Political rhetoric has become more irritating than Fran Drescher's "Nanny" laugh. Of course that abrasiveness was part of a personality that was the basis of a successful career for Fran, which, I suppose, is also the hope of the candidates, parties and PAC's. A phrase that is being introduced into the annoying public discourse more frequently is the warning that the the USA is becoming a "Nanny State." The Thurvey questions for this week relate, more or less, to this concern. Answer any or all by commenting to the blog. The world needs your opinion.
#1 Mayor Bloomberg of New York City announced that the Big Apple will soon be outlawing your ability to "super-size" you sugary soft drink. (I was amused by the reference in the Times article to "pre-sweetened ice tea". Maybe they should also address word obesity) Our forefathers fought hard for our individual liberties. How do you feel about the government limiting how much you Dew? Or your addiction to Coke? Or limitations on SWEET TEA? Just another act of northern aggression as far as I'm concerned. Tell us about your favorite sugary drink and how you feel about this intrusion on your right to pursue happiness (a little slower with all that weight gained from the habit, perhaps, but pursuit just the same).
#2 There is a movement for schools to once again require regular, perhaps daily, P. E. classes in public schools. This despite a report from a research group at LSU that excessive exercise can be unhealthy. Okay, that report deals with all you folks who run farther than I drive each week. An example of citing something that is misleading. Just trying to get us used to checking our facts. Anyway, how do you feel about re-introducing more physical exercise into the education system? What was your experience with public school P. E.?
#3 State governments that we elect by casting our votes at the polls are deciding that millions of us are not qualified to vote and are requiring more proof of qualification before we can vote again, even though there is virtually no evidence of abuse of the system by voters. Florida had been in the news for months regarding the issue. . This is one of my favorite reports.from Stephen Colbert. Another case of governments offering a solution for no problem as far as I can tell. The effort is costing us money as well. How do you feel about the government restricting our right to vote without any proof of cause?
#4 It is now illegal to text and drive in Alabama. Is there anyone out there with an argument against that? If so, let me know where you regularly drive so that I can avoid it. So obviously, there may be some cases in which we need a Nanny. How do you feel about the law, and do you have any other suggestions for Nanny laws that the government should consider? You may be serious, or not. I prefer not.
#5 What question (about Nannyism or anything else) do you want answered this week?
You should answer the Thurvey. It'll be good for you.
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1. I'm fairly certain I need a nanny law to keep me away from any food or drink that tastes good (especially Mickey D's sweet tea).
ReplyDelete2. Required PE classes might be a good thing if PE teachers actually found things that the kids enjoyed doing, allowed all of them to participate and didn't use exercise as a punishment for when they get too rowdy sitting on the bleachers while the coach looks at game film!
I don't drink soft drinks or sweet tea much, but there are times nothing else will do. Sugar filled real Coke with a cheeseburger is a vacation. Real Mountain Dew with old fashioned sugar is appropriate for personal self congratulations. And there can be no limit to 16 oz. on such occasions. A person could choke on the remaining cheeseburger. If we all had P. E. every day, whether in public school or not, the occasional sugar load would not matter too much. I liked the games of P. E. Being sweaty for the rest of the school day was not great. The voting reform thing is just a scam to keep old and poor folks from voting Democratic. Deplorable, but nobody cares, except the Repubs and they like it, probably enough to quaff a few soft drinks in celebration. I think the government should clamp down on littering, like a momma telling you to clean your room. I will volunteer to sit on the side of the road and shoot cars that violate with paint balls if that would help.
ReplyDeleteThe government should keep its hands out of my soda . . .
ReplyDeleteBut, I would like the government to really be a nanny. babysitting. It would be real handy.
If the Peoples Republic of New York City is going to tell those inhabiting the Big Apple how much of what to drink then they might as well come out with a comprehensive list of everything Emperor Bloomberg does not like. This way they will not end up being boiled frogs.
ReplyDeleteWe need PE back in the schools, but we also need real civics, honest non-revisionist history, rewarding of achievement and the casting down of the cult of mediocrity that plagues our schools and our lives.
If you are not qualified to vote, you should not vote. If the government attempts to make sure only those qualified to vote do so, then I am all for it.
Texting is but one of MANY activities carried out in moving motor vehicles that contributes to unsafe driving practices. Farding is not addressed in this legislation as are dozens of other activities such as listening to the radio, talking to a passenger, eating, scratching yourself, picking you nose, reaching for your 45 under the seat to return fire in a road rage incident. My point is why single out the texting thing. A paranoid person would think their motivation is they want an excuse to do a data dump of everything in your smart phone so they can turn it over to the NSA.
As to the Nanny state....I submit this observation from the great Ayn Rand.
"There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.