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Thursday, April 24, 2008

Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs Are Banned

Not in Damascus, Tehran, Pyongyang or any of the other cities living under the oppression of brutal dictatorships but rather in Los Angeles.  That’s right, people living in one of the largest cities in what is supposed to be the freest nation on earth are getting hassled by the cops for putting bacon on hot dogs.

What possible reason does the government have for telling citizens what they can and cannot eat?  Sure bacon dogs may not be good for us, but since when is it the government’s responsibility to regulate our health?

I’m reminded of my favorite quote from C.S. Lewis:

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

Comments

It’s not the bacon/dog per se, it is the food cart and government agencies looking for avenues to generate and justify higher taxes...just like the global warming bandwagon we see going on today.

Just a money grab. “What’s in your wallet?”

Mickey on April 24, 2008 at 05:21 pm

This is just one more liberal attempt to control their subjects.  We fought the British and won and can do it again!  First flushes in commodes, then light bulbs, now food.  Soilent Green is not too far away.


Communism is evil

Chief RZ on April 24, 2008 at 05:46 pm
Avatar for HG

Wow!  45 days in jail? Take your food and cart and throw it in the trash truck?  Over bacon? 

Given the fact that hispanics make up a large portion of the population in LA, why not pass out some flyers which rightly attribute the illusiveness of bacon dogs to the presence of democrats in public office. 

Wow!  I just cannot believe what I just heard.  My mind is trying desperately to answer why, but there is no reasonable answer. To liberals, the nebulous is cause for regulation, fines and imprisionment… and I used to think they needed a crisis to get away with this crap.

HG on April 24, 2008 at 05:49 pm

They just need to change their venue a little.  Selling bacon wrapped hot dogs?  No, it’s art. (a little song, a little dance, as I wrap the bacon around the dog)

My works of art are for sale.  If customers CHOOSE to eat the art, that’s up to them.

subbob on April 24, 2008 at 05:50 pm

Wow! Government banning pork? Hmmmm. Interesting concept!

Zsa Zsa on April 24, 2008 at 05:56 pm

The peoples republic of California.


check out Goon’s World

http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/

Goon’s North Dakota Red Neck

http://redneckndgoon.blogspot.com/

goon on April 24, 2008 at 05:59 pm

Soilent Green is not too far away.

Available at your nearest video retailer!

Sparkie Arbuckle on April 24, 2008 at 06:00 pm
Avatar for Fred

Let’s see.  Does anyone happen to know a group of people who have a beef with PORK products? Hmmmm?  I ain’t namin’ names but it starts with M.

Fred on April 24, 2008 at 06:44 pm

Let’s see.  Does anyone happen to know a group of people who have a beef with PORK products? Hmmmm?  I ain’t namin’ names but it starts with M.

Sounds like a solid theory to me.

k_lunch on April 24, 2008 at 06:48 pm
Avatar for Lanie

Bacon-wrapped hotdog? I never would have thought of that, but dammit, I want 3.

Lanie on April 24, 2008 at 07:38 pm
Avatar for martin stuart

We have elected and reelected the people who are doing this.

martin stuart on April 24, 2008 at 07:45 pm

We have elected and reelected the people who are doing this.

There’s also a fair share of unelected bureaucrats who need to be reined in as well!



Those who think the party or the country, will be “taught a lesson” by handing the levers of power over to the liberals will learn a lesson, but it will be at the expense of our country and her liberties. And there are no guarantees that the party or the country will come out stronger, more conservative or better positioned to win elections against the incumbent liberals.

Proof on April 24, 2008 at 07:48 pm

Bacon-wrapped hotdog? I never would have thought of that, but dammit, I want 3.

Hell put me down for 4.

We have elected and reelected the people who are doing this.

I live in ND so I didn’t vote for these people, there is no reason for a person to not be able to buy a hot dog with bacon on it.


check out Goon’s World

http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/

Goon’s North Dakota Red Neck

http://redneckndgoon.blogspot.com/

goon on April 24, 2008 at 08:01 pm

hmmmm Bacon.


The Debate is over!  Global Whining has been confirmed.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on April 24, 2008 at 08:15 pm
Avatar for Hannitized

What possible reason does the government have for telling citizens what they can and cannot eat?  Sure bacon dogs may not be good for us, but since when is it the government’s responsibility to regulate our health?

Are you seriously going to tell us now that because the health department is enforcing laws that require people to store food in according to health code is a liberal agenda to take away freedoms?

Do you seriously want restaurants or vendors removed from being held accountable for how they store their food and throw health concerns to the wind?

Those damned liberals.

Hannitized on April 25, 2008 at 12:15 am
Avatar for Rob B.

Ok, damn it all, I’m not going to make a habit of this but I have to ...ugh… agree with Hannitized.

A key point: the problem is not that bacon is bad for you. The problem is that bacon, if not properly cooked and stored, can cause major illness.

My father in law is a public sanitarian/health inspector. I’ve been with him when he did inspections and I can honestly say that only the most egregious of violators will ever face a fine, or jail. However, if you have to choose between enforcing the law while looking like an ass or seeing 250 people get Hep C, I’ll pick the former.

So, it isn’t fun to watch him make an unregulated ice cream vendor dump out his ice cream in the trash while all the kids and parents around there say he’s doing it because he’s a racist. (He workes in a high latino demographic area.) However, it’s less of a beating than hearing that 100 little kids are in the ER for stomach infections tied to unregulated ice cream vendors that don’t keep the proper refrigeration.

Rob B. on April 25, 2008 at 06:29 am

Hannitized.  I watched the original story as you seem to have done also.  it appears that one individual is trying to enforce some type of code requiring three sinks and a bit more.  He, or they also seem to have ‘selectively enforced’ a 1960s term that you may be familiar with.  Did you see all the ‘illegal vendors’?

This seems to be a money issue, but could be more too.  Glad you brought up the larger point.  Now how about smoking in bars?  Trans-fat in NY?  See what we mean.  Once this gets started, there is no end.  Glad the man went on camera.


Communism is evil

Chief RZ on April 25, 2008 at 06:41 am

Whistler:

hmmmm Bacon.

Agreed.

If brocolli tasted like bacn nobody would have heart disease.


Election ‘08 - We Are So Screwed

Pilgrim on April 25, 2008 at 06:44 am

I’ve tried this; they are absolutely delicious!

And it’s not about heart disease, but rather about pathogens that can be carried in both the hot dog and the bacon.  The assumption being made is that charcoal grilling might not kill them, but boiling will.

And boiled bacon--yuck!

I wonder if they’re going to ban bacon wrapped filet mignon, too? 

Well, I guess LA has been known for bad taste for decades.  This just confirms the obvious.

Bike Bubba on April 25, 2008 at 09:23 am
Avatar for Hannitized

it appears that one individual is trying to enforce some type of code requiring three sinks and a bit more.

Yes, because it meets the “criteria” of the health standards.  I know it sucks, but just like getting a ticket for wearing seat belts causes all sorts of problems, its the law baby.

Now how about smoking in bars? 

It is different because if you eat a hotdog, I don’t suffer from it.  If you smoke a cigarette, it infringes on my health.

Now I dont care if they make it a choice where you can be smoke free or not.  As long as I know I can go to a bar and can avoid smoke...im fine with knowing there are smoke-filled bars out there.

The problem you run into is who gets to choose.  In some small towns there are only a few bars....so if your friends go to the smoke-filled bars...youre screwed (if you want to avoid it), as you can either choose not to go or breathe smoke. 

Trans-fat in NY?

Dont know much about it. 

See what we mean.  Once this gets started, there is no end.  Glad the man went on camera.

His point wasn’t to say its taking away our freedoms, those damned liberals, but rather we should strike a balance between caring for the people who are just trying to make a living and not being so harsh on the penalties.  IMO.

Hannitized on April 25, 2008 at 10:06 am
Avatar for HG

Remember the health official said the number of cases related to bacon dogs from these vendors is “nebulous”. 

Making policy without knowing whether or not the bacon is even causing any problems is ridiculous, and throwing out the food and dumping the cart is just plain sickening.

HG on April 25, 2008 at 10:36 am

HG, I’m torn--do we really wait for incontrovertible evidence of a problem before we take action?  Would it take, say, an outbreak of cholera for us to decide to fix something with our water distribution system?  Should it?

What’s dubious to me is the idea that grilling doesn’t kill the microbes in a hot dog, bacon wrapped or otherwise.  Certainly you could under-cook things, but that would also apply for a boiled dog that didn’t spend enough time in the water--never mind the possibility that someone trying to save on natural gas/propane might not get the water to boiling to begin with.

Certainly an awful lot of gas stations and cookouts have produced an awful lot of good eatin’ without food poisoning....

Bike Bubba on April 25, 2008 at 10:57 am
Avatar for Hannitized

Remember the health official said the number of cases related to bacon dogs from these vendors is “nebulous”.

Yes, that was a quick quote they caught on tape before they shut it off.  Drew Carry admitted that it looks like the dogs have made some people sick.

The bottom line is, you can’t argue with science.  Not storing food appropriately can lead to problems.  This is basic logic.

It’s just a hard thing to conclude because you can’t say for sure where the bacteria came from when a person shows up to the hospital.

Hannitized on April 25, 2008 at 10:58 am
Avatar for HG

You know what hot dogs are made of don’t you…

Why not ban the hot dogs too?

If I get sick from a bacon-dog, I’m not going back to that vendor.  I’ve gotten food poisoning from reputable pricy restaurants and once from a popular fast food chain.  I know others who have as well.  It happens.

HG on April 25, 2008 at 11:27 am
Avatar for HG

What would us incompetent citizens do without the government protecting us from bacon-dogs by throwing away the vendor’s cart, food, then fining and imprisioning these dangerous criminals.  But sell drugs and we’ll slap your wrist until the 3rd or 4th violation because hey, drugs are the lesser evil.

Maybe we should have the health department go after the drug dealers.

HG on April 25, 2008 at 11:31 am

I’ve gotten food poisoning from reputable pricy restaurants and once from a popular fast food chain

Me too, hg.  You take a chance every time you eat out.  You want food safety, prepare your own food from scratch.


Being liberal is never having to admit you’re wrong

docdave on April 25, 2008 at 11:34 am

Hannitized.  Thanks for the frank (no pun intended) comments.

In some small towns there are only a few bars

A liberal might say something like this.  A conservative would merely say,
“open/start your own bar if there is sufficient demand for such.”

You did not address the question of selective enforcement.  Did you see at least two smaller, unlicensed push-vendors selling the same product?

Why were they not arrested and sent to jail for 45 days?  Selective enforcement?


Communism is evil

Chief RZ on April 25, 2008 at 11:53 am

If I get sick from a bacon-dog, I’m not going back to that vendor.  I’ve gotten food poisoning from reputable pricy restaurants and once from a popular fast food chain.  I know others who have as well.  It happens.

And what if HG a child or an elderly person whose immune system is not as strong as yours; dies?  Do you remember the outcry when children died from Jack in the Box?

Secondly; LA county or whomever the issuing authority should just revoke her license for not having the proper equipment.  The Bacon Dogs are not the issue, it’s the handling and storing.


"All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise not from defects in their Constitution or Confederation, nor from want of honor or virtue, so much as downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation.”
- John Adams

Troy_Pineri on April 25, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Avatar for HG

And what if HG a child or an elderly person whose immune system is not as strong as yours; dies?

What if?  Is that the standard for policy decisions?

Do you remember the outcry when children died from Jack in the Box?

Did they shut down Jack in the Box?  Last time I drove past the corner they were still serving customers. 

I’ve never had a bacon-dog myself, but as I type I have three on the BrBy.

HG on April 25, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Avatar for HG

Hell Troy, if bacon is so dangerous, why not ban it outright.  I mean how many homes have 3 compartment sinks?  Let’s just pull it all off the shelves because someday, somewhere, somebody might get sick or maybe even die!

HG on April 25, 2008 at 01:01 pm
Avatar for HG

My aunt is visiting and tell me that slicing open the hotdog then filling it with cheddar before wrapping in bacon is even better.  The three bacon only-dogs I just inhaled were delicious.

HG on April 25, 2008 at 01:12 pm

Governments telling what you can ingest is just one more step down the road to totalitarianism.


Being liberal is never having to admit you’re wrong

docdave on April 25, 2008 at 01:19 pm

My aunt is visiting and tell me that slicing open the hotdog then filling it with cheddar before wrapping in bacon is even better.  The three bacon only-dogs I just inhaled were delicious.

Yes that sounds really good…


check out Goon’s World

http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/

Goon’s North Dakota Red Neck

http://redneckndgoon.blogspot.com/

goon on April 25, 2008 at 01:31 pm

Natural casing dogs with applewood smoked bacon.....burrrrrrppppppp.  And a nice root beer....aaaahhhhh buuuurrrrrpppp.

Bike Bubba on April 25, 2008 at 01:38 pm
Avatar for HG

Bike,

Sounds delicious, I won’t tell anybody.

By the way, Virgil’s rootbeer is the best I’ve ever had.

HG on April 25, 2008 at 01:48 pm

BB,

Never had apple-smoked bacon that I can recall, but I use apple wood chips regularly to smoke salmon filets.


“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Bat One on April 25, 2008 at 02:23 pm
Avatar for ryan

Remember, anything that’s not good for you is bad, and therefore, illegal.  Enjoy your three seashells.

ryan on April 25, 2008 at 05:17 pm

Out here we include on the barbie, whole jalapenos stuffed with jack cheese, then wrappped with bacon...mmmmgood.  Goes great with any meat or fish.


“To love is not to stare steadfast at one another...it is to look forward, in the same direction.”
Saint-Exupéry

laydownSally on April 25, 2008 at 06:50 pm

The government usually calls these “regulations”. There, that doesn’t sound so bad, does it? It’s just a “regulation” done by a government organization working on their own with the full power and blessing of the people.

In theory, these government agencies are under control of the people’s representatives, but more often then not, they play on another level with all of the other agencies created by the people.

These regulations done in your name are now twice removed.

Blame the big government loving liberals and the big government moralizing conservatives.

And vote the bastards out.

likwidshoe on April 25, 2008 at 07:11 pm
Avatar for Hannitized

by throwing away the vendor’s cart, food, then fining and imprisioning these dangerous criminals.  But sell drugs and we’ll slap your wrist until the 3rd or 4th violation because hey, drugs are the lesser evil.

Now you are getting it.  Focus on the over the top punishment instead of the fact that its a violation.  I think that was Drews main point anyway.

Hannitized on April 25, 2008 at 08:12 pm
Avatar for Hannitized

A liberal might say something like this.  A conservative would merely say,
“open/start your own bar if there is sufficient demand for such.”

Chief,

Cmon, give me a break with the liberal stuff.  You know Hawaii.....when was the last time you tried to party in Kauai??

What are the odds of a financial success of having a bar there?

You did not address the question of selective enforcement.  Did you see at least two smaller, unlicensed push-vendors selling the same product?

Why were they not arrested and sent to jail for 45 days?  Selective enforcement?

Its a good point.  But just like many laws, its often selective enforcement.

Hannitized on April 25, 2008 at 08:15 pm
Avatar for Trail-Mix

They are just ticked off that somebody somewhere may be able to support themselves and work hard like that lady!

Trail-Mix on April 25, 2008 at 09:37 pm
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