LA to ban new fast food restaurants

[Gwynplaine]

They should also ban MMORPG's because everyone knows that it leads to a detrimental obsession and long periods of unhealthy inactivity. If I didn't have such convenient access to online video games I'd probably go outside and exercise more often.

[Beckwin]

if the only activity available to you was MMORPGs, then a moratorium on new studio development might not be a terrible idea. I mean it would be nice to have alternatives; lack of choice is very un-free market.

[pohibaba]

My stance? LA voted on it. The people voted on it. My opinion doesn't matter, the people have spoken.

I guess you could say that I'm a fan of Democracy.

Democracy doesn't lead to freedom, it leads to a dictatorship of the majority. Do you know a more moral way they could have voted to ban new fast food restaurants? Not go to them; not give them any money. If that's what the people of the area REALLY wanted, that's what they would choose to do. And do you notice the big difference between my version and yours? Mine is a choice, yours is a mandate from Mommy Government.

[Kenai]

I think they are under the mistaken assumption that they will go from the fast food line to magically eating balanced meals and such. The people not taking care of their body will continue to not take care of it. You can buy soft drinks and twinkies and ice cream and whatever just as easily at a supermarket. Hell, you can fry chicken/bacon/whatever at home too! I work retail and the nasty unhealthy fat guy working there also almost never goes to an actual fast food place or restaraunt, he just hits the candy/junk food/soda isle.

Somethingsomeonegotwhooshedsomething. Until you actually force them to eat healthy, as in make junk totally unavailable (and i don't agree with that at all, their body = their responsibilty, both in choices and the outcomes of those choices), good luck. I'm so tired of the whole blame shifting away to something else thing, but I'm used to it I guess.

On the other hand, I do agree that junk food is waaay easier to come by than "real food" and often cheaper. Just look at pesticide-ridden dumbed-down vegetable-based shit vs organic section of any supermarket/health food store. Hell, a lot of people in a poor area might not have a stove or clean ustensils or whatever to work with. Shit is always situational like that, amirite?

[Demosthenes11]

Democracy doesn't lead to freedom, it leads to a dictatorship of the majority. Do you know a more moral way they could have voted to ban new fast food restaurants? Not go to them; not give them any money. If that's what the people of the area REALLY wanted, that's what they would choose to do. And do you notice the big difference between my version and yours? Mine is a choice, yours is a mandate from Mommy Government.

you don't know how pissed this fucking law makes me. It's just a new thing for the government to be able to control. Soon it will happen more and more in the US to where it is normal for the government to legislate this stuff, and then we will be told what hours of the day to eat.

I am embarrassed to be a Californian, hell, an american with shit like this going on. I don't think anybody made a topic about it, but cali just passed a law making it illegal to sell any products containing trans fat. Fucking ridiculous

[Kenai]

you don't know how pissed this fucking law makes me. It's just a new thing for the government to be able to control. Soon it will happen more and more in the US to where it is normal for the government to legislate this stuff, and then we will be told what hours of the day to eat.

I am embarrassed to be a Californian, hell, an american with shit like this going on. I don't think anybody made a topic about it, but cali just passed a law making it illegal to sell any products containing trans fat. Fucking ridiculous

LOL, for real? I was born in Cali and miss it dearly, but that is pretty amazingly stupid.

"The food tastes too good! Too many fat asses, ban it!"

You should be fucking outraged/ I am just glad that indiana has shit like Pork festivals and Deep Fried Day at the Indiana State fair here. Shit like that just wouldn't fly.

[pohibaba]

you don't know how pissed this fucking law makes me. It's just a new thing for the government to be able to control. Soon it will happen more and more in the US to where it is normal for the government to legislate this stuff, and then we will be told what hours of the day to eat.

I am embarrassed to be a Californian, hell, an american with shit like this going on. I don't think anybody made a topic about it, but cali just passed a law making it illegal to sell any products containing trans fat. Fucking ridiculous

Yeah, after all of the anti-smoking laws passed (what, like a decade ago now?) I knew that California was a hopeless state and that someday I would move away and never come back. Things like this just make that day much more close.

[Kuya]

Well, since the idea of government getting involved and telling people what they should or shouldn't do seems to piss a lot of people off, what would most of you do to help alleviate this problem? Certainly people suffering health problems because of their income doesn't sit well with most of you? And let's face it, considering most of you are always going on about how stupid people are, should they really be left to their own works if they are in fact that stupid?

[Gregorio]

My stance? LA voted on it. The people voted on it. My opinion doesn't matter, the people have spoken.

I guess you could say that I'm a fan of Democracy.

This is the worst pro-democracy post I've ever seen.

Thank God we don't live in a pure democracy.

[Kuya]

Also, why do you guys speak of keeping government out of the private business of people, yet you don't want to acknowledge the idea of people choosing to have the government intervene. I thought democracy was about options just as much as anything else. Why is this not one of the options?

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

Well, since the idea of government getting involved and telling people what they should or shouldn't do seems to piss a lot of people off, what would most of you do to help alleviate this problem? Certainly people suffering health problems because of their income doesn't sit well with most of you? And let's face it, considering most of you are always going on about how stupid people are, should they really be left to their own works if they are in fact that stupid?

It isn't because of their income that their fat. Their are healthier and cheaper alternatives to fast food. I make sandwiches every day and probably spend $5 a day on food. And if they're so poor that all they can afford is fast food they probably qualify for food stamps to.

[Khamsin]

you don't know how pissed this fucking law makes me. It's just a new thing for the government to be able to control. Soon it will happen more and more in the US to where it is normal for the government to legislate this stuff, and then we will be told what hours of the day to eat.

I am embarrassed to be a Californian, hell, an american with shit like this going on. I don't think anybody made a topic about it, but cali just passed a law making it illegal to sell any products containing trans fat. Fucking ridiculous

Jesus, you're all acting like there's a ban on fast food, like the cops are going to bust down your door and confiscate your fries. If you can get fast food there now, you'll still be able to get it after this goes into effect, too. One important thing to note is that this doesn't apply to us, only to businesses. The city isn't regulating what people eat, or what you do with your time, or where you go to eat.

This isn't anything new for the government to control, it's always been within a city's jurisdiction to decide what can and cannot be built within their limits. That's why you have zoning requirements and permit applications. This isn't some new power granted to them by congress, it's something they do on a daily basis any time they deny Lowe's Hardware building a new store in their residential zones, or a new condo complex in the heart of their central business district.

If the demand for fast food is increasing at such a rapid rate that there will actually be a fast food crisis due to existing restaurants being unable to keep up, then maybe this really is a good thing. At the very least, you can still go outside the district to get your fast food fix if all the local ones are packed. People do it anyway when they go grocery shopping.

[Katlan]

I think this ban on new fast-food chains won't do much in the long run, but wasn't there an article recently on certain fast food chains w/are actually healthier than sit down restaurants (I'll go try to search for it)? Though it also depends on what your ordering... I don't consider places like Jack-In-the-Box & Carl's Jr. to be inexpensive... they are "fast food," definantly, but it's easy to spend 7~10$ at either of them when you could get a healthier (albit a little bit slower) alternative for the same price or cheaper. Fast food chains do have the late night hours going for them!

Are places such as subway considered fast food? I never even bothered to consider them, but always thought subway/quiznos(sp) were supposed to be fast/healthy alternatives.

[Kenai]

Well, since the idea of government getting involved and telling people what they should or shouldn't do seems to piss a lot of people off, what would most of you do to help alleviate this problem? Certainly people suffering health problems because of their income doesn't sit well with most of you? And let's face it, considering most of you are always going on about how stupid people are, should they really be left to their own works if they are in fact that stupid?

it is far differant when someone doesn't have the option to eat something better vs saying that they aren't allowed to eat something because that would be unhealthy. As someone pointed out, there are too many flaws in this logic. Going by it, no one should drive, because some people can't afford cars, or would do stupid things while driving to cause others harm. And don't forget about drinking! Raising children, some people are doing it wrong, everyone must suffer!

It's about accountability for your actions. If something is happening in your life that you do not actually have control over (like apparently some of these people not having the option to eat well), that is one thing, but I can't see how anyone can really agree with mandating laws like this. You may not care because it may not affect you, or change your lifestyle at all, but what if it did? What if it infriged upon rights that you should have but do not because of stupid laws like this being the norm? I I just can't accept that some idiots decided to blame someone else for what they did wrong, and are being catered to.

[Khamsin]

The city wants to expand people's choices (by encouraging more variety of restaurants and stores to develop there) and improve the overall character of the district.

The important thing to note is that they are going about this in a passive way that does not interfere with the residents. They aren't telling anyone what they can and cannot do. They aren't regulating what, when, where, and how people eat. Instead, they are guiding development in their district with changes to their zoning requirements and comprehensive plan in order to develop into a more diverse area with healthier options and more choices. They aren't tearing down the fast food joints that are already there, they're just saying they have enough and want to leave room for other types of restaurants. They believe in free choice and want their residents to be able to forge their own dietary path by increasing the options they have available to them locally within their district.

[archibaldcrane]

The city wants to expand people's choices (by encouraging more variety of restaurants and stores to develop there) and improve the overall character of the district.

The important thing to note is that they are going about this in a passive way that does not interfere with the residents. They aren't telling anyone what they can and cannot do. They aren't regulating what, when, where, and how people eat. Instead, they are guiding development in their district with changes to their zoning requirements and comprehensive plan in order to develop into a more diverse area with healthier options and more choices. They aren't tearing down the fast food joints that are already there, they're just saying they have enough and want to leave room for other types of restaurants. They believe in free choice and want their residents to be able to forge their own dietary path by increasing the options they have available to them locally within their district.

This.

Also, certain restaurants are "zoned out" of new development in communities across the country ALL THE TIME. The -only- difference here is that as opposed to the usual aesthetic purposes (which can be argued as more or less intrusive in the lives of citizens) this is for health/socioeconomic reasons.

Over 1 in 3 blacks and hispanics in south LA is obese. Not just overweight, fucking obese. Putting a moratorium on fat-fuck-factories does not bother me at all.

[Gregorio]

Also, why do you guys speak of keeping government out of the private business of people, yet you don't want to acknowledge the idea of people choosing to have the government intervene. I thought democracy was about options just as much as anything else. Why is this not one of the options?

Because when people vote to let the government intervene, they are imposing their morals upon everyone, even the people who don't want the government in. This doesn't work the other way around. In other words, if a vast majority of the people really don't want fast food restaurants to open in the area, they could simply not go to them and let the restaurants close down due to lack of business while letting the people who do want to visit them do as they please. If as many people are mandating this as you think they it should be no problem. But since the government stepped in to hold the poor fatties hands, nobody has a choice to visit the new places because they won't be opened at all.

Another way of saying this is... My morals don't demand that you visit fast food places. Your morals demand that I don't visit them.

[archibaldcrane]

My morals don't demand that you visit fast food places. Your morals demand that I don't visit them.

Yeah, that's great except for the fact that noone's morals are preventing anyone from visiting the fast-food restaurants in South L.A. as a result of this passing.

Try again.

[Gregorio]

The city wants to expand people's choices (by encouraging more variety of restaurants and stores to develop there) and improve the overall character of the district.

The important thing to note is that they are going about this in a passive way that does not interfere with the residents. They aren't telling anyone what they can and cannot do. They aren't regulating what, when, where, and how people eat. Instead, they are guiding development in their district with changes to their zoning requirements and comprehensive plan in order to develop into a more diverse area with healthier options and more choices. They aren't tearing down the fast food joints that are already there, they're just saying they have enough and want to leave room for other types of restaurants. They believe in free choice and want their residents to be able to forge their own dietary path by increasing the options they have available to them locally within their district.

They are telling people what they can and cannot do...business owners. This is not affecting only the big fast food chains like the McDonalds/Burger Kings/etc. I don't know about your area, but in my area there's a lot of little sub shops, pizza places, and deli's that fit the characteristics of the fast food places that cannot be opened in that area. This hurts the little guy too.

[Gregorio]

Yeah, that's great except for the fact that noone's morals are preventing anyone from visiting the fast-food restaurants in South L.A. as a result of this passing.

Try again.

Read the first part of my post. I did specify future businesses. How can they visit a place if it does not exist?

Try again.