New York State Assembly Considering Bill Making Salt Use Punishable By $1,000 Fine
Almost seven years ago, in opposition to a smoking ban, I wrote these words;
I am not a smoker, nor do I enjoy being around smokers, but I have a problem with laws banning perfectly legal activities in private establishments. A business owner has a right to allow smokers in his restaurants. Where do laws like this stop? Are we soon going to see a ban on greasy food because overweight people are more expensive to insure and drive up premiums? Is salt next? Is beer next?
Could be, at the rate we’re going.
I’ve been making that argument for years now, warning that once the nanny staters were done with smoking they’d move on to other lifestyle choices they deem not acceptable for the rest of us. And all along the way I’ve been accused of exaggerating. But today, in the New York State Assembly, there is a bill that doesn’t just introduce salt prohibition (in restaurants anyway) it actually fines people $1,000 every time they use it.
Forget that salt is necessary for good health in appropriate amounts. Forget that the bankrupt New York state government can hardly afford an army of inspectors to go to restaurant kitchens and inspect for salt to enforce this ban. the government knows best.
Just like they knew best about smoking and health care and sugar and all the other aspects of our lives that they want to manage for us.
