The Mayor Dictates Your Diet

By Erin Jones

When your mother asked you to eat your Brussels sprouts before leaving the dinner table – you swallowed them.  When your chemistry teacher told you what to mix – you created a blue amalgam.  And, when your mentor told you what to not say in an interview – you landed the job.

The mayor of New York City recently told his people to cut their intake of salt. Did he ask them if they wanted to partake in this lifestyle change?  Not exactly.  Michael Bloomberg simply announced that “the city is starting a ‘nationwide initiative’ to pressure the food industry and restaurant chains to cut salt intake by half over the next decade.”  And that was that.

This made me think.  Do people like decisions being made for them, especially if it is in their best interest?