Big Gulps & Gun Clips
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A super-size culture promotes excess from diet to weaponry to the internet to personal finance and beyond
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Yesterday,, a New York Supreme Court judge halted Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s attempt to ban the sale of super size sugary sodas from restaurants and most other venues.
The mayor, in a never-ending attempt to promote the nanny state, was set to implement a prohibition on restaurants, mobile food carts, delis and concessions at movie theaters, stadiums or arenas from selling sugary drinks in cups or containers larger than 16 ounces. The ban was set to begin today.
Combined with Mr. Bloomberg’s war on privately-held guns, it would be understandable for anyone with a libertarian streak to think the mayor’s role for government is a bit too intrusive in people’s lives.
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Guns with the banana-clips like above can blast out over 60 rounds in seconds; the Big Gulp can give a potentially deadly blast of over 300 calories
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But Hizzoner stumbles into a truth when he asks soda drinkers and gun-owners to find reasonable ground.
The fact is, we live in an age of excess. No longer is a shot-gun or 6-shooter adequate. For all too many, only a weapon that can discharge 60+ rounds in a matter of seconds will do. Gonna say something to the world? Do it on the internet where countless people can see it for time immemorial and, by all means, the more salacious the better. Buying a house or car? No amount of debt is unreasonable (party like it’s 1929!). And whether it’s liquor, soda or food, make sure you crawl away from the dinner table semi-comatose a la Caligula (this author can be rightfully accused of such gluttony).
While Mayor Mike may have stepped on people’s toes by questioning their constitutional right to destructive behavior, he has inadvertently performed a public service by pointing out that we can do much better when it comes to restraining ourselves.
-I.M. Windee
