Worst Nanny State Law proposed recently

[Taverner]

Poll question: Worst Nanny State Law proposed recently

Even though I am a Liberal, A Socialist and a Progressive, I find Nanny State laws to be the kind of things that give us, the Democrats and the liberals, a bad name.

Some of us still believe in individual freedoms.

[niceypoo]

1. Republicans I work with say 'nanny state' constantly

They get it from Limbaugh

[notesdev]

2. In terms of electoral impact

the ban on lightbulbs is the biggest one, it affects everyone.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

3. Dude, you do realize there was no -

"ban on toys in Happy Meals" here in SF? Kids will still get their cheap, Chinese made toxic toy with their Happy Meal -- that meal just has to be a bit healthier than a greasy burger with greasy fries and sugary coke.

And as the ban on plastic bags, go check out that miles wide plastic particle slick hanging out in the Pacific and then tell me the ban is a bad thing.

[superduperfarleft]

14. People who harp on the "nanny state" rarely grasp the fact that their actions impact others.

It's like arguing with a five-year-old who stamps their feet and declares, "But I want it!" over and over again.

[Taverner]

21. Newsom Vetoed it. But I'm counting those that almost became law

Gavin Newsom has been one of the most impressive policymakers in our party.

I hope he becomes President.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

28. You can have him.

I've had my fill of him as Mayor. :puke:

[Taverner]

29. Are you upset because he cheated with his friend's wife?

Or is it more on policy?

He's fought to keep the 420 clubs open, he's actually done something positive about the homeless population, he's brought a lot of money into both SF and the City Coffers. His only weak spot is the Police Department, but that's not his fault. No matter who gets appointed Chief, there is some serious corruption and hatred within that department.

[apocalypsehow]

22. But kids *like* that "greasy burger with greasy fries and sugary coke." That decision should be left

to their parents, not the city council.

[Taverner]

25. Exactly

And add to that that most regular McDonalds customers don't take their family there for every meal.

[Tumbulu]

4. we need lots more laws like these and since people are tricked by unscrupulous

advertising along with stimulating chemicals and drugs into eating and drinking all the wrong things, someone has to put some breaks on it all. And why hasn't styrofoam been banned yet?

Or should advertising of dangerous products be banned- would that be better?

[cyberswede]

5. Unrec for repugnant "Nanny State" term. n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. +-1

[Ron Green]

12. +-2

[virgogal]

6. Banning drop side cribs is one of the dumbest IMHO.

[Warpy]

7. I hate smoking with a purple and undying passion

but banning it outdoors is just plain stupid and self defeating. It's over the top and ultimately unenforceable.

Any law that tries to make sin illegal by making what adults consent to do with their own bodies illegal is a nanny law and creates maximum misery as authorities are forced to be heavy handed in trying to stamp out popular behavior.

Unfortunately, Republicans have co opted the term to cover any program that directly benefits the citizens of this country in any way, either by regulating corporations or supporting the old and infirm.

[Gormy Cuss]

8. Is "Nanny state" a politically correct term? n/t

[Lisa D]

9. "Nanny State" is republican-speak

It's a negative term republicans use to frame ANY govt. program they don't like. Democrats are supposed to be better than that.

[onehandle]

10. None of the above...

Ok, the Happy Meal toy ban was kinda dumb.

[mmonk]

13. Though we are a country as far away from a nanny state as a banana

republic can be, I would have to say smoking outside. It makes no intellectual sense unless one is trying to force the individual to quit smoking by force.

[superduperfarleft]

15. So define what you mean by "nanny state" and "individual freedoms?"

Because those are usually code words for, "I want to do what I want to do and don't give a shit if my choices or actions negatively impact others."

[Hello_Kitty]

16. I'd define criminalizing drug use that way. eom

[superduperfarleft]

18. Whole other argument, but I was hoping the OP would chime in.

Thanks, though.

[Taverner]

23. Yes indeed, the war on drugs is a complete nanny state policy

[Taverner]

19. A Nanny State

Yes, it is a mainly Republican term, but its not without reason.

Take smoking. I understand banning smoking inside. It makes sense, and 2nd hand smoke is a killer. It also ruins a perfectly good meal.

However, Los Gatos, CA, recently banned smoking inside and out. This means you can only smoke in your home or back yard. Completely unnecessary, and designed to piss people off.

Take the banning of flavored cigarettes - supposedly this was banned because it makes kids smoke. But the rate of youths smoking has been going down steadily, even during the time these were on the market. The health education campaign worked. Raising taxes worked (although you only get to pull that lever so many times.) All banning flavored cigarettes does is piss off smokers who smoke those kinds of cigarettes.

So the Nanny State is a term for policy where the government mandates behavioral change for no good reason, except to just do so.

[superduperfarleft]

24. Fair enough.

I'm sure we'd quibble over some of the items you'd mentioned in your poll, but no biggie.

[Taverner]

26. It's funny, I left out the War on Drugs

Which is the epitome of Nanny State Laws

[superduperfarleft]

31. I don't know if I see drug laws as "nanny state."

That would mean I believe that those in government have our best interests at heart. I don't. The Drug War exists because it makes a lot of people, whether private businesses or government entities (or a combination of both) a shitload of money.

Same with cigarette taxes. They don't care about getting people to quit, it's nothing more than a cash grab.

[T Wolf]

17. The nanny state mandate of buying a defective product from criminals. Of course, that is from

a "Bad Nanny" - not Mrs. Doubtfire.

[Taverner]

20. It will be interesting to see if the HC Mandate will be just that

Of course, it also might work well.

[TheKentuckian]

27. I voted banning of smoking outside but should have voted Other: War on Drugs and/or all vice laws

[Taverner]

30. Yes

I left that off, not sure why, but it would end up as #1 - so maybe its best