What Exactly Is Wrong With This Country

Warning: Rant to Follow

Over the past few weeks, new or proposed policies from local and federal governments have been encroaching upon unsuspecting citizens that are so far beyond the bounds of rational thought I cannot contain myself.

What follows is a brief compilation of the most asinine ideas locally and nationally that I’ve heard of lately:

1. Increased Millage for the Detroit Zoo. Now, mind you, just under 2 years ago, the Detroit Zoo was threatened with closing. Detroit City Council officials took offense when a non-profit zoological society offered to take over for them. They refused and then planned a shutdown instead. “If we can’t have a zoo, no one will!” Real mature guys. This never happened, thanks to the generosity of the tri-county Metro Detroit local governments.

However, sadly, the zoo is still a losing proposition and in a few short days, the fair taxpayers of these counties are going to be asked to vote to increase millage for the zoo. Outrage doesn’t accurately express how I feel. When a city cannot manage itself, as Detroit has proven time and time again, and when non-profit and/or private organizations are ready and willing to take over, you should let them! The price to pay is no zoo for Johnny and Susy. Oh, unless we can just tax everyone and forcibly take their money. Apparently the millage amounts to about $10 a year. Fine. Dandy. I’m happy to pay. I will write a check direct from my bank account today if someone would promise to take this item off the ballot. My neighbor can barely walk. Do you think he goes to the zoo? Why should he be forced to pay for someone else to go????

2. Mandated Purchase of Digital TVs. “It’s a new law!” I keep hearing on TV. I barely watch TV, so I thought this commercial was an SNL skit. I thought, “Oh, come on. No one is going to believe the government would make everyone buy a new TV!” Tragically, I am mistaken. WTF??? I cannot comprehend the insanity this is going to cause, not to mention incredible amounts of waste.

3. California’s Ban on Tobacco Sales in Pharmacies. If you need a visual, right now I'm pulling my hair out. The senator who designed this legislation has no concept of private property rights. Pharmacies should be able to determine what they choose to sell. But Milena, what if they are selling something a large group of people finds reprehensible? You are in luck my friends, there is a solution that doesn't involve legislation if you can believe it! A consumer who disagrees with something a private organization does can easily walk their dollars elsewhere, heck, even start a blog (http://www.dontpharmtobacco.com/ was available as of this posting) and get all their friends to boycott the establishment, and then the value might be seen and change effected!

If there was a true demand for banning sale of tobacco in pharmacies, it would have happened organically. It should not come from over-zealous politicians and their lobbyist friends keen on moralizing, resulting in a blatant obstruction of rights. The senator claims that pharmacies are places people go to get healthy, and cigarettes are antithetical to that end. Well then, I suppose they’ll have to stop selling candy and snacks (to stave off heart attacks!), alcohol and lottery tickets (delinquents!), condoms and nail polish (sluts!), comic books and trashy magazines (rot the mind, don’t you know?), and more! Ironically enough, where will these people get their fix? Gas stations better start buying by the truckload! Let’s hear it for Big Oil!

4. Los Angeles’ One Year Moratorium on New Fast Food Restaurants in Poor Areas. I seriously hope there was typo in the Wall Street Journal today because I don't understand this. Do you want to starve the poor? I mean, I get it, fast food is unhealthy, but I am hearing a modern day Marie Antionette cry, “Let them shop at Whole Foods!” Seriously. Furthermore, the moratorium won't be introducing organizations who can provide healthy food at comparable prices or anything, just withholding supply from citizens who demand it. Talk about immoral.

I worked in a food shelter for the homeless, nutrition is not their problem. They need calories first and foremost. If a Big Mac is the cheapest, most readily availabe food source, that is fine. I know a bowl of mesclun salad with poached pears and cherry-balsamic drizzle is tastier and healthier, but this is insanity. Furthermore, McDonald's and other fast food restaurants are hearing the voice of their consumers, they are offering more and more healthy options. Again: let the people decide what they want (and can afford!)