07/23/08 Fast Food Regulating

Remember several months back when there was legislative fervor over banning smoking in public places and putting a 25 foot smoking ban around public entrances? The original smoking ban was akin to a roller coaster ride with the coaster zooming toward the bottom at break neck speed only to end with an eventual slow crawl to the final stop. If you have traveled across the U.S. at all you have probably noticed a significant difference in the smoking laws from coast to coast with the southeast still allowing smoking in most restaurants and shopping areas, the west coast being the extreme opposite. I have to wonder if the current health craze attack on obesity surrounding fast food restaurants will experience the same roller coaster ride. Or will it snowball across the nation creating far more damage in its wake than good. And while the original intent is to help the nation's populations make healthier eating choices in order to fight obesity and diabetes where do you draw the line between government aid and government intrusion?