Let government mind your own business

Boston Globe ^ | September 10, 2008 | Jeff Jacoby

[libertarian27]

OUT IN the Pacific time zone, the nanny-statists have been busy.

In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed a law banning restaurants from using trans fats when preparing food.

In Seattle, city councilors passed a measure requiring shoppers to pay 20 cents for every plastic or paper bag they use in grocery, drug, or convenience stores. In Los Angeles, a new "moratorium" forbids new fast-food restaurants within a 32-square-mile section of the city that is home to 500,000 low-income residents. "Ultimately," the moratorium's sponsor declared, "this ordinance is about providing choices."

In San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom has proposed a mandatory composting-and-recycling law that would oblige residents and businesses to separate their waste into multiple color-coded bins, whose contents would be inspected by city trash collectors. Individuals failing to "separate the coffee grounds from the newspapers," the San Francisco Chronicle reported, "would face fines of up to $1,000 and eventually could have their garbage service stopped."

Of course it isn't only on the Left Coast that government paternalists are busily restricting freedoms in order to spare adults the trouble of making decisions for themselves.

[libertarian27]

Ping

[Wolfie]

Of course it isn't only on the Left Coast that government paternalists are busily restricting freedoms in order to spare adults the trouble of making decisions for themselves.

Just ask the DEA.

[Rummyfan]

Nanny state government enforcing petty tyranny for the good of those governed. When will We the People put an end to such nonsense?

[hunter112]

When the people have had enough. There’s far more tolerance for that sort of thing in the liberal cities of the west coast, than there is in flyover country. But even those folks have their breaking points.

[libertarian27]

When will We the People put an end to such nonsense?

People will fight back when it finally effects them - then it will be too late - everyone will be too tired- that's how socialism works

[bamahead]

There is no limit to the nanny-statists' ideas for saving us from ourselves.

Libertarian ping! To be added or removed freepmail me or post a message here.

[Just another Joe]

Nanny state ping

[Wolfie]

True. But we all know this whole personal freedom thing stops dead in its tracks when it comes to what “other” people are doing.

[elkfersupper]

Hopefully, they are just testing the limits of what their sheeple will endure.

Unfortunately, they have SWAT teams, armored personell carriers, dogs, military armament, helicopters and jets.

I have a single-action revolver.