Bloomberg: Forcing People to Exercise 'Probably' Going Too Far

There are some things the state shouldn't do to promote better health, he says

Even Michael "Soda Ban" Bloomberg has his limits.

The Gotham mayor and quasi-cartoonish villain of nanny state-haters everywhere is drawing the line at forcing folks to exercise, reports the New York Observer. While appearing on a morning radio show speaking to precisely the demographic that doesn't stand for state meddling in the mundane affairs of mankind, Bloomberg detailed his POV:

You have to be practical about what legally you can do and what people will do. There are some things we try and force you to do. If there's asbestos in the classroom or your office building, we force you out. If you want to drink and drive, we try and stop you.

When it comes to actions typically deemed a matter of self-control, however, Bloomberg prefers the "nudge" strategy:

I think some of these other things - calorie counts in chain restaurants so you can see what you're eating - are okay. But when it comes to forcing you...the only thing the government can do practically is education. Exercise is great for you, but how do you convince people to do it? Should you force them to do it? Probably not."

Via the New York Observer.

Is government paternalism EVER justified?

[NavinRJohnson]

This guy needs a good spanking for trying to tell people what they can do. He's like an out of control bossy child left in charge of his siblings, not like a parent at all.

[Dan_Tien]

Maybe he should require that everyone in New York buy a treadmill attached to a generator that they must run on for an hour every day to generate electricity.

[Food4thoughts]

Sounds like personal responsibility and hard work ethic! The GOP should be pushing this.

[marine1]

But not untill he can buy stocks in the company that will provide the equipment.

[SmedleyButler]

Of course he doesn't like that idea. What do you expect from a 539? Everything else is far game for him.

[MongoAPillager]

hey,please don,t put that half-wit in my area code

[jessejaymes]

WORKFARE not Welfare. Most welfare are obese. This has to be a peer pressure thing, not a govt thing. You take half my seat on an airline and I'm filing an official complaint. The obese are costing Health care an estimated 190 billion dollars a year. They should have to pay for that, not me. I lost 40 lbs and have kept it off 5 years by simply not eating CRAP. You really don't have to have gravy on everything you eat. Nor do you have to pile back sodas and sweet tea every day. A salad with a small can of Tuna on it wouldn't hurt either. Less than 2.00. What does that Big Mac, fries and Three trips to refill soda cost you?

[zachsquatch]

No gravy?

[Robbo03712]

Probably not?!? I should hope certainly not, what business is it of his weather I'm a 300 lb lardo or a 90 lb stick as long as I'm happy mind your own dang bidness

[jessejaymes]

This is why we have the deficit we have. People saying "it's none of your business" I consider 190 billion dollars directly related to obesity to be everyone's business.

[Robbo03712]

@jessejaymes my statement relies on the study that obese and smokers kill themselves off more quickly so they cost less in the long run also if you chose self destructive habits I think you should have to pay your own way

[jessejaymes]

@Robbo03712 I don't mind at all if they want to kill themselves off. It's a free country. I just don't want to pay for them while they do.

[Slowmo]

@jessejaymes then take it up with those who are trying to make you pay for it. Fat people aren't trying to make you pay for anything. An overreaching government is. Fat people don't stand to line their pockets with your extra cash..corporations do and then politicians do after they get lobbied. Follow the money. Who's got a motive?

[jessejaymes]

@Slowmo They don't have to stand to line their pockets with my money. they just suck it in like they inhale food and I have to pay for it everywhere I turn around.

[Medicinebow]

Bloomberg and practical. Now that right there is funny.

[WVMountYouNear]

HAHAHAHAHAH! Imagine that, LOL!

The only reason Bloomberg isn't making you do EVERYTHING he wants is the Constitution of the United States, lol. Left to him alone? He would mandate exercise and at certain times during the day also, lol, or face domestic embrago, lol.

We laugh at it now. But it's coming... and not long off neither.

[johnny_potseed]

Definitely not the Constitution stopping him, only thing stopping him is exactly how much the people will put up with. These politicians thumb their noses at the Constitution.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Yea, we can take away their Big Gulp, pay them to exercise, but it's just a tad bit much to force people to exercise. How about we leave people alone and let them make their own decisions?

[Sonny]

How about the FACT that he NEVER said that he would force people to excercise in the first place....?----Any room for just a tad of fact in any of this at all?

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

@Sonny - Here's some facts, it's too much for the government to take away someone's Big Gulp and it is too much for the government to pay people to be healthy. We shouldn't even be discussing whether the government should force people to exercise.

[Sonny]

@Neo_NtheMatrix First, the concept of "paying people to lose weight"----was a Mayo Clinic study---and NOT some government program.(So YOUR "fact" here is not correct!...Second...I don't live in New York---I don't even buy "Big Gulps" ----And I have no problem consuming any particular beverage I like...I suspect that you don't either...If those in New York city have a problem---then they should elect a new mayor next time around. Third, Once again...the man never said that he would "force people to excercise"...That is a FACT...

[harold_lloyd]

Bloomberg is turning into the poster boy for liberal excess.

The govt should present people with information, but only in very limited circumstances should govt try to compel behavior.

Remember how Prohibition worked out?

[DrNickels]

He isn't forcing this issue because he knows it will anger the majority of his welfare EBT overweight constituents. He has to listen to his voting block some of the time.

[texas_cutie75]

BINGO!!!

[Sonny]

Well there's "plenty" of FAT on the republican right----Many of whom also collect "welfare" - as you put it...And he is just as happy to allow them to keep their blubber in place as well...

[DrNickels]

@Sonny
Hmmm project much? I never mentioned democrat or republican. I'm glad though that Bloomberg out of fear for losing his government job is kind enough to be a bipartisan douchebag. Happy?

[Sonny]

@DrNickels No problem...Just wanted to make sure that everyone knows that "blubber-butts" exist across the entire political spectrum. And, once again...that there are just as many on the "right" who receive what you call "welfare" as there are on the "left"....Its just that there are more hypocrites on the right than anywhere else on the political spectrum.

---I suspect that "projection" is just another one of those right wing made-up "pseudo-intellectual " terms used by Limbaugh & the like, to try to invent something that doesn't exist, except in the minds of the far-right only...LOL----Nice try!

[zeke]

@Sonny Oh sonny what would we do if not for you, to enlighten us on the evils of the right! Really what does being overweight have to do with being left or right, is it a genetic thing or just more propaganda from you? And lets talk about hipocrisy, i think you got the market cornered there friend!

[MongoAPillager]

how about new yorkers growing some nads an exercising their right to vote and getting that half-wit fascist out of office

[TheJimmy]

Bloomberg is fastly becoming a cartoon character.

[Robbo03712]

Fascistly becoming a cartoon character perhaps

[culinary]

Bloomber is a nut...

[commonsense51]

To anyone who actually votes for these Government control freaks, I say you are totally out of your minds and as pathetically naive as it comes. It is you who vote these idiots into office.

[FollowTheMoney]

Probably my ass....

[jmiller94]

We're the all powerful, all knowing nanny state. We will live your life for you, and if you talk back we'll fuckin' spank you.

[tpl]

Sieg Heil!!!

[Sonny]

Well I don't that enforcing "DUI" laws is "paternalistic"... And the Mayor clearly has said that there are lines -----and sometimes "education" is all government can do...I see absolutely nothing wrong in any of that. Everyone already knows that the average American waistline is ----well-----"Growing "!!!...And people have every right to be as fat as they want to be in this country....Seems to me---that Bloomberg has more than clearly acknowledged that.

[Robbo03712]

He has made no such acknowledgement;
On Wednesday the famously public health-focused mayor proposed a ban on the sale of large-sized sugar-sweetened beverages — that includes sodas, sweetened teas and coffees, energy drinks and fruit drinks. If approved, the proposal, which is slated to take effect as early as next March, would prohibit restaurants, delis, sports arena vendors, movie theaters and food carts regulated by the city health department from selling sugary beverages in sizes larger than 16 oz. Fines for failing to downsize could be as high as $200.
2005: At the mayor’s urging, New York became the first city to force restaurants and other food vendors to phase out the use of artificial trans fats, which have been linked to obesity and heart disease. The initiative inspired other cities, including Philadelphia and San Francisco, to pass trans-fat bans of their own. Now entire counties and states are considering regulations that would take the fats out of their food.
2010: In his first swipe at the soda industry, Bloomberg proposed barring people from using food stamps to purchase sugary sodas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture rejected the proposal saying it would be too difficult to enforce.
2010: Bloomberg urged state legislators to pass a soda tax that would allow the state to collect an additional penny per ounce of sugared soda sold; it failed to pass.
Salt is also on the mayor’s hit list. He wants packaged food makers and restaurants to reduce sodium by 25% in an effort to lower rates of high blood pressure and heart disease.

[Sonny]

@Robbo03712 Read the piece again. I'm sure you will see it.

[Robbo03712]

@Sonny I could care less about what he says he obviously is attempting to control eating habits with legislature which disproves your contention that Bloomberg has more than clearly acknowledged that people have every right to be as fat as they want to be in this country

[Sonny]

@Robbo03712 So if you "can care less about what he said" -- Why should I care at all about what YOU say?

[Robbo03712]

@Sonny I was referring to the fact that actions should be your basis for fact not words in fact I believe you are the first person of the opinion that what someone says is weightier than what said person does friendly advice stop taking a politicians word and start examining his actions... Unless you prefer to live in an illusory world? If that's the case my apologies....

[tomincali]

this gov has all things backwards,they are not to dictate to us we are to dictate to them. they are not kings and queens as they think,we are not their peasant subjects. they were elected to "serve" the citizens of the USA.

[ZombieMedic]

Bloomberg has completely lost his fk***Ing mind and needs to be impeached along with Diane Feinstein for mental incompetency. They will both be responsible for the downfall of the Democrats next election.