Ew, Jew Cooties: Arab nations are boycotting an annual Mediterranean student conference. Why? Because it’s in Israel, which is hosting it. Among the boycotters: Israel’s partner in peace, Egypt. Say, you think Obama is going to mention that when he talks about the success of middle east peace?
No, we won’t: Benjamin Netanyahu will not freeze all construction in east Jerusalem, as demanded by the Obama administration. I’m not buying that Netanyahu will freeze construction in Ramat Shlomo, as the article claims. I think it’s all just talk. But good on Bibi for holding firm during this made-up crisis.
Seriously? You convict them and then let them go? Polish authorities seem to be surprised that the three men convicted of stealing the Auschwitz sign never showed up to begin serving their terms. Apparently, the Poles don’t imprison convicts immediately after sentencing. Insert Polish joke here, because man, this story sure reads like one. (I apologize to my Polish readers, but come on—this story is begging for a punchline.)
They’ll take my Mexican Coke (made with REAL sugar) from my cold, dead hands: The FDA says they haven’t said they’re going force companies to lower the salt content of processed foods and drink yet. The operative word there is “yet.” Really, it’s just pathetic. I’m a grown woman, and they want to tell me what I can and can’t eat or drink? Why don’t they just change their name to Mommy Food and Drug Administration? For that matter, ObamaCare can be renamed MommyCare. Hell, just rename the government Mom. Because that’s just what everyone needs: More moms in their lives.
I am uncertain how I feel about the proposed salt restrictions. The problem is the salt in manufactured food, for many cheap brands (those eaten by the poorer people) rely on using a lot of salt to brighten the taste of inferior ingredients.
On the other hand, I can see this going to be a huge employment boom for academic nutritionists and bureaucrats of the federal government with all that tasting, testing, consulting with each other, and publishing. All of whom will be paid for years with taxpayers’ money.
I also forsee it as the thin edge of the wedge for many more “health agenda” laws.
My young friend thought the salt ban might be good, but when I pointed out that a sugar ban might follow, she reacted as you did. But who can’t believe that sugar is next on the agenda, then perhaps artificially raising the price of meat? or tripling the price of coffee to reduce consumption? or whatever the next health police craze might be?
Then they can say that caffeine is just as bad as cocaine and ban it. After all, they both come from plants and were used in popular drinks in very small quantities (they were both used in Coca Cola and “spent” leaves are still used).
If the government’s going to pay for your health care, they have a financial interest in your lifestyle. Maybe this is the administrations idea of “fiscal responsability”
Indeed.
If the feds are paying for your healthcare, then the next step if it becomes to costly is to ban unhealthy things.
Right now we have ten years of taxes that will pay for 6 years of program. That’s the only way Obama care was cost neutral, that and the 500 BILLION dollar doctor fix that they said wouldn’t happen. But now is….
Anyway… In ten years, when the program is WAY in the red the feds will blame it on fat people, smokers, risk takers, and the like… And they will take steps to curb those health costs. Not to mention all those sick old people that are retired.
Wait… Why did I just have, “Those with life, unworthy of life” flash through my head when I was thinking that last bit?
It’s going to be an interesting decade. How long till we start getting the indoctrination that maybe we should feel bad if we aren’t contributing to society any longer? How long till “voluntary” euthanasia for the sick and infirm becomes law in the US?
– Big Brother
“ObamaCare can be renamed MommyCare. Hell, just rename the government Mom.”
Fits right in with his mom jeans.
I think “Nanny State” is more accurate than “Mommy State.” Your mother, generally, loves you and actually cares about your welfare, even if she may not fully understand what actually contributes to it. Your nanny mostly just wants you to behave and is less concerned with loving you.
Neither Mommy state nor Nanny state. Both Mom and Nanny are *personal* relationships, and bureaucratic liberalism is all about depersonalization.
The fundamental assumption of this political philosophy is that citizens are too dumb to manage their *own* lives, but do have the ability, exercised via the political process, to manage *everyone elses* lives.