The "nanny" state strikes

The usual suspects are in an uproar over Mayor Bloomberg's latest attempt at social engineering, namely limiting the size of soft drinks to 16 oz. servings.  It's Murcan's god given right to drink themselves to obesity and type 2 diabetes if they so wish.  We don't need no gubmint telling us or our children what to do.  Except if it is something they disapprove of, such as smoking marijuana or marrying someone of the same sex.  Don't let me get started on that.   Back to the mega soft drink ban.The fact corporations such as Coca Cola, McDonalds and 7-11 spend hundreds of millions of advertising dollars to influence our "free choice" is rarely mentioned.  As one blogger, Mark Bittman, points out, the impact of this avalanche of advertising precludes free choice as much as any government regulation does.  I don't know what others think, but I subscribe to the theory that government exists to level the playing field and give us all an equal opportunity to succeed.  If that means corporations must be restrained from force feeding the population a cheap, ruinous diet which will shorten the lifespan of future generations in the name of profit, then I support that effort.  A healthy dose of nutritional education would be good, but it cannot compete with the slick advertising which equates empty calories with sex appeal.  In a perfect world, the average well educated consumer would be immune to the stupidity which passes for food advertising today.  But as demonstrated by the congressional elections of 2010, you can get many people to believe black is white  (President Obama excepted) if you spend enough money on blatantly false and misleading advertising.  So, two cheers for Mike Bloomberg who at least is not cowed by the drumbeat of criticism of his initiative.  Probably the better course would be to levy a "health tax" similar to the tax on cigarettes to help pay for the future care of the soda drinkers.  A $10.00 BIG GULP would surely discourage unhealthy behavior more effectively than regulation.