Control freaks in government
Talk about your "grim milestones." Although I'm sure it's happened somewhere, someplace before, this is the first time in my awareness that a government body is attemptting ban a word. Do we really want to go down this road? The term is offensive, no doubt, but nowhere near as offensive as official government efforts to police our language.
Ah well, hopefully it's not part of a national trend. This is the New York City Council, after all, so we probably shouldn't be too surprised. I'm convinced they spend their entire morning commutes thinking of new stuff to ban -- probably whatever just happened to piss them during their evening commute the day before.
Here's a partial list of stuff the council banned or attempted to ban in 2006.
- Trans-fats.
- Aluminum baseball bats.
- The purchase of tobacco by 18- to 20-year-olds.
- Foie gras.
- Pedicabs in parks.
- New fast-food restaurants (but only in poor neighborhoods).
- Lobbyists from the floor of council chambers.
- Lobbying city agencies after working at the same agency.
- Vehicles in Central and Prospect parks.
- Cell phones in upscale restaurants.
- The sale of pork products made in a processing plant in Tar Heel, N.C., because of a unionization dispute.
- Mail-order pharmaceutical plans.
- Candy-flavored cigarettes.
- Gas-station operators adjusting prices more than once daily.
- Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
- Wal-Mart.
Honestly, why do so many people have the compulsion to control others' behavior? And why do so many of them end up in government? Actually, I guess the answer to that second question is fairly obvious.
Comments
People who use cellphones in restaurants, stores and while driving should be beaten senseless over the head with that same cellphone.
Any revival of the play "Cats" should be banned.
People not looking where they're going while they walk on the sidewalk should be banned.
Droopy drawered thugs and wannabes should be banned.
Men with too much hair gel should be pushed off the Empire State Bldg.
Guidos should return to Italy.
I do agree, though, ban pedicures in parks. No one wants to see that.
Posted by: fred | February 28, 2007 10:32 AM
On that entire list there is just ONE ban that I agree with, the ban on "Lobbying city agencies after working at the same agency."
Sadly Christine Quinn and her colleagues have been trying to exempt one of the biggest lobbyists of all (Municipal Unions) from the Lobbying reforms.
Posted by: JMK | February 28, 2007 12:44 PM
Government sucks.
Posted by: CRB | February 28, 2007 02:05 PM
"Government sucks. (CRB)
That is about the most succinct way of putting that truism.
You have a great efficiency with words CRB.
Posted by: JMK | February 28, 2007 08:39 PM
The nanny state is here, folks.
Deal with it.
Posted by: mal | February 28, 2007 09:43 PM
If you ban banning, is that kind of like the paradox of the liar?
Posted by: Adam | March 1, 2007 09:13 AM
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
You've made the NY Daily News Opinion, "the best of the political blogs," under the heading, "BNJ on the N-word." (Pg 31)
You've officially been discovered!
Posted by: JMK | March 1, 2007 04:57 PM
Thank, JMK! And thanks to the Daily News. How ironic is it that they chose to reference a post where I quote from the NY Post so extensively. I'll have to quote from the News next time. ;-)
Posted by: BNJ | March 1, 2007 10:26 PM
That IS pretty funny!
It was good to see your blog listed among "the best of the political blogs," though.
They've got taste.
Posted by: JMK | March 3, 2007 05:38 PM
I'm glad when they ban words like nigger. It gives them more impact.
Posted by: Bailey Hankins | March 6, 2007 04:31 PM