There has been enough written on Bloomberg, sodas, obesity and freedom in the last few days that there hasn’t been any reason to post on it. But David Frum weighed in for conservatives and he thinks it’s all good, so ridicule I must. In his CNN article, titled, “Bloomberg’s visionary move against obesity” Frum says:
Nobody seems to have a positive word for Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposal to ban oversized servings of sugary drinks in New York’s food-service establishments.
Why would anyone have a positive word? Because they can’t control themselves at the Taco Bell soda fountain and need the Government to help them by limiting everyone’s choices?
So let’s defy the trend here and say: Good for Bloomberg. Obesity is America’s most important public health problem, and the mayor has led the way against it. This latest idea may or may not yield results. But it is already raising awareness. Even if it fails to become law, it ought to prod the beverage industry into acting as more responsible corporate citizens.
Apparently he’s serious. AIDS, Cancer, Heart Disease, Stroke, Diabetes, Alzheimers? Aw hell, those are fine! “Obesity is America’s most important Public Health problem.” And what’s important is that the beverage industry, which exists to sell beverages, should be more responsible by actively sabotaging their own business model. It’s absolutely ridiculous.
Ignoring Frum, Bloomberg makes one terrible mistake that chills me and should be a clear warning to any American:
“We’re not taking away anybody’s right to do things, we’re simply forcing you to understand that you have to make the conscious decision to go from one cup to another cup,” Bloomberg told MSNBC.
That passes for freedom to Frum and Bloomberg. It’s truly Orwellian, and it’s scary as hell. Even the obtuse partisans at Huffington Post had the clarity of mind to ask, “After Controversial Bloomberg Proposal, What Foods Would Be Next?“