It's MY Soda, Daddy Bloomberg

This week it hit the news that a mid-level state appeals court struck down the big soda ban in New York City. According to the Associated Press, "[the ban would have]put a 16-ounce size limit on high calorie soft drinks served in restaurants, theaters, stadiums, sidewalk food carts, and many other places."  Personally, I'm glad the ban got defeated or stalled or whatever it was that happened. I'm I glad the New York state Supreme Court put their foot down.

Drinking high calorie sugary drinks may well contribute to unhealthy weight gain. Americans may well be the chubbiest nation on earth, and concerned citizens have every right to raise awareness for obesity and the importance of maintaining a healthy weight. However, nobody has the right in this country to force another person to lose that weight. Ultimately, no matter what anyone says or does, the individual is the one that decides what he or she wants to be.

Elected officials are elected to run the business of the country. They are NOT elected to be our parents. I take offence to Mayor Bloomberg's ban because I feel like he's trying to be the dad of New York City instead of the mayor. I take offence to the ban, even though I am not a citizen of New York, because I feel like it is yet another example of how our citizens and our elected officials are giving into the idea that government leaders are our parents.

President Obama holds press conferences and give speeches to chew out congress when they don't obey him and praise them when they do.

 Even some celebrities encourage Americans to look to the government as our parent. Chris Rock, back in a February press conference about gun control, said just that. Imitating the logic and speaking skills of a child, he said:

"...you know, the President and the First Lady are kinda like the Mom and the Dad of the country. And when your Dad says something you listen, and when you don't it will usually bite you on the &#@ later on. So, I’m here to support the President."

And now the mayor of New York City is wanting to tell the citizens how much sugar they can drink....just like a dad. 

A parent child relationship, at best, is a monarchy, and at worst, a dictatorship. America is supposed to be neither one of those. Our government was not originally designed to control or guide us, but to protect us, to give us liberty. American democracy was designed to be our guard dog. Our government was intended to allow us to exercise our individuality without fear of harm from outside influences.

If we want to keep that democracy intact, my generation needs to shake the cobwebs out of their brains and start caring about what's going on. We need to care enough to not only have an opinion, but to have informed opinions. Let's not let Chris Rock or anybody else feed us stupid pills. Let's not accept the President's talking to America like his children, or any city official meddling with our soda pop.

It's my soda "Daddy" Bloomberg, and I'll drink it if I want to.