Fat Head Ideas

I don't always agree with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, but I think this time the man has lost his mind.

He wants to ban trans-fat usage in New York City restaurants. And, of course, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (the food police) love the idea. These are the same people who hate movie theater popcorn and Chinese food.

Now, to be clear, I do endorse and support the Mayor's ban on smoking in New York restaurants and bars. But that restaurant smoking is something that affects more than the smoker. It subjects others to second hand smoke. So, I like the ban. To be honest, I'd also like to see them ban over-strong colognes, garlic in office lunches and perfume ads in magazines.

The problem with the trans-fat ban is that it removes freedom of choice and decisions from the only people affected by those decisions. When did Mayor Bloomberg decide that none million New Yorkers and tens of millions of visitors could not make decisions for themselves, on their own?

Where will the city draw the line between what we can't eat and what we will be forced to eat?

To be honest, my diet is so restricted, I haven't had a trans-fat in longer than I can remember. But if I make the decision to go to a lousy restaurant and have a disgusting fatty meal fried in a ton of crappy oil, that's my decision. If Mayor Mike isn't chewing it, shitting it or paying for it, he should mind his own business. I don't tell him how to order his caviar. I don't want him deciding how to cook my onion rings.

I keep thinking, in most New York apartments, the kitchen is only a few steps from the bedroom. How long until the city starts messing with us there?