LETTER: Too many laws restrict freedom

To the editor:

Is America turning into a country that is completely controlled by the government? You may think so, considering the many rules and regulations being created by the government on an almost daily basis. This is especially true in New York City, where its billionaire mayor Michael Bloomberg is unleashing a storm of health laws. Although these health regulations can be beneficial, government does not have the jurisdiction to regulate what people can eat or drink.

The New York Board of Health voted to ban the sale of sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces in order to combat obesity. State Supreme Court Justice Milton Tingling has since blocked the city’s restrictions, which proves that the government is overreaching its boundaries. Before the big sugary drink ban proposal, Bloomberg put pressure on the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2010 to exclude soda, sports drinks and other sugary drinks from food stamp eligibility, stating they have effects on obesity.

The mayor wanted the food stamp-eligible products to provide nourishment for better health. This proposal did not go though. When government decides they can control the way people live their lives, we have serious issues. These issues stem from the fact that if government is not regulated, then it will be overbearing and oppressive. The event in New York seems isolated, but if all these regulations pass, then other states can see similar restrictions.

A week after a judge blocked his bid to ban large sugary drinks in March 2013, Bloomberg presented a Tobacco Product Display Restriction bill which would force city retailers to keep tobacco products out of sight. If it passes, “New York would become the nation’s first city to enact such a law,” Bloomberg said. The majority of people today know that smoking and eating unhealthy food is bad. If the government really wanted to help, instead of creating laws to stop people from doing these things, they should inform them of the cost of their actions. Taking away people’s choice does not create healthy society.

I don’t deny that America has many health problems that need to be addressed and corrected, but I stand my ground when it comes to my belief that government should not be running this aspect of our lives. We as individuals are faced with the task to help regulate our health and wellbeing. We as individuals are faced with the task to regulate government, not allow government to regulate us. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg may think he is doing the citizens of this country a favor, but in fact he is crippling their free agency. Government has the responsibility to protect us; it does not have the responsibility to tell us exactly what we need to do.

Alex Marsaw