Quote of the Day

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

-Declaration of Independence

Happy Birthday Timmy!

The Detroit News reports that some schools are banning kids from bringing in birthday treats, like cupcakes, to fight childhood obesity. The Alma school district is replacing the treats with 30 additional minutes of gym class. I can picture it now: "Happy birthday Timmy! Go run 10 gassers."

More on Salt

An observation from the Washington Examiner on the same subject I posted about the other day:

But that hasn't been working fast enough to suit the first lady and others in the obesity crusade. And by limiting sodium contents, the goal is to make junk food less tasty and, by extension, less delicious compared with the organic, locally grown rhubarb you're supposed to be chomping.

You just can't be trusted to choose your own diet.

... from my cold dead hands.

According to The Washington Post, via Ramesh Ponnuru at the Corner, the FDA has decided you eat too much salt and you need to be saved from yourself, so it plans to regulate the amount of salt that can be used in processed food. But don't worry, they plan to phase limits in over ten years, so you won't notice it right away, you'll just end up with a vague feeling that somehow everything used to taste better. So, will people put up with this? I don't think I'm alone is saying you can pry my salt shaker from my cold, dead hands.

Limited

I just read this article from the Washington Post that argues the government does not have the authority to require every American to buy health insurance based on the powers enumerated in the Constitution. The specifics are interesting, but I thought the conclusion was the most important part. We've gotten so used to the idea of government power that it sounds strange to say the government doesn't have the authority to do something. But that was the idea the founding fathers had; they wanted the government to be weak so that it didn't turn into a tyranny. They'd had enough of that from the king of England. It's a good thing to keep in mind.

"I say it's spinach, and I say the hell with it."

I think this post by John Derbyshire at The Corner does a pretty good job of summing up how I feel about the election.