New Yorkers take a collective last big gulp

UPDATE: A judge intervenes and saves New Yorkers from themselves.  At least for the time being.

Tomorrow is the day.  Mayor Bloomberg - the New York Nanny - institutes his ban on large, sugary soft drinks.  Retailers gear up for the change by spending untold amounts of money on menu changes, unusable cups and stocked inventory that now must be disposed of.  Starbucks is defying the big gulp ban, to a certain degree, by continuing to sell their Venti-sized beverages.  We'll see how long that lasts.

Bloomberg was on CBS  News’ “Face The Nation.” He said all the city is doing is “reminding you that it’s not in your interest to have too many empty calories.”  Really?  Banning large soft drinks is just a reminder?  "We’re not banning anything," Bloomberg claimed.  "It’s called portion control.”  Oh, it is, is it?

It's downright frightening to think that New Yorkers would just stand by and take it but several polls show residents of the Big Apple almost evenly divided on the issue.  This is exactly what happens when a population succumbs to the notion that their government is better at making choices for them than they are.

This all started with the smoking ban.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting smoking is good for you.  What I am suggesting is that people - and businesses - should be able to make these decisions on their own.  I've had people call my radio show and claim they have a right to eat at a restaurant without being bothered by smoke.  That's absurd.  Do you have a right to not be bothered by the music or the decor or the servers?  Restaurant owners should be allowed to make these decisions then you, as a customer, can decide if you want to eat there.

It's not a health issue.  It's a liberty issue.

Once you open the door to allow the government to make decisions based on health then you shouldn't be surprised when they ban large soft drinks.  And don't think this is the end of it.  This is just the beginning.  So-called junk food is next.  Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, dips, donuts, you name it.  It gets even worse once Obamacare is fully implemented and the government is paying for most or all of our healthcare.

Those who cheered from the sidelines as the smoke Nazis descended on the country may even be cheering this latest incarnation of Big Brother but laugh while you still can.  They're coming for you next.