[Axil]

Originally Posted by copernicus

Thank you my friends. Thank you for seeing what a disconnected leader Michale Bloomberg is.

I feel it took something as trivial as the "soda ban" for ALL NY-ers to realize what an arrogant, condescending, disconnected leader Michael Bloomberg really is.

Originally Posted by copernicus

The mayor stands for whatever will get him more power.

Do really not see the disconnect between these two statements? People who swing with the wind, and amass power at all costs don't spearhead initiatives that are wildly unpopular.

Originally Posted by Winstonbiggs

Clearly we have drawn lines drugs would be a good example. Alcohol is restricted to those over 21, cigs to those over 18, heroin to those who are willing to buy from criminals, etc., etc., etc...

I think drawing the line for alcohol at 21, while handing over the rights to operate a vehicle, vote, and die for your country at 18 and earlier is asinine. I agree, it's hypocritical to support the current status quo regarding alcohol and be incensed over the soda ban.

Disallowing children from consuming harmful substances is different. I believe the government has a responsibility to protect children from irresponsible parents. I do not believe children should be prohibited from drinking soda, or even limited to 16 ounces (though that's a fair debate), but I'd be in favor of the sarcastic comment you made earlier. At some level of obesity the government ought to investigate and see if the child is in a safe environment. There is a point where a child being morbidly obese constitutes parental incompetence and neglect. Do i trust the government to draw that line appropriately and enforce it well? No. But i acknowledge it is within their purview.

I think the greatest disconnect between those who feel that Bloomberg is justified and those who feel like myself is this: I don't feel like freedom is "overshadowing" the issue. I feel like freedom is the issue. I feel as though freedom is more important than health, safety, or anything else up to some threat that would threaten the very existence of our species.

It wasn't very long ago that the majority of American's agreed with these sentiments. Sure there was always hypocrisy, on the right it mostly involved censorship of things that were considered crude, irreverent, or unpatriotic. On the left it tended towards protecting people from themselves. Overall however Americans have valued freedom very highly, and the fact that we're even discussing trading it for at best a lesser rate of the occurrence of diabetes is a very sad thing indeed in my eyes.