Since I have roots in Idaho — also known as Spud Country — I find the latest Food Police target a particularly infuriating affront to freedom and this country’s agricultural history. At least the potato lobby is fighting back.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing to eliminate the “white potato”—defined as any variety but the sweet potato—from federally subsidized school breakfasts and to limit them sharply at lunch.
Messing with a stalwart like the spud doesn’t go well with the potato industry, school cafeteria directors and legislators from potato-growing regions. They’re fighting to see that in schools, no potato is left behind.
As part of the effort, spud sellers are promoting potatoes as a “true gateway vegetable” that could lead kids to broccoli.
If the Food Police don’t want their kids to eat potatoes, fine by me. Eat whatever you want. But stay out of my business.
Read full article » No Comments »Under the guise of keeping us from hurting ourselves or others, Durham County wants to ban smoking outdoors on city and county property — like sidewalks.
If this passes muster, then what’s next? Will the Durham health police ban fast food? How about meat? How about soda? Will Durham require anyone working for, or doing business with, the government to meet weight requirements? If they’re willing to “help” us when it comes to smoking outdoors, why wouldn’t they do these other “helpful” things? When you believe it is OK to take a step like this, then you have no intellectual argument to oppose any of the other bans in order to keep us from hurting ourselves or others.
Read full article » 1 Comment »
Durham City Manager Tom Bonfield shows his lack of concern for the citizens who pay the freight in Durham with this budget recommendation:
– 1% property tax hike
– 4.7% hike in water rates
– 8.5% hike in stormwater-utility fees
– raises for all city employees, ranging from 2 to 5 percent
Congratulations, Durham taxpayers!
Read full article » No Comments »