Obsessive-compulsive disorder is marked by “anxiety in which instrumentalities have unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations (obsessions), or behaviors that make them feel driven to do something (compulsions).” In our case, the behavior exhibited by the government is regulation. Those in power are driven by a collective activism and self-righteous indignation endowed by a higher power to coerce a free people into pre-determined choices for the benefit of everyone. Case in point: new menu regulations.
Tucked away in the health care reform law, Obamacare, is the mandate that certain restaurants begin listing calories on their menu. The law reaches further still, requiring eating establishments to display the following statement:
“A succinct statement concerning suggested daily caloric intake would be posted prominently on menus and menu boards to help the public understand the significance of the calorie information provided on menus and menu boards. The following statement is proposed: “A 2,000 calorie diet is used as the basis for general nutrition advice; however, individual calorie needs may vary.””
Allow me to translate and explicate the implication here: America, you’re too stupid to make the right choice when eating out. You’ve become fat and overweight. You’re disgusting, and you need help. We want you to eat the way we think you should eat, and this labeling information is provided to nudge you into compliance.
Caloric content from most restaurants is readily available to all who would inquire. I once asked for the ingredients list at Panera Bread and was presented with a heavy binder listing nearly every conceivable statistic and ingredient available. This nanny state behavior is little more than big government attempting to influencing your eating habits.
The next logical step is federal guidelines forcing restaurants to offer a majority of meals that contain government approved ingredients, grown in America, of course, with the proper caloric content. It’s OCD – and they just can’t help themselves stop helping you.
Standard nanny-statism b.s. It's a vicious cycle of shirking one's responsibility to oneself. Let the state take care of a few things, you have more time for leisure - which apparently for many Americans (and Canadians) equals shoveling in chips and doughnuts while watching others exercise.
ReplyDeleteIt's awful quite out there: crickets
ReplyDeleteI've been so busy at work and home. Doesn't leave much time for blogging.
Although, we're doing much better this year, compared to the same time last year.