Interventionism

Some people seem to have a natural interventionist streak in them - they seem to believe they have better information/judgment/insight/wisdom than everyone else and should impose their ideal onto everyone else.  Unfortunately for the rest of us often these types of people are drawn to politics.

This propensity to meddle in the affairs of others necessarily means enforcing the will of one and impinging on the freedom of someone else.  This week Mayor Bloomberg of New York city announced an initiative to ban the sale of "sugary" drinks over 16oz.  The ban would exclude diet sodas, fruit juices (over 70% fruit), dairy based drinks (like a latte with 51% milk) or alcohol. Further the ban would not apply to beverages sold a grocery or convenience stores (any establishment not covered by the health department).

This ban is in the name of fighting obesity.  Likely drinking less sugary drinks likely would have a positive effect on obesity, however, at the expense of giving up a personal freedom the price is too high to pay.  Eroding away freedoms in the name of some "good" cause is a terrible idea.  It boils down to personal responsibility and personal accountability.

Hopefully the residents of New York will rise up in protest this ridiculous idea (the proposal has to be approved by the Board of Health).  While obesity is clearly a problem government intervention is certainly not the cure.  It is up to each of us to determine what is appropriate for our own bodies (or for our children's bodies).  If I choose to live in New York I do not abdicate my right to choose to drink whatever I want to drink.  What a horrendous and offending idea.  I take personal responsibility for what I choose to do with my body - that is not for the government or anyone else to determine for me - and I happily live with the consequences of my choices.