The Historic, “Progressive” Struggle Marches On
November 28, 2010 3 Comments
There’s a pleasing symmetry at work in the recent decision by San Francisco & some neighboring cities to ban happy meals. Once again, as with 100 years ago, we find “progressives” cheerfully and self-congratulatorily on the side of pseudoscience-based public-health initiatives. Although I’ll grant that this go-round is a bit more benign than the fashion for eugenics and preventing ‘imbeciles’ or inferior races from overbreeding and swarming the nation, or even than the teetotaling and sex-paranoid movement of dessicated nannies – oops, I meant to also say “progressives” there – who helped bring us the wonders of Prohibition.
However, the spirit is much the same. It’s so retro it’s almost charming. Like one of those old-timey bicycles with two different-sized wheels.
In this case there’s also an apt symbolism to the whole thing. “Progressives”: literally banning “happy”. Talk about upping the ante! Taliban’s got nothing on “progressives”.
I don’t even know what else to say except to bask in it. Ah, “liberals”! Without their oh so deep-seated love of liberty and individuality who would there be to think up things to ostentatiously and symbolically ban in the name of the common good, and then who would there be to pat them on the back for their “progressive” stance in doing it? You gotta admit: there’d be nobody!
A chill goes down my spine just thinking of a world in which I were free, if I wanted, to buy my kid a box with some tasty food he’d like and a special toy inside that his eyes would light up upon seeing. Thanks, “progressives”, for your neverending and heroic (and lucrative) struggle to make sure that world gets ever further away!
“Although I’ll grant that this go-round is a bit more benign than the fashion for eugenics and preventing ‘imbeciles’ or inferior races from overbreeding and swarming the nation”
Gotta disagree here. We’d be much better off with a progressive movement that was trying to ensure that progressives out-bred their enemies (what they used to try to do) instead of progressives importing people and paying the stupid, lazy, ugly and unforsighted to breed (what they do now).
Progressives are far better neighbors than their clients.
You’re still free to buy a cheap toy and give it to your child with a healthy, wholesome meal.
Children can’t sign contracts; children can’t consent to sex; children can’t be factory workers; children shouldn’t be targeted by cynical marketing campaigns.
You’re still free to buy a cheap toy and give it to your child with a healthy, wholesome meal.
Thanks Xamuel! What else am I free to do in your opinion? Since you are the arbiter of things I am allowed to do/buy.
Children can’t sign contracts; children can’t consent to sex; children can’t be factory workers; children shouldn’t be targeted by cynical marketing campaigns.
Companies shouldn’t be allowed to make, offer, and bring to market products that children might like? Why on earth not? How bleak.
I do understand your stance. I just don’t understand why it’s called ‘progressive’ (let alone ‘liberal’).