Some "Model"
6 December 2006
The Editor, New York Times
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
To the Editor:
The subtitle under today's front-page headline "New York Bans Most Trans Fats in Restaurants" reads "A Model for Other Cities."
A model for what, exactly? For petty tyranny? For opportunities by the petty tyrants to practice Orwellian newspeak - such as Mayor Bloomberg's declaration that the city "is not going to take away anybody’s ability to go out and have the kind of food they want"? Or perhaps for similarly inspired bans on other voluntary activities with health-risks? Why not also ban unprotected sex? Clerking in convenience stores? Walking in the rain?
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
The Editor, New York Times
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
To the Editor:
The subtitle under today's front-page headline "New York Bans Most Trans Fats in Restaurants" reads "A Model for Other Cities."
A model for what, exactly? For petty tyranny? For opportunities by the petty tyrants to practice Orwellian newspeak - such as Mayor Bloomberg's declaration that the city "is not going to take away anybody’s ability to go out and have the kind of food they want"? Or perhaps for similarly inspired bans on other voluntary activities with health-risks? Why not also ban unprotected sex? Clerking in convenience stores? Walking in the rain?
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Posted by Don Boudreaux on
Friday August 17, 2007 at 2:52pm