Thread: The Nanny State

Speaking of Nanny State and the government generally just inserting themselves into places they have no business in, this guy Bloomberg (NYC mayor) is just off the chain with government controll of everything. First it was saturated fats, then it was salt, then there was the large soda prohibition, now this:
Mayor Bloomberg's infant formula plan aimed at promoting breast-feeding in NYC hospitals - HealthPop - CBS News

Now let me see if I understand this. It's OK for a woman to kill an unwanted child and anyone who says otherwise is a right wing nut job but somehow it's the government's place to make sure that said woman is breast feeding any children she allows to live. No wonder Flah ri da is full of refugees from the PRNY (Peoples Republic of New York) No doubt if Bloomberg was my mayor, I'd be leaving town on the first thing smokin'. It's absolutely disgusting to follow up a class act like Rudy Guliani with an ass clown like this guy.

Originally Posted by 1OldGI

Now let me see if I understand this. It's OK for a woman to kill an unwanted child and anyone who says otherwise is a right wing nut job but somehow it's the government's place to make sure that said woman is breast feeding any children she allows to live.

Did you really just compare an educational initiative to abortion?

I'm OK with educational initiatives if the target audience is allowed to make their own decision in the matter. That is clearly not what's happening here, hospitals are being instructed to not provide formula to any babies unless there's a valid medical reason that the woman cannot breastfeed. Abortion came up just because I find a ridiculous irony that the extremist pro-choicers like Bloomberg and his ilk are all about a woman's choice to manage her own reproductive system but insist on owning and managing the baby feeders.

Originally Posted by 1OldGI

I'm OK with educational initiatives if the target audience is allowed to make their own decision in the matter. That is clearly not what's happening here, hospitals are being instructed to not provide formula to any babies unless there's a valid medical reason that the woman cannot breastfeed. Abortion came up just because I find a ridiculous irony that the extremist pro-choicers like Bloomberg and his ilk are all about a woman's choice to manage her own reproductive system but insist on owning and managing the baby feeders.

It truly is ironical, verging on the absurd!

Originally Posted by 1OldGI

I'm OK with educational initiatives if the target audience is allowed to make their own decision in the matter. That is clearly not what's happening here, hospitals are being instructed to not provide formula to any babies unless there's a valid medical reason that the woman cannot breastfeed. Abortion came up just because I find a ridiculous irony that the extremist pro-choicers like Bloomberg and his ilk are all about a woman's choice to manage her own reproductive system but insist on owning and managing the baby feeders.

I got a different story on Fox. They said the formula was to be locked up like prescription medicine and would not be provided until the woman got a breast feeding lecture.

Originally Posted by 1OldGI

I'm OK with educational initiatives if the target audience is allowed to make their own decision in the matter. That is clearly not what's happening here

From the article you posted: mothers who insist on bottle-feeding will still be able to do so. [this was referring to formula]

Originally Posted by 1OldGI

hospitals are being instructed to not provide formula to any babies unless there's a valid medical reason that the woman cannot breastfeed.

The initiative is voluntary and the hospitals opt-in. From the initiative: enforcing NYS hospital regulation to not supplement breastfeeding infants with formula feedings unless medically indicated. If the mother chooses to feed formula entirely then they do not need to provide medical reasoning.

You might want to read up on the actual intiative and note that it's pretty much in-line with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes adopted by the WHO in '81.

Right now the formula companies give hospitals freebies and then what is a mother to do when that free formula is done and their own milk has subsided? That type of marketing seems much more shady than education with supporting data.

Originally Posted by commiecat

From the article you posted: mothers who insist on bottle-feeding will still be able to do so. [this was referring to formula]



The initiative is voluntary and the hospitals opt-in. From the initiative: enforcing NYS hospital regulation to not supplement breastfeeding infants with formula feedings unless medically indicated. If the mother chooses to feed formula entirely then they do not need to provide medical reasoning.

You might want to read up on the actual intiative and note that it's pretty much in-line with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes adopted by the WHO in '81.

Right now the formula companies give hospitals freebies and then what is a mother to do when that free formula is done and their own milk has subsided? That type of marketing seems much more shady than education with supporting data.

I admit you're spot-on as to the facts, however, admittedly emotionally, I have to say: I'm really sick of Bloomberg's city administration pushing its various agendas by putting these various laws, ordinances and regulations on the board. Mothers, smokers, eaters, drinkers, drivers, gun-owners in NYC don't get to think for themselves and make rational or irrational decisions anymore - its all controlled by Mikey and The Gang. I really don't care about the rationale behind the regulation - this is not a good thing for a free people, and all too reminiscent of fascist governments throughout history.

I wish I had a nanny;
a British Nanny, a German Nanny, a young Russian Nanny, a Columbian Nanny...
Heck,, there have been days that I would have settled for a nanny from New Guinea.

Originally Posted by Crotalus

I got a different story on Fox. They said the formula was to be locked up like prescription medicine and would not be provided until the woman got a breast feeding lecture.

And just why should she be subjected to any lecture? Don't you think she's been through enough stress?

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

And just why should she be subjected to any lecture? Don't you think she's been through enough stress?

I'm pretty sure that it's in the job description for nurses and doctors to provide their patients with the best information to make a decision. I'm more upset at the audacity of dentists lecturing their patients on brushing and flossing. Imagine the stress of being a cancer patient and then having to hear a lecture about chemotherapy and other treatment options!