I will be adding a new section of blog over the next week or so, called scraps. The scraps are short commentaries on whatever. Here’s an example, sparked by a story in our illustrious local paper.

“While we like less government, sometimes government has to step in and literally act in the interest of the public health,” he told senators.

John “Mac” Stipanovich, a lobbyist for Trademark Metal Recycling, was explaining why the state of Florida should charge auto manufacturers for the mercury switches they installed in cars up until 2003. He probably didn’t realize how odd his statement sounds; perhaps it encapsulates what might be a common idea these days: your government exists for some inscrutable obscure purpose. So much for of, by and for the people…Part of the problem may be that for some years now a slogan (like “No big government!”) is more powerful than its meaning–or meaninglessness. What really tickles me about his qualifying remarks are the words “sometimes,” and “literally.” Isn’t acting in the public health one of the primary charges of a government, maybe the ONLY one, along with, say, public safety?

“State tries to deal with mercury in some cars”
By LLOYD DUNKELBERGER
Sun Tallahassee Bureau
http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060415/LOCAL/204150334/1078/living

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