Posted on 06/17/2012 8:12:16 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
State police officers routinely scan license plates at toll booths to ensure emissions inspections are up-to-date. Portable cameras fine speeders practically everywhere in the state. In the name of safety, children of all heights and weights are now required to sit in a rear- facing car seat for their first two years, regardless of whether they fit in it. And legislators once again found new and creative ways to tax residents this year, in part by redefining rich. But, relax, the government doesn't control everything in this state ... yet.
You can still freely sip sugary soft drinks of any size at the restaurant or store of your choice. Residents of New York City may soon not have that luxury if a proposal by Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) becomes law. He wants to prohibit the sale of sugared drinks over 16 ounces in restaurants and other locations in order to clamp down on obesity and "to encourage people to live longer."
Because Maryland progressives have never found a health regulation that was not in the public good, expect a similar proposal here soon. State employees may be guinea pigs, as the governor plans to roll out a wellness program, according to news reports.
And since Maryland always seems to be in competition with New York to out-liberal itself -- think high taxes, same-sex marriage and thousands fleeing to lower-taxed states -- "wellness" proposals are sure to pop up in coming legislative sessions.
Don't expect sugared soft drinks to be the only target. Mission creep is a well-established legislative tactic. For example, texting while driving was banned in 2009, followed by a ban in 2010 on using a hand-held phone while driving.
So it's not that far-fetched to imagine legislators banning bake sales or requiring fast-food restaurants to bar entry to patrons above an acceptable body mass index. Social workers in Ohio took a child away from his parents because he was too heavy. Will the next child be in Maryland? What about weekly visits from state health workers to check refrigerators? Or what about regulation of ice cream, sugared cereals, snack foods and other products sold in grocery stores? Will they be locked behind closed doors and rationed based on height and weight? Will Comptroller Peter Franchot, instead of chasing cigarette smugglers, instead focus on nabbing truckloads of contraband Lucky Charms?
Few obey the laws prohibiting talking or texting on a mobile phone while driving according to studies and personal observation. So I do not expect legislators and bureaucrats to be able to lower the state's obesity rate, which is about 25 percent. But passing social legislation is much more appealing than doing the hard work of reforming state spending. The most recent legislative session is a case in point. Gay marriage passed early, but the majority party could not find a way to overspend enough during the three months allotted and had to be called back by the governor in a special session. So, expect bigger deficits and smaller soft drinks in coming years.
Nanny State PING!
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
Pretty soon they’ll legislate one square of toilet paper per bathroom visit.
They’ll call the law ‘The Sheryl Crow Protecting the Chesapeake Bay’ bill.
*sigh*
RFID tags to keep inventory on the fridge contents. Followed by gov't delivery of your weekly Soylent rations.
I “lived” in Maryland for 30 years fighting LIB lunacy. My recent move to Utah allows me to comment: bwahahahahahahahahaha! Maryland is THE Freak state!
Maryland has turned itself into a harvest ground for business relocation to the friendlier climes of Virginia. Many thanks to MD`s liberal governor for making it all possible.
At some point in six years...the tax revenue bucket is going to be a serious problem. They will discuss raising taxes against the millionaire and business operations in the state....then discover that half the millionaire population in the state has left since 2008. Business growth will be found to be stagnant since the same period. So the agreement will be to add another six casino operations around the borders of the state, in hopes of getting other states to fund them.
I am SO glad I moved to Virginia!
The Peoples Democratic State of Maryland was my home for a long time, but I absolutely could not stand it any more.
I was visiting my folks, in Maryland, last month and my dad and I took the boat to the gas station to get filled up. Due to fraud with stolen credit cards, or something, you can’t buy any more than $100 of gas per swipe of the card. We couldn’t get 30 gallons of gas into the boat. This rule has been in place for a few years at our local station and has not been amended, even though the price of gas has tripled. I’m glad I moved.
Gay marriage lover Gov. ‘O’Malady’ is doing his part to drag the state into further decline. He has some nerve to criticize Gov Scott Walker when MD. is in a festering mess of rapid decline.
Another “used to be” Marylander . . . born and raised, left in my early 20’s.
I’ve visited a few times but won’t again. People are rude -slammed Starbucks door in my face as if I didn’t exist, Visited Towson Town Mall . . . full of people who don’t look at each other and rampant gangs hangin’ and jamming the malls.
The Inner Harbor is going down due to nightly throngs, hundreds of - I believe the term here is “Amish”. Muggers, druggies, thugs and thieves.
Read recently that appx 36,000 have relocated to Virginia but then also read that folks from New Jersey are moving to Maryland. I think New Jersey will fit the currently climate.
Used to overnight in maryland on my way to eastern LI to visit family. Then I got a ticket from a spy camera. Now I take my business to south N Jersey.
And some here think California is bad! Maryland, now there’s a Marxist. Dump if there ever was one. Biden’s prove it conclusively!
Keep it down to 5 over the limit, and you’ll be fine.
This state is Ridiculous! UGH!
We moved to West Virginia two years ago. Anyone who is even thinking about moving, do it now. Virginia, West Virginia whatever, just do it. You will save money on taxes like you cannot believe. Sooner or later, they will probably fine you for moving just to get that last dime out of your pocket. Do it, move.
Thanks for the ping!
Not to pee in your Wheaties, but Biden is from Delaware not Maryland.
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