibility?  Have we as a people reached a point where we cannot think for ourselves and need the government to think for us?   I think not.

Recently, the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg put forward a proposal to limit the serving of soft drinks to no more than 16oz.  That is right, the government of NYC has nothing better to do than tell you how much soda you are allowed to have.  This is not the first restriction the mayor has put forward; he has banned smoking in many public places, outlawed trans fats in the city's restaurants and required chain restaurants to post calorie counts.  Bloomberg has a history of enacting legislation to restrict personal and business rights.  Many Americans do overindulge, however is it the role of government to control how much we eat and drink?

The good news is that this ban on sugary drinks requires approval from the city's Board of Health.   Maybe they will let the people think for themselves -- unlikely because Bloomberg appointed all the board's members, himself.  Thank you nanny state for having to take care of me.

These restrictions on personal choice are nothing more than control exerted by the government.  The most famous example is Prohibition, which barred the manufacture and sale of alcohol from 1919 to 1933. The government says this is different as it is based on behavioral economics rather than religious moralism.  That appears self-evident, when was the last time the government did something based on morals.

The ideals of big government, government’s control of personal choice, and the people’s reliance on the government stem from the very system America fought against to gain our independence.  These ideals stem from Monarchies, Dictatorships, and Communism.  Now they are being adopted by the governmental leadership to control the people through social programs.   When does it stop?

It stops when the American people vote for true representatives who are willing to make some people unhappy.  The founding fathers said “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” it did not say “food stamps, subsidized housing, and free money without taxes.”  What America did your fathers work for?

                                 Win With Winslow,