Philosophy
When Mayor Bloomberg announced that he wanted to ban the sale of oversized 16-ounce sugary drinks in NYC, everyone went ape shit. Sure, while the idea to try to force people to become more conscious about choices affecting their own health is well-intentioned, it's not exactly the sort of thing you can set as a legal precedent, enforceable by law, without it blowing up in your face.
But it strikes me as telling that the idea received such vociferous responses from all directions, and it makes me wonder whether the explanation for such vitriol comes from our reluctance to admit that this is a more complex issue than it may appear at first glance. After all, one does have to admit that it would be good for citizens if they drank less soda... and that the evidence shows that, when they get to make the choice, they go for the ridiculously large stuff that's going to bring them that much closer to obesity and diabetes.
Jon Stewart points to the ridiculousness of the ban, since "it would combine the draconian government overreach people love with the probable lack of results they expect."
And then moves on to show what such a law ought to entail if we were to apply it consistently:
Stephen Colbert, on the other hand, has a very different reaction:
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Philosophy
Colbert and Stewart Disagree on Sugary Drinks Ban
But it strikes me as telling that the idea received such vociferous responses from all directions, and it makes me wonder whether the explanation for such vitriol comes from our reluctance to admit that this is a more complex issue than it may appear at first glance. After all, one does have to admit that it would be good for citizens if they drank less soda... and that the evidence shows that, when they get to make the choice, they go for the ridiculously large stuff that's going to bring them that much closer to obesity and diabetes.
Jon Stewart points to the ridiculousness of the ban, since "it would combine the draconian government overreach people love with the probable lack of results they expect."
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
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Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook
And then moves on to show what such a law ought to entail if we were to apply it consistently:
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook
Stephen Colbert, on the other hand, has a very different reaction:
The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive
- Apparently Mitt Romney Can't Stand Half Of All Americans, And Most Of Them Are Conservatives And The Elderly...
You may have heard a few days ago that Mother Jones released a devastating series of videos showcasing Mitt Romney talking to a bunch of rich buddies and donors, and saying what he REALLY thinks about poor people when he doesn't know there's a...
- The Word - Hoodies: Dressed To Kill
The unfortunate and sad story of Trayvon Martin, a Floridian teenager who was pursued and subsequently gunned down a month ago in broad daylight by what appears to be an unstable, racist vigilante, George Zimmerman, for the crime of wearing a hoodie and...
- Rush Limbaugh Will Do Anything With His Mouth For Some Money
I seriously can't understand any legitimate reason why issues concerning women's reproductive health are tearing this country apart (unless this is just a red herring to distract us from other issues). Are we really so insecure that the notion...
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