Big Gulps and Big Responsibility
March 11, 2013 2 Comments
As I write this post there are articles being posted that a judge in NYC has reversed Mayor Bloomberg’s large sugary drink ban. My opinions on the ban are torn between two opposing thoughts.
On the one hand, it seems that banning large sugary drinks is probably not very effective. I can’t see how limiting large beverages is going to put a dent in a very complex obesity problem. The larger concern that people raise is that it is a restriction of our freedoms. We should be able to eat and drink whatever we want and do what we want to our bodies, right?
On the other hand, what we do to our bodies affects us all to some degree. Health care costs related to obesity are extremely high and getting worse. Because of the way our health care system is set up, those costs affect us all.
So, while we all want to enjoy our personal freedom, with freedom comes responsibility. While Mayor Bloomberg’s approach to this problem may have turned out to be ineffective, what actions should our elected leaders take to address the obesity problem in this country, if any? If we want to retain our personal freedom, how do we also promote personal responsibility. For people in favor of the ban I would say where does it stop? What else can be banned? For people who say they can eat and do whatever they want, I would say that is fine, just don’t ask the taxpayers to pay for your bad choices.
The message is that freedom is not just a right we we enjoy, it is a responsibility we must take seriously.
About voxlogicae
voxlogicae 
The problem is where does it end? Skydiving is more dangerous, can’t have that. Driving is dangerous, everybody has to give up cars and ride the bus. Bacon is dangerous, can’t have that. All of the above affect your health after all.
We’ve let the camel stick it’s nose under the tent by allowing government to meddle in health care, now they demand control over every facet of our lives, “for our own good”. That is fascism.
If government is going to use health care costs as a ruse to a fascist police state, get them the hell out of health care altogether and just mandate insurance coverage. At least the private sector gives you a choice.
I am not in favor of more regulation but do think we need a way to foster more responsibility. The two examples you used are interesting. If you are a skydiver you will likely pay more for life insurance. If you are a bad driver you will pay more for car insurance. But, if you have all kinds of self-induced health problems do you pay more for health insurance? In some cases, maybe but not in all cases, especially if you rely on government health care.