Nanny Bloomberg: Donuts Good, 16 Oz. Sodas Bad

You really can’t make it up. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, known as Nanny Bloomberg because of his support for government policies that tell people what they can and can’t eat — celebrated Donut Day today. Donut Day comes on the heels of Mayor Bloomberg endorsing a ban on surgary sodas bigger than 16 ounces — all because he and his fellow nanny-staters know better than you do what you should drink. Bloomberg doesn’t understand why his ban, and his celebration of Donut Day, is so ridiculous.

“We’re not taking away anything from anybody,” he said.

“All we’re saying is the restaurant has to serve it in two 16-ounce cups. If people are yelling and screaming about that, you can’t do anything.

“I mean, you know, this is ridiculous.”

“Even if it doesn’t make a big difference, it’s not hurting anybody. The beverage companies will still sell beverages,” he added.

So Mr. Mayor, then why are you imposing the ban? And by the way, if you believe the 16 oz. ban is a good idea, shouldn’t you also ban the sale of a dozen donuts? Shouldn’t New Yorkers be limited to only half a dozen?

Orange County To Hold Public Hearing On Putting Transit Tax On November Ballot

Orange County commissioners are determined to impose yet another sales tax hike. If they get their way, a half-cent transit tax will appear on the November ballot. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, June 5 at 7 p.m at the Department of Social Services, Hillsborough Commons, 113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough.

The latest tax hike push comes just two months after the county imposed a quarter-cent sales tax hike. The hike was approved by voters after it appeared on the ballot at a time when conservative rural voters — who helped defeat it the first time around — had no local offices on the ballot and for which to turn out. It was an obvious attempt — and a successful one — to circumvent the opposition to higher taxes.

Policies Have Consequences: U.S. Economy Sputtering

How much more misery must the American people endure from failed economic policies?

The U.S. economy suddenly looks a lot weaker.

U.S. employers created only 69,000 jobs in May, the fewest in a year, and the unemployment rate ticked up.

The dismal jobs data will fan fears that the economy is sputtering. It also puts President Barack Obama on the defensive five months before his re-election bid. And it could lead the Federal Reserve to take further steps to help the economy.

The Labor Department also said Friday that the economy created far fewer jobs in the previous two months than first thought. It revised those figures down to show 49,000 fewer jobs created. The unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent in April, the first increase in 11 months.

Durham Council Targets Downtown Business Owners With Huge New Tax Hike

Based on his comments, even liberal Durham Mayor Bill Bell seems to understand the negative impact of this new “business improvement district” tax – 7 cents on $100 valuation. His solution was to support a new tax but at a lower rate. That went nowhere, and now downtown business owners have yet another government imposed impediment to success. And what will they get for it? More marketing of downtown.

By the way, this new tax hike comes as the city council is preparing to impose a 1 cent per $100 valuation city-wide property tax hike as well.

Bottom line: Durham officials’  insatiable thirst for more cash leads to this latest transfer of even more hard-earned money out of the wallets of hard working families and business owners, and into the public trough.

“When does the government’s power to license occupations trump free speech?”

That question is at the heart of a lawsuit filed by the Institute for Justice on behalf of Steve Cooksey, the North Carolina whose diet blog was targeted by a state licensing board.

Cooksey maintains that he should be allowed to offer dietary advice even though he is not a licensed dietician and that by prohibiting him from doing so, the board is violating his freedom of speech. 

The Institute for Justice agreed and decided to take his case pro-bono. In a press release issued yesterday, the institute said the lawsuit “seeks to answer one of the most important unresolved questions in First Amendment law: When does the government’s power to license occupations trump free speech?”

While North Carolinians are free to talk or write generally about diet, they cannot, under the law, give anyone personal dietary advice, said Cooksey’s lawyer Jeff Rowes, a senior attorney for the Institute for Justice. 

“So I could publish a book or blog post that says I think Paleo is great for the human race; everyone should do Paleo,” Rowes said. “What you can’t do under the statute is give anyone personal advice.”

“So if you said to me ‘hey, what do you think of Paleo?’ And I said ‘I think it’s awesome.’ And then you said ‘I’m trying to fit into my wedding dress. What foods should I eat that will help me get there?’ At that point, I’m giving you personal dietary advice. That is illegal.”

North Carolina takes occupational licensing to the extreme. While some licensing is appropriate to ensure public safety and prevent fraud in areas where the potential damage is great and people cannot reasonably be expected to protect themselves individually — doctors and nurses for example — other licensing is simply a vehicle to prevent competition and collect fees. Our state’s classis examples of overreach are licensing required for barbers, African hair braiders, and landscapers.