Comments on: Nanny Nancy’s Brave New Capitol Lunch Counter

By: Tully

Tully — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:01:56 +0000

As Jason rightfully points out (and as I did as well) the net effect of the change is to restrict the choices of the majority consumer in the market (congressional and building staff) while boosting their costs and subsidizing the haute cuisine meals of the more affluent minority consumer (congresscritters and lobbyists).

Latte liberalism at its finest–the masses pay for the goodies of the more powerful, not just in price but in freedom of choice.

By: utsu

utsu — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:18:01 +0000

No, Cernig, I do not agree at all.

While I think several of the systems for animal treatment in the US should be banned and that establishments should have the right to offer only foodstuffs that comply with ethics and the environment it is a bit silly and wrong to deny people the right to straws that work.

I agree that there is a tendency to overreach and be a bit quick to spread one’s values. I prefer to legislate away the truly bad and harmful ways of the foodstuffs industries and encourage eco-friendly lifestyles instead. Forcing people to pay extra for smaller steps that are a drop in the ocean is arrogant and
far away from the results-oriented liberalism I want to see.

I do find the column to be quite overreaching and empty in substance as well, but I can still see that this is not the equivalent of BDS.

By: Cernig

Cernig — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:52:58 +0000

From the same article:
To most Hill denizens, the cornucopia of choices is cause for rejoicing — a significant switch from a menu that previously relied heavily on iceberg lettuce and vanilla pudding.

“It’s been long overdue that there should be more healthy options,” said a congressional science fellow who was not allowed to speak on the record. “It was hazardous to my health to eat almost anything they had here before.”

Ventura said a popular outcry had prompted the changes.

“We had [diminished] satisfaction surveys with [the earlier contractor],” Ventura said. “People were getting disenchanted with the food quality.”

Jason, did it ever occur to you that your ability to see liberal totalitariansim everywhere is perhaps on a par with Bush Derangement Syndrome at it’s "finest"?

Regards, C