I heard something on the car radio yesterday that was so
unbelievable I had to check for myself when I got home. It seems there is a new group who opposes New
York Mayor Bloomberg’s ban on large, sugary soft drinks. Only this time there is a new twist to it.
According to the NAACP and the Hispanic Federation, the ban
on large, sugary soft drinks could be racist as well. That’s right – racist.
“The NAACP’s New York
state branch and the Hispanic Federation have joined beverage makers and
sellers in trying to stop the rule from taking effect March 12. With a hearing
set Wednesday, critics are attacking what they call an inconsistent and
undemocratic regulation, while city officials and health experts defend it as a
pioneering and proper move to fight obesity.”
“The issue is complex
for the minority advocates, especially given obesity rates that are higher than
average among blacks and Hispanics, according to the federal Centers for
Disease Control. The groups say in court papers they’re concerned about the
discrepancy, but the soda rule will unduly harm minority businesses and
“freedom of choice in low-income communities.”
“The NAACP and the
Hispanic Federation, a network of 100 northeastern groups, say minority-owned
delis and corner stores will end up at a disadvantage compared to grocery
chains. This sweeping regulation will no
doubt burden and disproportionally impact minority-owned businesses at a time
when these businesses can least afford it,” they said in court papers.”
Now I can certainly agree with the part about undue harm to
the freedom of choice – but for low income communities? Is this law not harming freedom of choice for
all communities?
And maybe I don’t understand the whole racist thing but it
seems to me if obesity rates are higher among blacks and Hispanics – wouldn’t
it be racist to restrict large sodas in white neighborhoods while still
allowing them in the minority communities?
I could understand if that was the case.
I’m not in favor of Bloomberg’s nanny administration
outlawing Big Gulps for anyone (It seems 7-11 is exempt from the law, by the
way) but if indeed he’s doing it to help reduce obesity how is that racist
toward anyone? Biased against obese
people but where does skin color and/or ethnicity come into play?
The suit also says it will hurt minority owned
businesses. So it won’t hurt
non-minority owned businesses? Are they
trying to say that Caucasians don’t own convenience stores or gas stations? Certainly there is a long standing stereotype
that convenience stores are all owned by foreigners but this suit seems to
indicate that it’s may be true.
The law itself has some interesting exceptions that scream
of bias and favoritism. As I said
earlier – 7/11, the home of the “Big Gulp”, is exempt, as are supermarkets and
some other convenience stores. That
makes no sense to me. If sodas over 16
ounces are banned from some stores why are they not banned for all? What’s up with that?
Anyway – I’m having a bit of trouble understanding how this
can be turned into a race issue. It
seems everything today has some sort of racial overtone to it, from politics to
Big Gulps. Racism was supposed to be a
thing of the past beginning on January 20, 2009. Instead it seems to be growing worse and the “R”
word is tossed into everything.
The soft drink ban isn’t about racism. It’s about more government control. Mayor Bloomberg is slowly but surely turning
New York City into a personal rights free zone.
If it continues I see a mass exodus from New York City in a few
years. Their tax revenues will dry up
and the poor mayor will be wondering how it happened. Hey Mr. Mayor… you better pay attention to California. Just sayin’…
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