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First smokes, now Cokes
LA Times ^ | 2/3/6 | Walter Olson

Posted on 02/03/2006 7:03:12 AM PST by ZGuy

GET READY for the next mass-tort crusade: protecting our kids from the ravages of Big Cola. According to reports, a group of lawyers is gearing up to file lawsuits that will seek to blame Coke, Pepsi and others for obesity, tooth decay and other childhood health ailments. An article in the Boston Globe Magazine has called it part of a "national legal movement to make soft drinks the next tobacco." Instead of tar and nicotine, we'll be hearing about corn sweeteners and caffeine; maybe Dr. Pepper can stand in as the new Joe Camel.

Ridiculous? More like inevitable. For some time, a noisy campaign has been underway to portray the food and beverage industry as the villain in the nation's ongoing battle with the waistline. Without the snack hucksters' machinations, it seems, we'd all eat raw bell peppers and be reed thin.

Backed by "progressive" foundations, nutrition advocates are demanding a national obesity policy aimed at changing our collective diet, by force of law if necessary — or quite possibly by force of litigation. As one advocate, Michael Jacobson of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, put it: "If someone is saying that a 64-ounce soda at 7-Eleven contributed to obesity, that person should have his day in court."

That brings us to Northeastern University law professor and associate dean Richard Daynard, point man in the forthcoming courtroom onslaught against fizzy drinks. Long quoted in the media as a cheerleader for tobacco lawsuits, Daynard has now set out to assemble a legal strike force to file obesity actions. He wants to duplicate the success of the tobacco campaign, whose strategies included invoking "the children" and launching scores of suits on novel legal theories in hopes that one would stick.

WALTER OLSON is senior fellow of the Manhattan Institute.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: layoffmycoke; libertarians; nannystate; pufflist; tortreformnow
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To: elkfersupper

LOL!!! sounds like a plan to me.

We left here about 10 this morning, stopped to buy cigarettes before we crossed the state line into Maryland, drove through 2 Maryland counties into Delaware to drop off the tax stuff with our accountant - YUCK. By then it was after noon and I wanted to stop at Staples (we don't have one down this way) as we paid for our purchases I looked at hubby and said "Please get me out of Delaware." The DOT there seems to have put a traffic light at nearly every intersection of that state within a 30 mile radius of the beaches.

We did hit McDonald's in Delaware, but waited 'til we crossed back into Maryland to buy gas and beer. For a state that claims to be a shoppers haven because of no sales tax, nearly everything is cheaper in Maryland and Virginia than Delaware even after you add the sales tax.

I called my friend who had picked up our daughter when we were about to the MD/VA line, as I told her we would, but she wasn't home yet and so that's when we decided to go have a few beers and get some real food to eat :)


161 posted on 02/03/2006 7:34:08 PM PST by Gabz
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To: celestine phophesy

My comment regarding wanting a beer and leaving my cigarettes in the truck had nothing to do with driving the nannies bonkers...........that was just my excuse for not typing everything else I did today that would drive them bonkers.


162 posted on 02/03/2006 7:36:36 PM PST by Gabz
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To: Gabz
Oh.

Mixed business and pleasure, I see.

I only go along on the "all fun" road trips.

Sounds like a great day, though.

163 posted on 02/03/2006 7:41:13 PM PST by elkfersupper
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To: elkfersupper

The "business" part of today's road trip took all of about 20 minutes...........It was the 2 hours each way to make a less than 200 mile drive that was the bad part...............travelling in Delaware is absolutely HORRID. Of course I was saying that when I still lived there.

But all in all it was a fun road trip.....you're welcome to join us anytime you're in this neck of the woods!!!!


164 posted on 02/03/2006 7:51:50 PM PST by Gabz
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To: Gabz
Why, thanks!

You guys can all ride with me (that's not me, but it could be my truck).


165 posted on 02/03/2006 8:04:33 PM PST by elkfersupper
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To: SheLion; Gabz

"The bill will soon be considered by the state House of Representatives, just as a lawsuit is being prepared to be filed in Massachusetts that would claim damages against soft drink companies for not putting warning labels on their products.

In advance of the suit, Washington lawyer John Banzhaf sent an e-mail to 50-100 school committee members in Massachusetts ''to warn of your inevitable involvement in these law suits as a named party or otherwise . . . "




Banzhaf strikes again. You may have already seen this---Boston Globe,Jan.30

Now he's involved in suing schools----sickening!A very dangerous man.


166 posted on 02/03/2006 8:08:13 PM PST by Mears (The Killer Queen-caviar and cigarettes.)
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To: Mears
Banzhaf strikes again. You may have already seen this---Boston Globe,Jan.30

Now he's involved in suing schools----sickening!A very dangerous man.

Yes, he IS dangerous.  He wants to mold the world in the way he sees fit.  I can't stand him!


167 posted on 02/03/2006 8:24:17 PM PST by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
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To: DakotaRed
"The same people that have determined the offensive odor of tobacco is so detrimental to others health, in spite of studies that actually say otherwise (originally commissioned by smoke gnatzie groups) are the same group of people that will be soon denying you and your kids the pleasure of a soft drink."

NO soda for kids, but the schools will permit them all the sex and sexually communicable diseases they want.

168 posted on 02/03/2006 8:49:50 PM PST by TAdams8591 (The first amendment does NOT protect vulgar and obscene speech.)
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To: Barney Gumble
Where are the lawyers going to find the "nicotine" of soda? The drug that prevent people from quitting? Or will they just villify the evil advertising?

Oh, don't worry - they'll find a vehicle to suit their needs!

CA....

169 posted on 02/03/2006 10:02:17 PM PST by Chances Are (Whew! It seems I've once again found that silly grin!)
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To: Mears

Banzhaf? He's the a$$hole who headed the strike force against tobacco companies, isn't he? Proof positive NONE of this is about 'the public health.' God-*^&%, I f&^%*&^ HATE LAWYERS!!! What do we have now, about one lawyer for each 2 people in the U.S.? Compare our rate of lawyers for ANY other country's rate of lawyers vs. population, and you'll see what I mean.


170 posted on 02/03/2006 10:18:44 PM PST by The Foolkiller (It is not enough today for the deviant to be normalized. The normal must be found to be deviant.)
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To: elkfersupper

You have a big-ass 4-wheel truck like that, Elk? That'll piss off the enviornmental whackos. LOL


171 posted on 02/03/2006 10:24:51 PM PST by The Foolkiller (It is not enough today for the deviant to be normalized. The normal must be found to be deviant.)
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To: TAdams8591

NO soda for kids, but the schools will permit them all the sex and sexually communicable diseases they want.




Don't forget, they also teach that 'gay is cool' these days.


172 posted on 02/03/2006 10:27:32 PM PST by The Foolkiller (It is not enough today for the deviant to be normalized. The normal must be found to be deviant.)
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To: The Foolkiller

Absolutely. The greater concern is how their minds and souls are polluted.


173 posted on 02/03/2006 10:53:13 PM PST by TAdams8591 (The first amendment does NOT protect vulgar and obscene speech.)
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To: Gabz; SheLion

Hey, I was just on another thread, and the guy who started it got zotted. I've been meaning to ask you-where did the "cat/kitten/viking kitty" bit come from? I never did get that, even though I've posted a few cartoons/pics to that effect.


174 posted on 02/03/2006 11:43:23 PM PST by The Foolkiller (It is not enough today for the deviant to be normalized. The normal must be found to be deviant.)
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To: sockmonkey

you are right ever since the cola companies have gone to corn syrup to save money...


175 posted on 02/03/2006 11:45:47 PM PST by lndrvr1972
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To: ZGuy
First smokes, now Cokes

The liberals must have run out of super-achievers to sue.

176 posted on 02/03/2006 11:46:17 PM PST by Euro-American Scum (A poverty-stricken middle class must be a disarmed middle class)
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To: grania

You can still choose -- two hamburgers or even cheeseburgers is better than one of either one with fries.


177 posted on 02/03/2006 11:49:17 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck
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To: ZGuy

I keep wondering why Coke can't come up with a diet version that tastes decent, not thin and chemical-y. Pepsi has no problem with that.


178 posted on 02/03/2006 11:50:24 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck
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To: mysterio
Wonder what they'll decide is child abuse next?

Easy. At the rate they are going, they will decide childhood is child abuse.

179 posted on 02/03/2006 11:57:29 PM PST by BluesDuke (Ever get the feeling that the only thing the NannyNazis think we have to fear is life itself?)
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To: The Foolkiller
Hey, I was just on another thread, and the guy who started it got zotted. I've been meaning to ask you-where did the "cat/kitten/viking kitty" bit come from? I never did get that, even though I've posted a few cartoons/pics to that effect.

I have NO idea.  I see pictures of cats wearing helmuts all the time.  LOL!

But I sure don't know!!!  I will try to find out from someone who uses that image and get back to you.

180 posted on 02/04/2006 3:29:44 AM PST by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
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