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The Spectacle Blog
In addition to trying to cut the deficit, reform health care, stop global warming, and fix Washington’s broken political culture, President Barack Obama has taken on an even weightier task: Getting rid of killer hot dogs. It seems that around a dozen kids choke to death every year eating hot dogs.
The threat—of more government meddling—is real. Reports the Washington Times:
Believe it or not, the government is about to regulate the shape of hot dogs. Bureaucrats at the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Agriculture and the Consumer Product Safety Commission are studying how to change the shape of hot dogs to prevent youngsters from choking. As a result, recent headlines have warned about “killer hot dogs” and “Doctors urging for a safer, choke-free hot dog.”
Undoubtedly the administration will next turn to killer chicken, killer gum, and former President Jimmy Carter’s nemesis, killer rabbits (one of which attempted to bite him while alive rather than choke him after being cooked).
The money the government is likely to spend on this effort would probably save several lives if spent on better health care for needy people. There’s a larger issue at stake, however. Observes the Times:
Any child’s death is tragic, but the government cannot regulate everything and create a risk-free kindergarten utopia. Perhaps bureaucrats will go after bathtubs next. More than 90 children younger than 5 died from drowning in bathtubs in 2006. Forty-three children younger than 10 died riding bicycles. Even in extremely regulated areas, there are many more deaths. In that age group, more than 1,100 died as a result of motor-vehicle accidents that year.
Life involves some risks. If government agencies don’t have anything better to do than regulate hot dogs, their budgets should be cut to help them focus on essential duties.
View all comments (37) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Doug Bandow
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/03/01/beware-the-hot-dog-police
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Crusader| 3.1.10 @ 7:56AM
I almost tripped on my kid's skateboard. Maybe nanny-sate govt can mandate square wheels on skateboards so this doesn't happen ever again!
JimH| 3.1.10 @ 8:04AM
Don't laugh. My mother once choked on Jello. Don't know how you proctect agains that.
Becky| 3.1.10 @ 8:14AM
My father in law was scared to give my kids hot dogs 30 years ago because a kid choked to death on one. My mother, the nurse, won't let a little kid play with a balloon after having to dig one out of a little patient's throat. Everything you eat has the potential to choke you.
Kids can and do get hurt on everything. Risk taking is normal and vital to raising a strong society of adults. The inability of children to explore their world, learn to appreciate physical work, and take risks, exposes the country to a weakness of character, irregardless of wealth. When you become so soft you cannot or will not risk harm defending yourself, you are no better than a lump of clay.
And while the president is busy banning hot dogs, he's still smoking. I don't think he should quit if he enjoys it.
Like the dr. who's patient caught him smoking a cigar on the golf course said: "I said if you wanted a long life to quit smoking, I want a quality one."
Office 2007 Professional | 3.1.10 @ 8:18AM
Good article,tks for sharing with us
Tim| 3.1.10 @ 8:20AM
On the contrary Mr. Bandow, the danger is very real and I support federal regulation, in fact I think President Clinton would make an excellent spkoesman for the risks of choking on a hot dog...
Crusader| 3.1.10 @ 1:18PM
I think you mean Monica Lewinski would be a good spokesperson. LOL!
jennifer | 3.5.10 @ 7:11AM
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Floyd Looney| 3.1.10 @ 8:47AM
Pencil-thick hot dogs by government fiat? *sigh* Independence Day cookouts will never be the same.
2Anglico| 3.1.10 @ 9:02AM
No matter what shape the government decides upon, the government toilet rules mean you will still have to flush 2 or 3 times to get all the dog down the drain.
Pete| 3.1.10 @ 10:10AM
Sounds like a dangerous line to toe if one wants to get into the black market on vintage hot dogs. Opening the flaps of your trench coat to reveal your longer, thicker wares.... Sorry, I couldn't resist. But this just isn't funny. This is the same as cap n tax at its core. Create more government jobs, enriching your friends and buying more votes in the process, all in the name of something that doesn't warrant any goverment spending in the first place. Great article at NRO this morning on the topic:
http://article.nationalreview......eyn?page=1
Pingback| 3.1.10 @ 11:04AM
The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Beware the Hot Dog Police! Search links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Margie| 3.1.10 @ 12:38PM
Somebody please tell these intellectually superior Leftists that it isn't about the size of the hot dog. Somebody please.. isn't there a sane nurse or doctor out there somewhere? May I then, being such a simple minded human being suggest that it has to do with the child not chewing properly?
How can they be so stupid? If a child can choke on a tiny piece of food other than a hot dog, than using that logic, they can choke on anything and all food except baby food ought to be shrunk to government regulation acceptable size.
Oh, but it isn't really about children choking, is it?
It's about the government going after yet another industry.
Hey here's a thought: Mom's & Dads could simply cut the hot dog into little pieces for their little one, and keep an eye on them while they're eating.
Greg| 3.1.10 @ 4:41PM
But to what size shall they be cut to? And in what direction? Length wise? Crosscut? What about the sharp edges?
Why doesn't the gubernment come up with USEFUL solutions....Like getting the weiner company talking to the bun company and getting the packaging quantity to be the same!!!!
How many times have you had 2 extra buns with NO dogs for those buns??? It's a shame to waste a good weiner bun!!!
Margie| 3.1.10 @ 5:17PM
I have a better idea. A free market enterprising entrepreneur (or two) could open up "Hot Dog Stands For Babies." Oscar Meyer could make the nano sized dogs. It'll be all the rage. Soon they will be putting up their sign "More than 1 billion sold!" They could become zillionaires!
Every time the government wants to take away one freedom, we beat them at their own game.
Franklin| 3.1.10 @ 1:31PM
What happened to survival of the fittest? Kids that don’t learn to chew don’t live to pass on that stupid gene – OK, I’M KIDDING!
Solution: puree all foods and IV feed all children until 18.
There, done.
AuntieMadder| 3.2.10 @ 9:05AM
What happened to survival of the fittest? Kids that don’t learn to chew don’t live to pass on that stupid gene – OK, I’M KIDDING!
That's what I said...only I wasn't kidding.
Pingback| 3.1.10 @ 6:26PM
Hot dog police… « Time for Thorns links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Richard Baker| 3.2.10 @ 9:07AM
It's long past time to cull the herd of these government parasites.
william abele| 3.2.10 @ 11:58AM
"CULL" I think of a better word
sean| 3.2.10 @ 11:21AM
Like prohibition, Americans will not obey a law that runs against common sense. Ban hot dogs? Please. Americans will start making their own. Grind the sausage/beef, insert in the casing and cook. Also, this is an opportunity for our Jewish neighbors to reintroduce the Kosher dog to the people. I sure as hell trust the local Rabbi to know what is safe to eat more than I do any politician.
willy| 3.2.10 @ 12:05PM
Will this ever end? I'm going commit suicide by hot dog. I can't take this stupid country anymore.
Anti choke tax will coming to NJ in the near future.
Margie| 3.2.10 @ 4:35PM
Please don't do it, willy. Quick, call the hot dog suicide prevention line @ 1-800-hotdigg.
Pingback| 3.2.10 @ 3:18PM
More assinine nanny statism – killer hot dogs « Da Mook links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Tom| 3.6.10 @ 5:50PM
Love way you try to sell this as an Obama initiative. Makes for great right wing propaganda, but ain't true. Read the original article-this is FDA and the Dept of Agriculture, and not political appointments. Amazing how easy it is to sell your kind of drivel to right-wing stupids, though.
Daf| 3.16.10 @ 4:54AM
Amen! My wife's aunt came to me today saying "Obama is going to criminalize hotdogs". She recounted that she'd seen a story about it on the news earlier in the morning. So this evening I've researched any possible link I can find between this story and Obama only to find.... there isn't one. The parents of the recent child to choke from a hot dog said something about them being choking hazard, reporters went to the Food and Drug Admin, and their official word was that they'd look at how to make them safer (ie, do nothing). It's just stupid gossip, and shame on those people that spread it around under the guise of reporting.
gtjyt | 3.9.10 @ 10:13PM
All you need to do is to roll the hair outward instead of inward with GHD hair straightener.
85j5yk45y | 3.9.10 @ 10:13PM
But its high price always makes me feel hard to afford due to my restrained financial conditions.
12324565| 3.15.10 @ 9:22AM
a choke proof hot dog. Just cut the bloody dog into bits. Dang nosy gaovernment Leftists. Then again, Look at the Patriot Act.
kit manucure | 11.23.10 @ 11:24PM
I agree with you Daf!