Bloomberg continues to be the best

[bedstuy]

I have been through much of the Northeast. I know enough New Yorkers, including my dad's entire side of the family (who beside my dad, are all major HP's) to know the place is not worth venturing in too. I know for a fact that the same judgment I am passing on NYC is passed regularly on Mississippi and Utah by members of this forums leftwing.

There are millions of New Yorkers.  You can't possibly know enough people to dislike the entire place.  That's called being closed-minded.  If you want to live in anecdote world...

I have a car in NYC.  My apartment (which is actually affordable) wasn't flooded during Sandy (nor did I ever lose power).  I know tons of amazing, friendly people in NYC.  I was able to make it here without a rich, well-connected family.  I haven't been killed by terrorists on the train.  Ergo, NYC must be amazing.

Also, I love Utah as well and I go there on vacation every year.  So, at least some liberals aren't guilty of making your dumb assumptions. 

[Vosem]

Anybody who doesn't go somewhere because of minor cultural differences (like which party you support) is a real-life troll.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I have been through much of the Northeast. I know enough New Yorkers, including my dad's entire side of the family (who beside my dad, are all major HP's) to know the place is not worth venturing in too. I know for a fact that the same judgment I am passing on NYC is passed regularly on Mississippi and Utah by members of this forums leftwing.

There are millions of New Yorkers.  You can't possibly know enough people to dislike the entire place.  That's called being closed-minded.  If you want to live in anecdote world...

I have a car in NYC.  My apartment (which is actually affordable) wasn't flooded during Sandy (nor did I ever lose power).  I know tons of amazing, friendly people in NYC.  I was able to make it here without a rich, well-connected family.  I haven't been killed by terrorists on the train.  Ergo, NYC must be amazing.

Also, I love Utah as well and I go there on vacation every year.  So, at least some liberals aren't guilty of making your dumb assumptions. 

Has anyone ever thought being closed minded is a good thing? You say that as an attack, but I view it as a stubborn badge of principle on my part. You provide several examples of your life that are true, but you’re a newer poster and I have yet to have any real interaction with you before this in the Off Topic section, so

Did I ever accuse this forums left wing at-large? I said some. Quit trying to generalize my statement into subunits. I made one general attack on New Yorkers which may or may not be infracted, not attacks on Liberals, Wyoming liberals, or Wyoming liberals who oppose evolution. Your splitting hairs with that last sentence.
 
As for the actual subject (something about cardboard, right ): how many individuals do you all know who have contracted cancer due to excessive use of Styrofoam or being in its presence heavily? And how many of those people (if any exist) are also smokers, use cell phones, microwaves, etc, etc. Cancer has many causes, and if Styrofoam has any adverse health effects at all, it is likely to be enhanced by something else. I refuse to believe for one minute that Styrofoam is a severe enough threat to human health that it must be eliminated.

The ecological effects are debatable, but I contend that New York has much greater ecological problems then Styrofoam. New York County has the third highest cancer risk from airborne chemicals, for example.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Anybody who doesn't go somewhere because of minor cultural differences (like which party you support) is a real-life troll.

You’re the guy who justifies oil wars for corporate interests, not me.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

For the uninformed who don't think this is a good idea:
http://www.ejnet.org/plastics/polystyrene/styrene.html

That site is far more enviromental alarmism than environmental reality.  There is no significant cancer risk from polystyrene as used by the food service industry.  Now if you were in a manufacturing facility where inhaling styrene vapors was a possibility then there is a potential problem.

Also, Bloomberg is just plain wrong when he says that polystyrene foam cannot be recycled.  It can, but recycling it is more expensive than making it from scratch, so usually it is not.  (Non-foam polystyrene can be economically recycled, but most places don't bother.)

That said, polystyrene foam is not particularly biodegradable. (Indeed the fact that it is not so is one indication that it is not particularly bioactive and thus that the cancer risks are being wildly overhyped by the link you provided.)  Since there are biodegradable foam plastics, I'm not opposed to banning polystyrene foam and this certainly is more useful than his crusade to downsize sodas.

The thing is tho, unless he's going to ban all foam containers, whether of polystyrene or biodegradable plastics, a ban is going to difficult to enforce at the city level.

(PS, please stop calling them Styrofoam containers.  They're not.)

[bedstuy]

I have been through much of the Northeast. I know enough New Yorkers, including my dad's entire side of the family (who beside my dad, are all major HP's) to know the place is not worth venturing in too. I know for a fact that the same judgment I am passing on NYC is passed regularly on Mississippi and Utah by members of this forums leftwing.

There are millions of New Yorkers.  You can't possibly know enough people to dislike the entire place.  That's called being closed-minded.  If you want to live in anecdote world...

I have a car in NYC.  My apartment (which is actually affordable) wasn't flooded during Sandy (nor did I ever lose power).  I know tons of amazing, friendly people in NYC.  I was able to make it here without a rich, well-connected family.  I haven't been killed by terrorists on the train.  Ergo, NYC must be amazing.

Also, I love Utah as well and I go there on vacation every year.  So, at least some liberals aren't guilty of making your dumb assumptions. 

Has anyone ever thought being closed minded is a good thing? You say that as an attack, but I view it as a stubborn badge of principle on my part. You provide several examples of your life that are true, but you’re a newer poster and I have yet to have any real interaction with you before this in the Off Topic section, so

Did I ever accuse this forums left wing at-large? I said some. Quit trying to generalize my statement into subunits. I made one general attack on New Yorkers which may or may not be infracted, not attacks on Liberals, Wyoming liberals, or Wyoming liberals who oppose evolution. Your splitting hairs with that last sentence.
 
As for the actual subject (something about cardboard, right ): how many individuals do you all know who have contracted cancer due to excessive use of Styrofoam or being in its presence heavily? And how many of those people (if any exist) are also smokers, use cell phones, microwaves, etc, etc. Cancer has many causes, and if Styrofoam has any adverse health effects at all, it is likely to be enhanced by something else. I refuse to believe for one minute that Styrofoam is a severe enough threat to human health that it must be eliminated.

The ecological effects are debatable, but I contend that New York has much greater ecological problems then Styrofoam. New York County has the third highest cancer risk from airborne chemicals, for example.

Being closed minded is a bad thing.  The problem with being stubborn is that your stubbornness is based on nothing, you've never been here.  You may think you know a lot of things but, how you feel about things is often just a guess, even if it feels like an informed position.  I guarantee that in 10 years you will realize you were wrong about a lot of things you thought you knew, unless you stay in state of arrested development. 

As for styrofoam and Bloomy, I don't care that much, although it certainly seems like a reasonable policy for recycling reasons as well.  I'm definitely more concerned about other environmental issues in the city.  And in any case, I'm more concerned about the halal cart fairness issues raised by this ban.

[Ebowed]

The ecological effects are debatable, but I contend that New York has much greater ecological problems then Styrofoam. New York County has the third highest cancer risk from airborne chemicals, for example.

That sounds like a bigot justifying their vote against [insert civil rights issue here] because there are 'more pressing issues to deal with.'

If addressing comparatively minor problems is useless, why do anything at all?

[© tweed]

Bloomberg came up with this stunningly new (to me) and idiotic argument against legalizing weed a day or two ago:

And number two, the drug dealers are gonna sell something, because they've got to feed their families, and if there's no money in marijuana, they'll start selling harder stuff. And that's not good.

...so, we should criminalize all sorts of harmless substances, like apples and prune juice, so drug dealers start selling those.




quote taken from http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2013/02/7784062/bloomberg-wants-loosen-pot-penalties-not-eliminate-them

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

So a multi-billionaire fails to realize the law of supply and demand and basic economics. Amusing.

[© tweed]

So a multi-billionaire fails to realize the law of supply and demand and basic economics. Amusing.

to be fair, there is no need for a capital owner to know any of those things, which are but their own retroactive apologia handled by another wing, the academic/'intellectual' wing, of their class.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

The ecological effects are debatable, but I contend that New York has much greater ecological problems then Styrofoam. New York County has the third highest cancer risk from airborne chemicals, for example.

That sounds like a bigot justifying their vote against [insert civil rights issue here] because there are 'more pressing issues to deal with.'

If addressing comparatively minor problems is useless, why do anything at all?

Or, how about Bloomberg doing something usefull? Like reducing unemployment or cutting the 1.3 billion dollar deficit the city is running .

[Mechaman]

First off, I find it interesting that this thread includes yet more regionalist dick waving.

Second, Bloomberg wouldn't be so deservedly widely despised if he weren't an avowed statist.  So far I've seen a mind that is willing to ban everything under the sun if it proves to have negative health consequences.  He has banned large soda drinks and styrofoam and is intent on continuning the draconian War on Drugs.  He has all the asshole qualities of so-called American "liberals" with all the asshole tendencies of gated community WASPs.  Qualities, that frankly, rank high above on the "disgust monitor".

The only fairly good thing this guy has done is endorse gay marriage.  Then again, considering how much of a "durr" that is, it's nothing to write home about.

[Maxwell]

Bloomberg came up with this stunningly new (to me) and idiotic argument against legalizing weed a day or two ago:

And number two, the drug dealers are gonna sell something, because they've got to feed their families, and if there's no money in marijuana, they'll start selling harder stuff. And that's not good.

...so, we should criminalize all sorts of harmless substances, like apples and prune juice, so drug dealers start selling those.




quote taken from http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2013/02/7784062/bloomberg-wants-loosen-pot-penalties-not-eliminate-them

You know what, he just convinced me.

LET THE DRUG DEALERS SELL STYROFOAM, PLEASE.

[Link]

Here is the reason why I never will live in that city, and never will bother to visit it-it is freaking New York. It has a school system that has hundreds if not thousands of teachers waiting in rubber rooms for months on end still getting paid while waiting for a review by the school board regarding crimes they may or may not have committed.

You check out local teachers' contracts before visiting a city?!

You cannot get around in your own car. You pretty much have to deal with the subway, which is a likely terrorist target...

You are far more likely to die in a car wreck in Florida than in a subway terrorist attack in NYC.

If I recall correctly, much of New York City flooded….

You want to live in Florida vs NYC because you are afraid of hurricane flooding?!

Man I hope you don't vote.  This is some of the most illogical stuff I've ever read.

ChairmanSanchez, I was actually going to defend your earlier post because there is absolutely no doubt New York is more crowded, dirtier, and smellier than multiple southern cities... but you really went off on a strange tangent.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

No wonder NY was ranked as the most authoritarian state.

[Napoleon]

First off, I find it interesting that this thread includes yet more regionalist dick waving.

Second, Bloomberg wouldn't be so deservedly widely despised if he weren't an avowed statist.  So far I've seen a mind that is willing to ban everything under the sun if it proves to have negative health consequences.  He has banned large soda drinks and styrofoam and is intent on continuning the draconian War on Drugs.  He has all the asshole qualities of so-called American "liberals" with all the asshole tendencies of gated community WASPs.  Qualities, that frankly, rank high above on the "disgust monitor".

The only fairly good thing this guy has done is endorse gay marriage.  Then again, considering how much of a "durr" that is, it's nothing to write home about.

Bloomberg is widely despised? He seems to keep getting elected.

[tmthforu94]

I hate the sound Styrofoam makes. Therefore, this has my support.

[Mechaman]

First off, I find it interesting that this thread includes yet more regionalist dick waving.

Second, Bloomberg wouldn't be so deservedly widely despised if he weren't an avowed statist.  So far I've seen a mind that is willing to ban everything under the sun if it proves to have negative health consequences.  He has banned large soda drinks and styrofoam and is intent on continuning the draconian War on Drugs.  He has all the asshole qualities of so-called American "liberals" with all the asshole tendencies of gated community WASPs.  Qualities, that frankly, rank high above on the "disgust monitor".

The only fairly good thing this guy has done is endorse gay marriage.  Then again, considering how much of a "durr" that is, it's nothing to write home about.

Bloomberg is widely despised? He seems to keep getting elected.

I meant on the forum outside of the anti-libertarian squad

Sorry.

[Lief 🗽]

First off, I find it interesting that this thread includes yet more regionalist dick waving.

Second, Bloomberg wouldn't be so deservedly widely despised if he weren't an avowed statist.  So far I've seen a mind that is willing to ban everything under the sun if it proves to have negative health consequences.  He has banned large soda drinks and styrofoam and is intent on continuning the draconian War on Drugs.  He has all the asshole qualities of so-called American "liberals" with all the asshole tendencies of gated community WASPs.  Qualities, that frankly, rank high above on the "disgust monitor".

The only fairly good thing this guy has done is endorse gay marriage.  Then again, considering how much of a "durr" that is, it's nothing to write home about.

How dare a government official try to protect his constituent's health! The nerve of this fascist!

[traininthedistance]

First off, I find it interesting that this thread includes yet more regionalist dick waving.

Second, Bloomberg wouldn't be so deservedly widely despised if he weren't an avowed statist.  So far I've seen a mind that is willing to ban everything under the sun if it proves to have negative health consequences.  He has banned large soda drinks and styrofoam and is intent on continuning the draconian War on Drugs.  He has all the asshole qualities of so-called American "liberals" with all the asshole tendencies of gated community WASPs.  Qualities, that frankly, rank high above on the "disgust monitor".

The only fairly good thing this guy has done is endorse gay marriage.  Then again, considering how much of a "durr" that is, it's nothing to write home about.

Bloomberg is widely despised? He seems to keep getting elected.

It was a pretty close thing, last election- especially when you consider how much money he poured into the race.

A lot of people despise Bloomberg, from both the right (nanny-stater!) and the left (corporatist!).  I am not one of those people, since I recognize with clear eyes that our civilization is well and truly doomed if we don't adopt a bit of pro-environmental nanny statism.

[fezzyfestoon]

As much as I cringe at the thought of opposing obviously universally positive laws that may overstep a boundary or two, I do think of it as woefully shallow and lazy. Bloomberg certainly has a way of demanding things be done his way without questions asked...an observation based mostly on the fact that any substantive questions based on these sorts of actions are generally tossed aside and only given some sort of pithy yet somehow convoluted answer. He's certainly wildly authoritarian, but he can get away with it when the actions he's taking are so minor and arguably inconsequential. What he really ought to be fighting for in a Sinclair-esque way to fight the creators and manipulators of false markets that give way to unhealthy eating habits. But he doesn't care that much that he needs to actually spend political capital on something worthwhile.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Don't ban it; just tax it to include the negative externalities involved with its use--this allows the market to work itself out.

[Vosem]

Anybody who doesn't go somewhere because of minor cultural differences (like which party you support) is a real-life troll.

You’re the guy who justifies oil wars for corporate interests, not me.

OK. So?

[Cobbler]

While I did think the soda issue was a little ridiculous for Bloomberg to pursue, I am amused by how much the libertarian crowd gets riled up over things like that and this Styrofoam ban, as if its some sort of fascist power grab.

How can banning this be opposed so strongly? It's an environmental hazard, a health hazard, and there are alternatives to it available to package food in. I generally want as many liberties as possible too, don't get me wrong. But honestly, I can do without the freedom to have my food packaged in Styrofoam if it means making people's lives better off and healthier, including my own. Just like I don't care much for the right to have asbestos all around me, I'm totally fine with this ban. I think this country needs more people in office actually looking to help make their constituents' living standards better, rather than just simply refusing to address problems out of some simplistic oath to oppose government for the sake of having smaller government.

[ingemann]

If you knew anything about Florida at all, you would know that we have gated suburban hells, not row houses, which are commonly found in New York City. I am one of the fortunate few who doesn’t live in those gated communities. I would agree that they are actually worst then NYC. As for NYC, it had 414 murders last year. Palm Beach County had around 60. Proportionally speaking, that makes PBC really, really bad. NYC is relatively good in regards to crime. I won’t deny that. My county has just over a million people; New York has about eight million. New York City is not that heavily overcrowded either. Those are the good things I could say about the city.

Here is the reason why I never will live in that city, and never will bother to visit it-it is freaking New York. It has a school system that has hundreds if not thousands of teachers waiting in rubber rooms for months on end still getting paid while waiting for a review by the school board regarding crimes they may or may not have committed.

You cannot get around in your own car. You pretty much have to deal with the subway, which is a likely terrorist target, it costs thousands of dollars to live there comfortably (unless of course you come from a wealthy family with connections, in which case, you either are supported directly or are able to get stable employment via family ties), and finally, you miss out on the friendliness/stability you might find in a small town (hell, I live in Boynton, and this town is too big for my liking).

I live in a county that has been ravaged repeatedly by Hurricanes. And part of the reason I oppose FEMA is because all the rich people in Manalapan and Ocean Ridge across the river from me (I can actually see Al Haig’s old house right now) get their docks and seawalls rebuilt after every storm, and have their private beaches resanded with tax payer money. There is never any severe flooding here due to the Hurricanes, with the exception of the agrarian western areas of the county, which the county, not the Feds, dried out when we got our brush with Irene (which slightly brushed us). If I recall correctly, much of New York City flooded….

And finally, we come to the last reason to despise New York-the New Yorker. I know them well, because my own dad is one of them. I tolerate them better than most who are not related to New Yorkers, but I still find myself annoyed by them. Kinda like the way New Yorkers dislike people from Alabama. The North-South divide transcends politics and race as of 2013. Its just a natural cultural divide now a days.

You've never been to a place, yet you despise it?  And because of Hurricane Sandy, the rubber room, hypothetical terrorist attacks and a bunch of assumptions about what people are like... ridiculous.  That's a horrible, closed-minded juvenile attitude.

I personally love New York City.  But, I also appreciate every place I've been to including Alabama.  If you try to find the positive parts of life and don't assume you know everything about people and places you've never lived, you'll be happier and smarter for it. 

You ought to come visit New York while you can still eat halal in a non-nanny state libertarian fashion. 

Couldn't have said it better.  This is exactly why I find comments against the South disparaging, even as someone who's never been as far as Virginia (and technically Florida, when I was like, a toddler).  Personally, I hate living in Connecticut because of the weather, but over time I've come to really appreciate the spot on my street where I've lived for fourteen years.  The point is, no place is perfect, and you can find beauty in anything if you look hard enough.

Please, Sanchez.  Have some manners and keep your eyes out of the neoconfederate bulls**t for a while...

Where, besides the part of where I attacked New Yorkers themselves, is there anything remotely saying the South is better or even equal. I never once said anything in regards to that.

That's not the point.  My point is, don't attack other regions, especially ones that you've never been to before.

Really I would love to see this extented to foreign countries, don't attack North Korea unless you have visited, don't say anything bad about Somalia before you have visited it etc.
People can make a educated judgement on a place they haven't visited, of course they need to be open to that they may be wrong.