Nine-tenths Of An Ounce Stands Between Me and My Tea

One sip. That's all. Just one sip. But, how can one sip less mean more? Last week, NYC Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, got a big win in his "fight" against obesity. That win came in the form of a resolution (read it here) passed by his Board of Health. A board which he appointed and a board which yields an unprecedented amount of autonomous regulatory authority. Their own Charter states their ambiguous power grab: 

Section 556 of the Charter provides the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 
(“Department”) with jurisdiction to regulate all matters affecting health in the City of New York.

• Section 556(c)(2) empowers the Department to supervise the control of chronic disease;
• Section 556(c)(9) empowers the Department to supervise and regulate the food supply.
• Section 558(b) and (c) of the Charter empower the Board of Health to amend the Health Code and to include in it all matters to which the Department’s authority extends.
• Section 1043 of the Charter grants the Department rulemaking (sic) powers. 

Photo appeared online @  http://blogs.tribune.com.pk 

Allow me to explain how ridiculous the misguided NYC BOH resolution is; Simply stated, I can no longer enjoy my favorite tea which contains only 70 calories, because it comes in a 16.9 oz bottle, but, I can still purchase my favorite soda which contains 200 calories because it comes in a 16 oz bottle... one sip less. 

The short-sided, narrow-minded "ruling" of the appointed NYC Board of Health does nothing to address the obesity epidemic but certainly means I can still drink a 200 calorie soda with my meal. Like most other intrusive, far-reaching over-regulation, this resolution is born from the liberal mindset of government can cure all ills, including obesity. If this was gold, we'd be talking nearly $1700 worth, but it's tea, something apparently far more valuable in the time and money spent by the city to fight.

Do you think Bloomberg's BOH did the Math on my caloric intake if I opt for the full-calorie soda? That choice will result in a net increase of 130 calories. That equation does not appear to result in helping many people curb obesity. I believe we call that fuzzy Math.

Mayor Bloomberg and his BOH feel they are doing the public's work for the good of all, because they think they know better than you. When public officials feel they know better than us, they will stop at nothing to complete their mission. To them, the ends justify the means. Except, in this case, the "end" may very well be the opposite of what they intended.