Hamster Balls Next?

Yesterday I wrote about how my sarcastic comment, "socialism starts in kindergarten" seemed to be part of a real plan, when an education organization wrote that it is "important to teach Marxism in elementary school."  Well, that was only the beginning.  I also wrote almost a year ago about the government being so determined to "protect" us that we would soon be rolling around in people-sized hamster balls.  Well, once again, I underestimated the absolute insanity of the ruling class.  On Monday, New York's Department of Health released new regulation proposals for supervised summer activities in their state.  The department stated that "risky" activities like wiffle ball, kick ball, dodge ball, and red rover "presented a significant risk of injury" and needed to be regulated more closely.  The enforcement of the  new regulations would of course be funded by a $200 license fee for all day camps, summer camps, and activity centers.  After a few hours of national ridicule, the New York Department of Health pulled the proposed regulations.  "The practical effect is that we are not going to get that detailed and into micromanagement."  When you think about that statement by department spokeswoman Claudia Hutton, she's not saying they won't regulate children's activities, or drop the proposal to impose the $200 fee.  They are going to be more broad and vague in the language of their regulations.

And if you think my hamster ball suggestion was funny, take a look at this site.  I have always said that the reason Bobby and I made such a dangerous pair as children was that I would come up with ridiculous, fun, and dangerous ideas and Bobby would actually do them.  Maybe if I had a friend like Bobby today we would be  "people ball" tycoons!  Where are you, Bobby?

Ban It!

Here's an interesting story about the importance of education and the average American's willingness to let the government take care of them.

A reporter went to Times Square on a weekday late afternoon, just as office workers were crowding the street to go home after a work day.  He stopped 200 people at random and asked if they would favor the federal government either banning or strictly regulating the use of dihydrogen monoxide.  Dihydrogen monoxide is a very commonly found chemical that, through simple inhalation, kills thousands of people per year in the United States alone. It's use by businesses and individuals is essentially unregulated.  No licenses are required for its purchase or use.

As a former resident of Arizona, and frequent radio listener in the Phoenix area, I can tell you that the state ran public service ads hourly warning about the dangers of the chemical, especially to young children.

The poll results?  70% of those questioned said the government should ban the chemical compound immediately.  15% said it should be strictly regulated.  The remaining 15% were obviously libertarian nutjobs that protest government regulation of anything.  After all who is not in favor of banning di(meaning 2) hydrogen (highly explosive, right?) mono (one) oxide (oxygen)?  Or H2O.  If you still don't get it, you must be a recent American high school graduate.  It's water.

We not only allow, but encourage these people to vote!  Change, yeah!  Sign me up!  Oh yeah, what are we changing to?  Hope it's good.  Got any water?