• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Calories and Contradictions

Last week a State supreme court judge struck down Mayor Bloomberg's ban on oversized sugary drinks. From now on, if you want to prevent New Yorkers from drinking a super-sized soda you will have to wrestle it from their cold dead chubby fingers.

Unfortunately, the ban on sweet drinks larger than 16 ounces was seen as arbitrary since it applied to restaurants, movie theaters, corner delis and sports arenas but not to supermarkets or convenience stores, including 7-Eleven which is, after all, the home of the Big Gulp.

While Mayor Bloomberg's concern for the health of his fellow citizens is commendable and he emphasized that “people are dying every day” due to sugar intake, he doesn't seem to realize that poor dietary choices don't kill people, diabetes and obesity do.

The proposed ban so unnerved legislators in Mississippi, the fattest State in the nation, that legislators sent a preemptive law to the governor that would ban bans on portion sizes. It would also ban requirements for nutritional information to be displayed, and if kids want a happy meal, they should get their danged toy too!

Meanwhile, abortion foes there continue to push for a “personhood amendment” which would declare a fertilized egg to be a legal person and outlaw abortions even in the case of rape and incest. Once they're born, they would be free to eat and drink themselves to death.

Speaking of drink, perhaps Wisconsin, the drunkest State in the nation, (too harsh?) which leads the country in binge drinking, and whose unofficial motto is “Don't Puke on Me,” should consider legislation to prohibit lowering the amount of alcohol in beer and liquor. How else are we supposed to get through a harsh winter or enjoy sports and St. Paddy's day?

Most people don't like to be told how much or what they can eat and drink. Educating citizens about the dangers of poor eating habits is worthwhile, but the State can't force people to live healthier any more than a church can force them to swallow its doctrine. As the saying goes, “you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.” On the other hand you can lead a Wisconsinite to a tavern, and pick him up at closing time.

Hundreds of billions of dollars are spent each year treating self induced poor health, not to mention costs in productivity losses. Those with health insurance pay more to cover those who can't afford it as well as those who simply don't want to pay for it. We don't like the idea of a Nanny State, yet nobody likes a freeloader. Perhaps mandating that everyone have health coverage is not a bad idea.

At least then we could eat and drink to our hearts content or rupture, claiming that we are paying our share for that right, while offering a single finger salute to those who would infringe upon our caloric and gastronomic freedoms. Sweet.

Jim Black is a community blogger and is not a part of the Walworth County Gazette staff. His opinion is not necessarily that of Walworth County Today staff or management.

Jim Black is a community blogger and is not a part of the Walworth County Gazette staff. His opinion is not necessarily that of Walworth County Today staff or management.