Here’s the Friday open comments post.
Update: Sorry — comments now open as of 1:22 PM.
Today’s suggested topic — should some foods, like raw milk be banned? If they are banned, how should a ban be enforced?
The use of pseudonyms and anonymous postings is, of course, fine.
Although the comments template has a space for a name, email address, and website, those who want to leave a field blank can do so. Comments will be moderated, against profanity or trolls. Otherwise, have at it.
I’ll keep the post open through Sunday afternoon.
Have at it.
How can they draw a gun on a grocery store selling milk? Crazy! I’m surprised they didn’t take the security tape.
When did milk become a drug?
Freeze!!! Drop the goats milk and put your hands in the air.
We should be banning Super Sizing items, selling triple and quadruple decked sandwiches, items like KFC’s Double Down (why even bother: no bun!). We have become a Nation of unattractive, fat, ugly, immobile, obese mammoths that demand special consideration for becoming “disabled” due to our own overconsumptive habits. Consumption with no gumption or guilt. More, more, more, I must have more…burp.
Phantom Stranger, you make a powerful point — if a ban were to be instituted, should it start with a place like Rawesome Foods (that sells natural foods), or a place that sells food far worse for one’s health, in far greater amounts (individually and in total), each day?
As a libertarian, I’d not favor ban in either case, but it’s easy to see that, if there were to be enforcement, it’s not even being directed rationally now. A private raw food co-op is simply an easier target than a multibillion dollar corporation, and so enforcement follows vulnerability rather than the greater risk.
If no ban, though, what would I suggest? For those who are concerned about fast food gluttony (and some of it is undeniably that), I would encourage private citizens to gather in front of fast food restaurants they dislike, and lawfully and peacefully discourage patronage by singing the following rhyme from Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the chocolate factory:
“Augustus Gloop! Augustus Gloop!
The great big greedy nincompoop!
How long could we allow this beast
To gorge and guzzle, feed and feast
On everything he wanted to?
Great Scott! It simply wouldn’t do!
However long this pig might live,
We’re positive he’d never give
Even the smallest bit of fun
Or happiness to anyone.
So what we do in cases such
As this, we use the gentle touch,
And carefully we take the brat
And turn him into something that
Will give great pleasure to us all–
A doll, for instance, or a ball,
Or marbles or a rocking horse.
But this revolting boy, of course,
Was so unutterably vile,
So greedy, foul, and infantile
He left a most disgusting taste
Inside our mouths, and so in haste
We chose a thing that, come what may,
Would take the nasty taste away.
‘Come on!’ we cried, ‘The time is ripe
To send him shooting up the pipe!
He has to go! It has to be!’
And very soon, he’s going to see
Inside the room to which he’s gone
Some funny things are going on.
But don’t, dear children, be alarmed;
Augustus Gloop will not be harmed,
Although, of course, we must admit
He will be altered quite a bit.
He’ll be quite changed from what he’s been,
When he goes through the fudge machine:
Slowly, the wheels go round and round,
The cogs begin to grind and pound;
A hundred knives go slice, slice, slice;
We add some sugar, cream, and spice;
We boil him for a minute more,
Until we’re absolutely sure
That all the greed and all the gall
Is boiled away for once and all.
Then out he comes! And now! By grace!
A miracle has taken place!
This boy, who only just before
Was loathed by men from shore to shore,
This greedy brute, this louse’s ear,
Is loved by people everywhere!
For who could hate or bear a grudge
Against a luscious bit of fudge?”