Mayor Bloomberg: “Let Them Eat Cake”
By Mary Theroux • Sunday November 11, 2012 3:54 PM PDT • 13 Comments
Mayor Michael Bloomberg would apparently prefer his storm-ravaged city’s homeless eat nothing at all than benefit from the generosity of private individuals—declaring that only items his food police pass inspection on can be donated to city homeless shelters:
Another example of why the government does not belong in the business of charitable relief. If you want to help those in need, tell the busy-body Mayor and his ilk to take a hike, and give to the Salvation Army or the accountable, private charity of your choosing.
Tags: Charity, Civil Society, Disaster Management, Nanny State, Politics, Poverty, Welfare 
Bloomberg’s rules on food are supposed to combat obesity. Why would he relax those rules for people who only feel that they aren’t eating enough? The rules are merely correcting obesity in another way.
Andrew_M_Garland | Nov 11, 2012 | Reply
It is NOT the mayor’s job to force people to be skinny. If you give the government that kind of paternalistic power, it will shortly turn to a tyrannical dictatorship. And every dictator has “good” reasons to control YOU.
Paul Revere | Nov 11, 2012 | Reply
He and his food police should all undergo psychiatric exams. Homeless people are hungry, not concerned with calories, etc. Would he prefer that they eat out of NYC Dumpsters? He wasn’t so skinny when he took office, so does he feel he has to impose his will on others? We went through a severe flood and were very grateful for any meals provided by Red Cross or local restaurants since we had no kitchen or refrigeration. Lock up the Nanny State, it is stupid!
Phyllis Wells | Nov 11, 2012 | Reply
Unfortunately, people today DEMAND that someone else be responsible for them. This includes obesity. There is a reason the bi-partisanship our country is known for has been in power as long as they have...they ARE MAKING others’ responsible for YOU.
Firefalcon | Nov 11, 2012 | Reply
Many of these people are working very hard to clean up, move debris, etc. The are burning far more calories than usual, Even being cold can burn calories. And if anyone needed “comfort food,” it’s the victims of “Sandy.”
Dwight Boud | Nov 11, 2012 | Reply
homeless people need more fat on them so they can keep warm. People are trying to help people and the government is getting in the way. Church non-profits choose to not get money from the government because it comes with strings attached like telling you what you can and can not do. If the city keeps refusing to let people give, after a while they will stop and say it is not worth it. And they will wonder why people stopped giving. So sad and who benefits from it? The rats when it is thrown out.
Kelly | Nov 11, 2012 | Reply
People making bad decisions about what they eat is not unusual. People make bad decisions all the time, as in who they vote for for mayor. The only way to prevent people from making bad decisions is to prevent them from making any decisions. That is the very definition of totalitarian. The best deterrent to bad decisions is to live with their consequences.
Michael Enders | Nov 12, 2012 | Reply
is what happens when the government becomes involved in anything. one size fits all is the mantra. this is the problem with what sane people call socialism. we have taken a quantum leap toward socialism in this country with the re-election of obama and his cronies like blooberg. there is no common sense to big government. mindless bureaucrats governing by the letter of the law. i cannot wait to see how these same kinds of people manage obamacare. this is going to be a nightmare of bureaucratic red tape and mismanagement. the old addage of “be careful of what you wish for”,you may actually get it.
craig | Nov 12, 2012 | Reply
Maybe Bloomburg will get to walk in the other persons shoes someday soon. I would love to see that. Given the shape this country is in, you would think Bloomburg and his goons could find something more productive to spend their time on besides worrying about how much salt the homeless folks are eating? It makes me sick to think this country has slipped that far into the abyss.
Linda Otis | Nov 12, 2012 | Reply
I’m sure most would agree that the idea of “calorie control” is extremely ridiculous when applied to those who are desperately in need of, well, calories.
The idea that when confronted about his disgusting regimes latest embarrassment, he actually stood by it, despite chalking it up to “policy”, is truly sick.
Kyle Palermo | Nov 15, 2012 | Reply