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No way, man. No way is the government going to tell me what to do, man. No square in a tie is going to tell me how to live my life. Oh. It’s for my own good? Oh, ok.
Earlier this week, Mayor Bloomberg spoke at a public health law conference in Atlanta conducted by the CDC where he recommended that other cities should follow New York’s example of promoting better health through law. He said that chronic diseases, such as diabetes, are a New Yorker’s "biggest health threat" (not crazy homeless dudes who feel all stabby-stabby or epileptic cabbies who skip their morning meds), and that the government should get involved, using legislation to help its helpless citizens take responsibility for their own lives. Hizzoner implied that evils such as cigarettes and fast food are scourges on our City and we need laws and taxes to help us make the right choices.
Some past examples of some of the mayor’s words in action include higher taxes on cigarettes, the public smoking ban, and mandates on improving exercise programs in day care centers. The mayor shared that another scheme currently being cooked up involves “legal” ways to encourage exercise among all New Yorkers. We shudder at what those might be.
Some of Bloomy’s legislation-fuelled accomplishments include a drop in the teen smoking rate from 1 out of 4 to 1 out of 10 as well as reduced gun traffic into NYC. While we appreciate these benefits, it really is a shame that we need City Hall to step in and help us be healthier.
The mayor also used his podium time to complain about how NYC was shortchanged when it came time to distribute anti-bioterrorism funds, citing the 3 bucks a person we’ll get compared to the more than 8 bucks a person that South Dakota is assigned. With such well thought out planning, we'd be fools not to listen to our government.
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How is Bloomberg a Republican again? Because he's rich and doesn't like terrorists? Because I'm struggling to figure out exactly how he qualifies otherwise. I'm not going to laud the Republican party as some sort of big champion of individual rights -- but in the areas where they are generally against government involvement, Bloomie is for it. And conversely, he seems to side with the Democrats on their individual rights issues. In favor of gun control and public health regulations, but also in favor of gay marriage. I'm all for a big tent philosophy for political parties, but this all just seems like a sham at this point.
So if we're going to live in what amounts to a nanny state, shouldn't we have socialized medicine as well?
You know what? Smoking and diabetes are greater threats to the health and welfare of New Yorkers than a crazy man stabbing a tourist on the subway or taxicab accidents. Crazy people ought to be controlled and crime must be kept down, but that is not the only way to improve health. Crunch the numbers!
Why is it "nanny state" to restrict the sale of something that kills you and harms the health of people around you?
Why should the city sit idly by as poor people eat themselves to death? The great majority of city residents don't shop for organic soymilk at Whole Foods, they're buying
Are all public health efforts bad?
Comparing the mostly benevolent administration of Bloomberg to the federal government is an insult.
The poster who asked why we don't have socialized medicine is missing the point. It's not in the mayor's jurisdiction!
I think that the poster should call 311 for some nicotene patches...he sounds like a disaffected cigarette addict.
oops:
... The great majority of city residents don't shop for organic soymilk at Whole Foods, they're buying whole milk and sugary foods at the bodega.
oh jorvax, you are so misguided. you see, america is where people are allowed to make their own decisions. if they want to drive cars even though they know the risks to themselves and the health and safety of those around them, they're free to do so. if they want to drink alcohol, eat a burger and fries, ride their bicycle on the street, smoke a cigarette.... these are our decisions. just because you agree with bloombergs overzealous, regressive taxing, social engineering programs doesn't mean they should be turned into law.
btw. did it ever occur to you that whole milk just might be healthier than soy milk?
Parking ticket fines are going up in July. Many of them were doubled just four years ago. Business is going to love that.