Personal Observations about My Large Orange Soda from McDonalds (And My Milkshakes Too!)

I was “running errands” and decided to drive through McDonalds for a $1 large orange soda.  It was hot and this is an occasional pleasure I take when my  “ fridge”  is minus such treats – all to say that soda is not something I drink on a regular basis and when I do it is almost always NOT a diet version, but a regular one instead. Yes, this means that what I desired has sugar in it – the real stuff not the diet - which I personally would rather have than whatever is in those diet bottles.  Currently, however, this is my choice.  Currently, here in Missouri, I have the freedom to purchase and drink such sodas – to decide on the size and whether I want sugar or not.  Currently the free market reigns, at least on my soda that is.   McDonalds sells it based on the demand of the citizens – the way free market principles are designed to work.  I wonder for how long, however? 

So, when my car made it to the drive-up window a nice looking young man handed me my cold orange drink and being the freedom-lover I am, I decided to ask him the following – “could you tell me please, is this drink 16 ounces?”  I honestly thought it was.  To my great surprise, however, his answer was “ - it is 32 ounces”.  I think my face turned into a great big smile.  I thanked him and drove off – beginning to ponder even more about my freedoms, my precious freedoms, while sipping on my delicious 32 ounce orange soda (at the stop signs only, OK?). 

I began to wonder – how in the world could a governmental entity, a mayor in a city such as New York, have the power to dictate to private businesses what they can and cannot serve?  A regular soda is not on the illegal substance list – yet.  So a 15 ounce regular soda is OK but a 16 ounce or greater regular soda is not?  And a diet soda of any size is OK but a non-diet is not?  

Then I remembered hearing that the same New York mayor is now wanting to add to his growing list of “banned yet legal substances” (my parenthesis and words).  There is now talk of placing limits on the size of movie pop-corn and milk drinks as well.  Hearing this perked my ears, as milk shakes from Steak n’ Shake’s half-price afternoon menu are yet another treat I love and I partake of them quite often!   I must admit.  Add to that, there is a Steak n’ Shake in the neighborhood, too.  I love it! 

I guess some folks may say – “it’s all right, I’ll just buy two 8 ounce drinks.”  But to me that’s NOT the issue.   Whether or not I enjoy any of these products is NOT the issue.  For me, Liberty is the issue.  Liberty is what our Founding Fathers fought and died to preserve.  Liberty also is what all of our veterans fought and died to preserve.   I wonder as I ponder – how have we allowed more and more unelected bureaucrats to write policies that take our liberties away, and how have we allowed more and more elected officials to sign “executive-type orders” that continue to take our liberties away?   Gee -     

• My toilet must flush a certain way – unelected bureaucrats now tell me how much water my toilet can use to flush.  
• My light bulbs must be energy-efficient and must meet bureaucratic standards – even if I don’t want those new-fangled bulbs.  To heck with letting the free market reign.  More bureaucrats know what is best for me – even if I can’t see with those squirrely new bulbs. 
• Of course there is the EPA - my car must meet certain standards of gas consumption – compliments yet again of our unelected bureaucrats. 
• And of course coal plants and gas pipelines are out for sure – even though our energy prices will soar and even though many in the We the People ranks are against such changes.  The bureaucrats know better.  They always know better. 
• And the Department of Education certainly knows better, as they usurp the power of the local schools and the parents.  All Washington bureaucrats know better.  After all, American children continue their downward slide against other countries’ children in standardized testing comparisons, so Washington bureaucrats certainly know better, correct?   
• And now the government bureaucrats are jumping into my health care too and my private insurance coverage as well.  This is the private health insurance company that I pay each month and the one I contract directly with (this is not Medicare – I shudder to think about the Medicare years to come!).  Yes, my private insurance company now must turn over to the federal government my medical records to be included in the federal health information database without my consent.  That is, our Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius, an unelected bureaucrat, decrees this!   Yep – it’s in the bill – remember we had to pass it first before we knew, compliments of Queen Nancy!
• Then there is the unconstitutional (my opinion) individual mandate in Obamacare and the unconstitutional (my opinion again) political appointments of one czar after another- czars we pay for and who have no job descriptions  that I am aware of. 
• And then there is the loss of religious freedom in Obamacare, another edict bypassing the constitution and the House of Representatives  - forcing private companies to pay for abortions even if it against their conscience.  

And the list keeps growing.  -----

Just for fun I looked up the Merriam-Webster’s definition of Liberty.  Here is one of the definitions – “ freedom from arbitrary or despotic control “.   I guess we will see soon whether the Supreme Court will try to stop the continued slide to soft tyranny by knocking down Obamacare and preserving my liberty or whether the unelected bureaucrats and government folks continue to usurp more and more of my precious liberty.  In the meantime, I am in the mood for yet another milk shake on this hot and sunny day.   Sorry Michelle, I have no vegetable garden either. 

(And for any of you who may think it OK for the government to dictate what I eat because of medical cost – well, perhaps we can chat about this another day?  Thanks! )