Saturday, August 4, 2012

He's At It Again...


To be fair, he hasn't really stopped since January 2002. The "he" I'm talking about is Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the "it" is trying to micromanage our lives through legislation and "initiatives".

Right out of the gate in 2002, Mayor Mike set his agenda. First on his list was "improving" Mayor Rudy Guiliani's sensible ban on smoking in restaurants and work places. Former smoker Mayor Mike was not satisfied with controlling smoking in the work places and restaurants, so he doubled down and added bans on smoking in bars, beaches, public parks and all open public spaces. He has tried to ban smoking in private places too, but that is not working out so well.

Because not everyone smokes, Mayor Mike's next step was to ban transfats from our diet. It was obvious to him (as it should have been to us) that it was the fries at McDonald's that were our real enemy, so out the door transfats went. The result has been higher prices for fast fried foods, but our waistlines have not shrunk one bit.

Then came his war on salt and war on cupcakes. Yes, cupcakes. Apparently the only thing standing in the way of our children's health and Type 2 diabetes were those insidious cupcakes sold by school groups to "raise funds". "Raise funds" HAH! Raise blood sugar levels more like it. So, as you may have guessed by now, Mayor Mike banned all school fundraiser cupcake sales. Oh, we groused and moaned and wrote letters, but as we have learned in the last 10 1/2 years, Mayor Mike knows best.

But now, Mayor Mike may have finally overstepped big time. His new initiative Latch on New York is his latest attempt to micromanage our lives and the target this time is new mothers. Here is what the official NYC Health and Mental Hygiene website says:

Latch On NYC is a citywide initiative to support mothers who choose to breastfeed and limit practices that interfere with that choice. It involves both a hospital commitment to limit infant formula promotion and a public awareness campaign on the benefits of breast milk.

Yes, new mothers will no longer have to sole responsibility to decide whether to breastfeed or formula feed their newborn babies. According to our beloved mayor, new mothers are just too stupid and weak to decide these things for themselves, so he had to step in to help. This is how it will work.

Beginning September 1, area hospitals who sign on to this new initiative, will have to put baby formula under lock and key as if it were morphine or Oxycontin. If a new mother chooses to formula feed and has the misfortune of choosing the wrong hospital, she will have to change her mind or submit to a mandatory lecture and scolding from a maternity nurse. If this new mother still is selfish or stupid enough to insist on formula, she will then have to wait with her screaming, hungry newborn for this Nurse Ratchet to walk all the way to the dispensary, check out one portion of formula like its a class three narcotic, and take it back to the new mother. Then Nurse Ratchet must record the transaction in the permanent medical records like any other drug for the state to see. This transaction will happen EVERY TIME the new mother requests formula - lecture, scolding, dispensary, recording.

Now I know what your are thinking - fortunately for the nurses and the new mommies, babies only eat every two hours, right? I thought so, so let's do some math. The state has already mandated insurance companies must pay for a minimum of three day hospital stay for new mothers/babies with normal births. That's three days times 12 feedings a day...so that's....carry the one...yes, that's 36 times this little drama will have to play out if the new mother does not submit to the will of the state. Do you think anyone really did the math on this? And do you think any new mother who is already hopped up on hormones and a hungry infant, is going to not feel the pressure?

There are many reasons why a new mother chooses to use formula and, in fact, there is no scientific proof that breastfeeding is any better than formula. But now Mike wants to stress out the most stress out segment of our population - new mothers. But as we know, science and stuff don't really matter because Mayor Mike has spoken.

514 days left and counting...

44 comments:

AndrewPrice said...

Bev, Someone referred to him as Doomberg the other day and I thought that was really appropriate!

As for this, wow, how much more intrusive can this jerk get? And they think conservatives are too interested in people's personal lives!

AndrewPrice said...

P.S. I love the counter, but right now the IMPORTANT number is closer to 95ish.

DUQ said...

Bev, It sounds like it's time for a revolution!

DUQ said...

Also, did anybody see that NBC had to apologize for airing a commercial with a monkey doing gymnastics right after a black American gymnast did her thing? Does that make any sense? Why is it that the ad isn't racist unless it's shown before a black gymnast does her thing? This is ridiculous. Either it is or it isn't racist, it shouldn't matter when it's shown.

BevfromNYC said...

Doomberg. I like it. He's finally met his match in expectant and new mothers. And whatever happened to public service announcements? They worked for us - Don't Mess With Texas, Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires, the crying Indian. We've been duly indoctrinated and didn't even feel it.

And I am just looking ahead with the countdown clock. You can never start a countdown clock too early.

BevfromNYC said...

No DUQ, I hadn't seen that. And you are right. It's either racist ALL the time or it's not. However, since Gabbie Douglas didn't even think about the racial aspect of her gold medal win until a reporter told her, I doubt it was because SHE was upset about the commercial.

DUQ said...

Bev, I'm not blaming her, I'm blaming all the idiots who decided this was racist when it obviously wasn't.

BevfromNYC said...

DUQ, I didn't think you were blaming Gabby. I was just pointing out that Gabby didn't even think about race in her quest for the gold. So it was probably some liberal pinhead who can't see anything BUT her race.

Tennessee Jed said...

my heart goes out to you for having to live in that bastion of liberalism. I never realized how much of an assaholic the mayor actually is.

Tennessee Jed said...

As for Gabby and racism, I happen to see a post from someone on Facebook who had "liked" a photo published by "African Americans for Obama." The caption was touting the president's phone call to her praising her efforts as well as touting her as the first African American to win an all around gold in gymnastics.

This pissed me off on two separate levels. First, the notion of African Americans for Obama strikes me as racist on it's face. Can you imagine a group called white Americans for Romney? Second, this exploits her for political purposes on the basis of her race. I don't think of her as the first African American, but did celebrate her as another American champion.

Jen said...

Bev, Well sister, you have my condolences for living in NY, and there's no way anyone could get me to live there. Try dragging me kicking, and screaming--you won't get very far.

As for "Doomberg", Rush calls him that all the time.

BevfromNYC said...

Jed, you know what, I don't think even Gabbie thinks of herself as an African American gymnast. She was genuinely surprised when the reporter told her and actually said "Well, I hadn't thought of that, but I guess you're right!"

I go on record as saying that I LOVE Gabbie Douglas. She's what every girl should strive to be. Talented, hard working, smart and surrounded by good people and as humble and grounded as a real role model should be.

Maybe she can be Mayor of New York...

BevfromNYC said...

Jen and Jed, Thanks for you sympathies, but I am not sure what I would do if I lived in a place without the constant liberal aggravation. All that calm and quiet. It makes me shutter to think about it. Liberals are like heroine to me...I know their bad for my health, but I just can't quit them.

Jen said...

Bev, Better you than me. I grew up in a liberal city/county, and when I moved back for a short time, I couldn't take it.

My next door neighbors are libs, but I get along fine with them. I don't know what they would do if they found out I wasn't on their side. I have some other friends that teeter the fence on ideology, but they do know what side I'm on, yet they still invite me over.

*I may not be able to reply. My power went out for a few seconds, and there is an approaching storm.

BevfromNYC said...

Jen, be safe and let us know you are okay when the storm passes.

ellenB said...

Bev, I'm amazed the citizens of New York have risen up with pitchforks and 17 oz drinks and rid themselves of this fool. I hope this time he's pushed too far.

BevfromNYC said...

Well, EllenB, we are getting very close, but you'd be surprised at the number of people who actually AGREE with Mayor Bloomberg. The hardcore breastfeeding fascists in NY are all for his new "initiative", because they think women who feed their babies formula are committing child abuse and will tell any woman they see bottle feeding their kid just that. Of course these are the same women who breastfeed their kids until the kid decides to stop usually around kindergarten when other kids ridicule them.

I hope this kind of talk isn't making the guys nervous... :-D

ellenB said...

Bev, Sadly, I know too many liberals who happily agree with his idea. They think the government needs to run everyone's life.

I've heard that garbage about forumula being abuse, but I never paid attention. The people who say that are insane.

ellenB said...

Bev, I remember in the 1980s they made a big push against formula companies by claiming they were killing third world babies because the formula had to be mixed with whatever dirty water they had on hand. So this goes back a long way.

ScyFyterry said...

Nothing makes me nervous... except breast feeding in public. Ahhhh!

just kidding

BevfromNYC said...

ScyFyterry - I saw a woman breastfeed a 4 year old on the NYC downtown bus in public. Talk about "AAAAHHHHHH". And I'm not kidding!

ScyFyterry said...

4?? Isn't that a crime or something?

BevfromNYC said...

ScyFyterry - Well, it should be, but then that should be something only Mayor Bloomberg should decide.

ellenB said...

There has to be a point where breastfeeding crosses over into child abuse. I would think four would be pretty close. Talk about creepy.

ScyFyterry said...

Bev, Clearly, this is a decision only His Right Honorable Dictator for Life can decide.

BevfromNYC said...

ellenB - Well, I think it is pretty close to child abuse and really creepy too.

BevfromNYC said...

ScyFyterry - As a matter of fact, I do not decide what the weather is until Mayor Mike tells me.

ScyFyterry said...

Bev, Does he still send out notices of what to wear each day? ;)

ScyFyterry said...

Also, did you see the photoshoot he did? He looks like a pimp. I'll go look for the link.

ScyFyterry said...

Here it is: Bloomberg Photoshoot

Ed said...

That's really funny, ScyFyterry. He totally looks like a pimp. And what is he doing with a pregnant socialite?

ScyFyterry said...

Ed, Everybody needs a hobby. ;D

DUQ said...

For what he spent to make himself mayor, you all should cut him some slack and let him run your lives.

BevfromNYC said...

DUQ - I believe he spent about $10K per vote. I wish he'd just given me the money. I would have vote for him! Oh, I know that's not...you think I'm gonna say "legal", don't you?

Kit said...

Oh, they will get a lecture all right. Even if the mom has been trying to breastfeed for 5 hours and has only got a few ounces out, the nipple is bleeding, feels like the worst mother in the world because she can't do what her midwifes tell her is a natural maternal activity, and the child is starving she is still A SELFISH AND ABUSIVE BITCH for wanting to try formula!

And if her husband suggests it, THEN THAT IS JUST LIKE MEN! ISN'T IT! THEY KNOW NOTHING OF MOTHERS AND NOTHING OF CHILD-REARING!!!
PIGS!


P.S. My mom had a similar problem with me. It wasn't helped by the fact that my doctor got my weight wrong.

Kit said...

Here is an opinion piece from Perth, Australia on the topic
LINK

Kit said...

God,

Please do not let the Spam Filter grab my posts up.

Kit said...

I mean, it's not like our campaign to make sure women breastfeed by keeping as much knowledge on bottle-feeding away from new mothers could actually harm any of the newly born babies.

How could our actions harm babies if we only want what is best for them?

Kit said...

Moms,

When your kids reach 48 months, its time to start weaning.

Jen said...

Bev, I'm okay, thank you. I had some things to do first before I got back here. So far, no damage that I could see, but I'll check tomorrow.

tryanmax said...

Kit, you beat me to it. I was going to say about the same thing about mothers who can't produce or whose infants can't/won't latch on, as was the case with my ex-wife and daughter.

I also wonder whether the lectures will apply in cases of birth defects which prevent breast-feeding. Honestly, I think the disability groups need to get all over this one.

As to breast-feeding a four-year-old: not just creepy, but potentially dangerous. My four-year-old has been a biter since she got teeth.

Oh, and as to that Australian study, I can tell you exactly why the rate of breast feeding plummets between three and six months. There are these things called "teeth" (you may have heard of them) that babies are born without. When they start coming in around 4-5 months of age, baby experiences great discomfort which is often alleviated by chomping down on things. Once the "teeth" break the gums, baby has developed a fast habit of chomping down on anything entering his/her mouth. Including mommy.

Unknown said...

"I also wonder whether the lectures will apply in cases of birth defects which prevent breast-feeding."

Answer: no.

"Enforce the New York State hospital regulation to not supplement breastfeeding infants with formula unless medically indicated and documented on the infant’s medical chart."

Source: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/ms/latchonnyc.shtml

BevfromNYC said...

But the real question, Andrew M., is what that means "unless medically necessary AND DOCUMENTED ON THE INFANT'S...CHART.". How about the mother's sanity and mental wellbeing? I find that many of the pro-breast feeding studies and opinions are written by men and many of the pro formula or more accurately pro choice studies snd opinions are written by women. I wonder why that is? ;-)

Individualist said...

Bev

Wow!

I simply can't fathon this crap. At some point someone is going to flip. You can't simply keep pushing people like this all the time.

What the heck is wrong with the people of NYC that they stomach this nonsense. I could not live there.

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