Freedom From Fast Food

Two months ago we heard Obama say roughly the same thing, "we can't eat what we want..." Now, L.A. blocks fast-food outlets from opening in poor areas.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles City Council has approved a one-year moratorium on new fast-food restaurants in a low-income area of the city.

The moratorium unanimously approved Tuesday is a bid to attract restaurants that offer healthier food choices to residents in a 32-square-mile area of South Los Angeles.

Councilwoman Jan Perry says residents at five public meetings expressed concern with the proliferation of fast-food outlets in the community plagued by above-average rates of obesity.

Nearly three-quarters of the restaurants in South L.A. are fast-food outlets. That's a higher percentage than other parts of the city but the restaurant industry says the moratorium won't help bring in alternatives.

Ineffectual bums. Somehow getting restaurants that serve arugula will end crime, decrease drug use and bring back jobs? Maybe forcing restaurants out of poor people's neighborhoods is not a good idea? Like ethanol mandates, this is a plan full of unintended consequences and another dodge by worthless politicians who have no clue what they are doing. Big government advocates always speak of freedom from rather than freedom to - and this is a classic example.