The Nanny State and the Paternal State

Recently a couple of things have come up (actually three things) that have got me thinking about the proper role of the state in enforcing virtue:

1. Mohammedan jihadis blowing up restaurants during Ramadan
2. This Quatsch from Nurse Bloomberg's Nanny State
3. The recent billboard campaigns featuring a serious-looking nurse and the lines "Childhood obesity is no laughing matter" (honestly, in driving from the mechanic's shop this afternoon, I encountered four, in two languages. This is from 89th Ave to 13th Ave).

The first, the Mohammedans misbehaving strikes close to home, because I have long advocated the state outlawing the serving of meat in restaurants on Good Friday, and imposing all restaurants to close from noon to three pm. A Catholic state has the duty to impose this sort of law. What is the difference between this and the Mohammedans? First, and most importantly, we are right and they are wrong. If we are too gutless to say this, we deserve what we get from them.

Secondly, there is a question of proportionality. In the Keilholtz Dictatorship we will simply be talking about fines, perhaps a year, max, of hard labor, but only for repeat blasphemy cases. And everything must be done in the context of the rule of law, so if people have a real excuse they can ask for mercy from the Tribunal or even can appeal to the Prefect. Proportion. Due Process. Our side. Murderous, Erroneous Rashness. Their side.

Now, we have the issue of Trans Fat. Nasty stuff. I don't recommend eating it, too often. However, anyone who buys this sort of stuff is aware of what it is. If not, well, it might sound harsh, but give them a Darwin Award. You eat a Big Mac more than a few times a year, don't come whining to me when you feel lousy. I might just suggest that you go on a one year hard labor junket. But that would be for whining. Some of us eat a little trans fat (it goes great with cigarettes and martinis). We will probably live longer than these neo-puritans. And if we don't, so what? You live, you work, you suffer, you die. If you keep cheerful and do your Christian duty, well, then you will be saved. If you spend your time glumly worrying about what others are doing, and take inordinate care to avoid the dangerous stuff, and even more inordinate care to make others avoid the dangerous stuff, well, go to Hell. And I mean that with Love. Bloody Nanny.

The money quote, which is a perfect example of public ignorance is: "'Trans fat causes heart disease. Like lead in paint, artificial trans fat in food is invisible and dangerous, and it can be replaced,' New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said in a statement."

I know paint, and let me tell you, you cannot replace lead paint. Furthermore, because lead paint is ALWAYS oil based, the lead oxide particles are always fully encased in oil, which, when set is polymerized, the real risk of lead poisoning from house paint is very low. Never mind that, the official word is that lead paint is like kryptonite to Superman. You know, lead brought down the Roman Empire! Well, if that was so, then it also built it up, because lead was used in all sorts of things in Rome for many years.

My family has been in the printing industry for years. Guess who in that whole industry were known for their longevity? The linotype operators who worked with open pots of molten lead all day.

Am I saying that lead is good to eat? No. But if we are going to throw around lead as a toxin, we have to have at least a basic understanding of how toxic it is (dose) and we have to understand its chemical context.

Third. OK, little Tubby probably has an issue. Throw out the TV, stop using your welfare check to buy junkfood, quit whining. If he still has a problem at fourteen, guess what? A year of hard labor will trim him up. Is it transfat that has made him fat? Probably had more to do with the Bucket of Pop he had with his morning cereal. What event happened as America got fatter? Bingo! The Food Pyramid. Load up on them carbs!

Then we will get stern-looking actresses playing medicos to reinforce how important the medical industry is in keeping you from destroying yourself.

Big Nurse is Watching You!

When it comes down to it, the biggest health threat facing our citizens is the doctoring industry. You want to improve our health? Diminish the amount of health care we feel entitled to and we will quickly feel better.

Quit your whining. The other option is hard labor.

-Duce

Posted by erik at September 28, 2006 8:13 PM