What Do You Mean I Can't Like Up in Here?

I've really had a lot to say lately but I just haven't written it.

I'll start with a book I read last week called Nanny State: How Food Fascists, Teetotaling Do-Gooders, Priggish Moralists, and other Boneheaded Bureaucrats are Turning America into a Nation of Children by David Harsanyi. The subject had been something I'd been discussing with some coworkers. What Harsanyi writes is not much of an eye opener as to what is going on. What is eye opening is the lengths people are going to in order to try and achieve the hive mentality.

The smoking bans, pet protectors, moral puritans and tree huggers all have their little niche they want to protect. The only means they believe in using is the government at all levels. City ordinances, state and federal laws as well as suing to achieve the goals are all weapons in the arsenal. These people don't believe humans have the ability to use reason and morals. Instead they try to regulate it.

The teetotalers believe the end justify the means. They've used flawed logic, questionable tactics to down right lies and junk science to bolster their claims.

Up In Smoke
Take the smoking issue. Yes smoking is annoying and I prefer not to be around people smoking. The fact remains that if a business owner wants to let customers smoke that is his choice. If I wish to eat there in spite of the smoking, I have made a choice. If I choose not to eat there because of the smoke, I have made a choice. The bottom line is the business owner made a choice and I made a choice. We have choices. If people don't want to be around the smokers they can take their business else where. If enough people choose non-smoking environments then the smoking establishments will eventually go out of business. It's called free market capitalism and human free will.

The smoking banners instead rail against any kind of smoking. They make claims it's a drag on the health care system, second hand smoke is cancer causing and they are only protecting us from our harmful habits. I'm not going to even address the health care issue. Our system is being dragged down by more than just smokers. Second hand smoke doesn't cause cancer or illness. The smoking banners have resorted to junk science and screaming headlines to dupe the public and politicians into believing the health risks of second hand smoke. Finally, since we can't be left to our own devices, they must take away our ability to make choices and ban us from making the choice to smoke.

Blow Me
Then there is the ultimate in Nanny State ideas. New Mexico state Ken Martinez introduced a bill requiring all vehicles to be equipped with alcohol interlock devices. All cars. Not just cars of offenders or repeat offenders. He wanted everyone who drove a car bought in New Mexico to have to blow into an alcohol detection device in order to start the car.

It may sound like a good idea but it isn't. On the very basic level, it presumes everyone is guilty and must prove his innocents every time he starts his car. It is also a gross intrusion and burden on those who don't drink and those who do drink but don't drive. Martinez likens it to seat belt laws and insurance requirements. Of course I believe seat belt law are invasive too. Insurance laws I agree with. At least they are protecting people from my stupidity.

The book illustrates point after point of the absurdity of the laws and regulations. It also makes the case of how these ideas chip away at our basic freedoms and civil liberties.

The author does point out that he isn't for anarchy. Government regulations and laws are necessary to protect property, rights and secure the country from threats. Obviously crimes like murder, drunk driving, cruelty to animals and such should be illegal. Some crimes, like prostitution and drugs, have come over time such an affront to humanity over the centuries that he has no problem keeping those illegal.

I think it's a great read. You will find that you don't agree with everything in the book but it's good to see how are civil liberties are slowly being chipped away by those who think the general public is to stupid to make choices.