National Government Reduction Initiative — VOICES for REASON

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg doesn’t like the amount of salt that Americans consume—and therefore he wants to force us to consume less. The newly launched National Salt Reduction Initiative seeks to reduce Americans’ consumption of salt by 20 percent over the next five years. The program is described as “a coalition of cities, states and health organizations working to help food manufacturers and restaurants voluntarily reduce the amount of salt in their products.” This coalition will set reduced sodium targets in a broad array of foods, and businesses who sign on will pledge to meet those goals.

Seems harmless, right? After all, too much salt is supposedly unhealthy and, if you disagree with the goals of the program, well, it’s voluntary. Except that “voluntary” government programs are anything but. Just as the trans fat ban Mayor Bloomberg instituted in 2008 was preceded by a call for restaurants to “voluntarily” eliminate the lipid from their kitchens, so the National Salt Reduction Initiative is a warning shot for food producers and restaurant owners to reduce salt levels . . . or else.

Since all government intervention in the economy is backed by force, politicians do not have to pass laws to exert their influence, but can bring about compliance with their wills simply by suggesting that force might be used. Thus when you see cities, states, and government health organizations “working to help” businesses reduce the salt in their products, know what that help consists of. Given Mayor Bloomberg’s prior health mandates—which in addition to the trans fat ban include banning smoking and requiring restaurants to post calories on their menus—the “help” here offered is the kind businesses can’t refuse:  reduce your sodium intake to Bloomberg’s liking or face invasive legislation. (Though the program is branded as a national initiative, the real threat is to those who sell food in New York City—at least until other politicians in other states back the program to the extent of Bloomberg.)

Similarly, when we see businesses jumping on board Bloomberg’s low-salt bandwagon, they’re most likely only trying to lessen the damage of having it steamroll over their business. After all, there’s nothing stopping chefs or food manufacturers from using less salt if they believe it’s a good thing to do. But if they have a seat at Bloomberg’s salt-shaker-free table, maybe they have a chance at preventing new legislation, or at keeping new regulations from being overly draconian. At the very least, they’ll be better prepared when the axe does fall.

A National Salt Reduction Initiative? Give me a break. The only thing government should concern itself with is its proper function of protecting citizens’ rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. What does that mean? That the politicians’ job is not to stop you from eating salty foods, but to prevent anyone from interfering with your freedom to make your own choices. When government economic intervention has reached the point that our politicians have the power to dictate how much salt we consume, the only program Americans should be supporting is a National Government Reduction Initiative.

Image: the junes on Flickr