Nanny state takes humanity out of being human

This is regarding "New rules, more worries," (See Apalachicola Times Dec. 10, 2009)

First, the FDA announced it was going to take overreaching steps for a non-problem. Now, the State of Florida is knuckling under efforts to impose costly changes for our oyster harvesters -- and ultimately affecting those consumers who want to eat raw oysters.

From the NSSP Guide: “Current information concerning Vibrio vulnificus, which is responsible for SEVERAL shellfish associated illnesses and deaths each year can be found in Watkins and McCarthy (1994)." [emphasis added]

SEVERAL?! Here is the knee-jerk nanny state again veering out of control and intruding into our lives. It's like the spinach crisis and tomato disaster (which apparently turned out to be something else) from a couple years back.

This is "Cap and Trade" for our oyster harvesters ... where apparently significant reductions in illness were made in 2005 - 2007, not sure about 2008 but not meeting the goal is probably the reason for the action... rather than revisiting standards and consumer educational programs, it's Nanny imposed over regulation.

The four affected states need to jointly go back to the Vibro Management Committee and put some common sense back into the proposed regulations.

I'm sick and tired of not being able to get a medium-rare hamburger ... I know the risks, and I hate having to gnaw on leather burgers. We cannot and never will make all forms of food safe for all people. We're slowly taking the humanity out of being human (our ability to make our own free-will decisions), and at obscene costs attempting to do the impossible.

I don't eat raw oysters, but I'll stand up and defend your right to eat them!

Raymond Netherwood

Miramar Beach