Blah…Blah…Shut this guy up!

In the movie, Demolition Man, Dennis Leary goes off on a rant about how he is not participating in the new world order because he might want to clog his arteries with a cheeseburger with a side of greasy bacon.  It was funny at the time, because it seemed so far-fetched that you wouldn’t be able to eat what you want at a restaurant.  Not any more. New York City passed an ordinance banning restaurants and bakeries from using trans fats under the guise that they create health problems.  Hmmm… anybody else worried about this.  It isn’t bad enough we have seatbelt laws for adults, some states have helmet laws for motorcyclists, now you cannot even order cake in a restaurant because a group of yahoos deemed you couldn’t decide for yourself what is healthy and unhealthy. 

I hate to say this, but the smokers were right.  At least I can understand the argument for banning smoking.  I mean second-hand smoke at least affects the people around.  Now the government wants to tell you that they need to protect you from trans fats.  It isn’t as if when you eat them you expel them into the people around you. Of course I will hear from those that obesity has societal cost in the terms of health care…. blah… blah.  So does not exercising, driving a car, watching television, ect.  There are always societal costs to not being the healthiest you can be. 

I wonder if NYC is so concerned about health that it is banning alcohol?  Hmmm… I bet not.  Kind of hypocritical don’t you think?  After all, there are only health problems associated with alcohol and it has a high societal cost.  Liver  damage, drunk drivers, alcoholism, ect.  Of course not.  Why would they ban that?  It is so much easier to hear a buzzword like trans fats and think that the public is too stupid to make decisions for themselves.   I am not saying trans fats aren’t bad.  In fact, I do think most of society is oblivious to the problems they cause and even what foods contain them.  Education and information might be more helpful.  Maybe restaurants and bakeries should have to print the amount of trans fat in each item on any menu or display.  This way you can make an informed decision. After all, aren’t we all about freedom of choice in this Country? 

This morning I was driving into work and while stopped at a stoplight looked to my left.  It was a standard minivan.  Two kids in the back and the mom driving in the front.  On the dash were a couple of religious statues.  Nothing too out of the ordinary.  Then I saw a minature, Phillipene flag hanging from the rearview mirror.  Why is the hanging of flags from other countries so popular?  I mean isn’t it enough that this country has afforded this woman the opportunity to be driving her two kids around in a $30,000 car?  She still has so much allegiance to another country that she is hanging a foreign flag in her car?  I just don’t get it.  If people are so proud of these other countries, why aren’t they living there?  If these other countries are so great that they hang that flag instead of Ol’ Glory, why do they choose to stay here?

 Another question on this whole car thing that I don’t understand is when did cars become rolling memorials?  Why the heck would you want to put a person’s name and lifespan on the back window of a car?  Is that really honoring someone who died?  I do understand that sometimes there are reasons, like the creation of a foundation or charity in a persons name.  Generally, though, why would a person want to put the name and dates of birth and death on their car?  Is this generational?  Is it cultural?  Please explain it to me.