Time to pester the politicians
Monday, February 25, 2008 Just catching up on recent news stories and I see that Liverpool Council is at it again. Not content with having led the race to ban smoking in all public places, the Lib Dem-controlled authority now wants to ban McDonalds Happy Meals as well. Or does it?
What the report in the Mail on Sunday actually said is, "Members of Liverpool City Council's Childhood Obesity Scrutiny Group want a bye-law that would forbid the sale of fast food accompanied by toys", which is slightly different.
Nevertheless, toys or no toys, what's it got to do with the council? Lib Dem councillor Paul Twigger talks about "Pester Power" as if no-one has ever heard of the word "no". As for describing McDonalds as "cash-hungry vultures" - what a cheek. No-one is forced to eat there.
My kids - who get taken to McDonald's once or twice a month - still consider it a treat. I'm not such a fan. Nevertheless, when I'm on the road, far from home, feeling every so slightly peckish, I'm more than happy to see those gleaming golden arches.
If anyone needs pestering it's politicians with their insatiable appetite for interfering in other people's lives. Full story HERE.
Reader Comments (7)
Cllr Twiggers [26] doesn't like McDonalds. They are a Big American Company. This is Bad. They make a lot of money. This is Very Bad. Lentil-stew is not on the menu. Cllr Twiggers [26] likes to munch lentils, so the non-availability thereof must be Promoting Health Inequalities. Something must be done!
McDonalds is where those horrid chavvy people who used to be the working-class go. They like to eat there because it's cheap and tasty. Cllr. Twiggers [26] knows better. He's been reading the DoH website and knows to check each ricepaper-wrapped nutroast for bean-content and cholesterol-count before purchase. He measures his stools; assessing each for aroma and consistency. This, he tells himself, is the key to a long and fulfilled life.
So what better-qualified expert could there be to save these health-illiterates from themselves? He will improve them! But first he must start with the children. Children are the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the council is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation.
Worked against those horrid smokers.
Let me ask a question. If Guy Fawkes came along today and blew all our politicians up, how many of them would we miss, if any at all?
Liverpool Council is a particularly bad one. I don't know why really as knowing many Liverpudlians personally, most of them are okay. They're usually warm pretty down to earth people with a quick sense of humour. Also, given Liverpool's strong bohemian tendency, it doesn't really make sense.
Hi Blad
I think if Guy Fawkes came along and blew up all of our politicians, there would certainly not be many tears, although there may a number of very large sighs of relief from the mostly oppressed public and probably a number of cheers as well. I expect he would be Knighted, eventually as I can see no bigger favour anyone can do for the public in general!
Lyn
I think they would all be replaced by more of the same, since the type of people who relish the opportunity to take control, are the ones who often seek jobs in councils and government. It'a a fact of life. All you can do is try to limit their powers by putting up some kind of protest, in whatever way you can.
They're like English football managers, they ALL fail in the end. Some quicker than others.
As superficially appealing as the idea of blowing up our 'politicians' (we really need another word these days) may be, I'm not so sure: it could just mean their replacement with the Rosa Klebbs of ASH, and their many clones throughout the Kingdom.
Better the Devil you know etc.................
Martin V - we would just have to make sure that the majority of ASH, etc just happened to be in Parliament at the time! Can't be too difficult with all the new agendas and instructions they have for our puppet of a government!
. . . .that paul twigger actually used to work at mcdonalds?? talk about biting the hand that feeds!!