Big Nanny Is Watching You

Over the years there has been a gradual erosion of our right to make our own decisions about even the most mundane aspects of our lives. The State, has crept its way into almost every corner of our day to day living. For our own good of course. Spare us from the do gooders.... they do more harm in their zeal to help.

"The do-gooder leftist in all the various ideological incarnations--the antiwar crowd, the environmental crowd, the communists, socialists, and assorted collectivists--offers the rationale that he does what he does for the "common good" and for "social justice", "peace" and "brotherhood". His high-minded, self-righteous rhetoric justifies (to him anyway) imposing his will and beliefs on others for their own good; and he will not hesitate to use whatever coercive capablity he has at hand to get others to do what he wants and what he says."

In trying to be the Big Nanny and protect us all from harm, the government is smothering us with love. A parent who knows absolutely, with no reservations, they know best and who controls every tiny detail of the child's life, is creating a future adult who can't make decisions and is unable to take responsibility for their own actions. Some parents even permanently cripple the emotional growth of their children in order to become needed and indispensable. These needy parents are not doing their child or society any favors by creating adults who have never grown up.

The same can be said for a government that takes away the ability to chose and creates a dependent and infantile population. Maybe that is the intended effect, make the government needed and indispensable to a society who is functioning at a lower and lower level each generation. Like Mother knows best....the Nanny Government thinks it knows what is best for us...and we'd better behave the way they want us to or else.

The government controls what we wear... helmets when riding a bike, fire retardants in children's sleepwear whether you want it or not. They control what we eat....remember the mandate that we shouldn't eat eggs sunny side up? They control how we move about.... speed limits, seat belts, child seats until the child is the size of a small adult. What toys we can give our children..... small weeble wobbles and legos are too dangerous. We have ridiculous warning labels on products that warn us about using things in the way no one in their right mind would consider.

In the attempt to legislate away stupidity and personal responsibility New York wants to ban the use of cell phones and Ipods while walking. I say we let Darwin's laws do their fine work. We will all be better for it.

California wants to tell me, for my own good of course, what kind of light bulbs I can use in my home. What are they going to do? Set up a new bureaucracy to come to my home driving gas guzzling Chevy Tahoes and demand to inspect my closet to make sure I have the "correct" light bulbs?? I hope they give me some advance warning so I can at least pick up my dirty underwear! I don't need a lecture from the government on that topic. I heard enough about that from my real mother. I wouldn't put it past them.

They want to tell us how to discipline our children. A bill in proposed in California: " any striking of a child, any corporal punishment, smacking, hitting, punching, any of that.'' Lieber (who has no children of her own by the way) said it would be a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail or a fine up to $1,000, although a legal expert advising her on the proposal said first-time offenders would probably only have to attend parenting classes." So, if I decide to swat my temper tantrum throwing 3 year old on the bottom in the grocery store. I get to go attend classes held by someone who probably never had children (they heard about them though) to tell me how to be a better parent. Better yet, I go to jail and let a total stranger rear my child in our wonderful foster care system. There are already laws that punish child abuse and I applaud the enforcement of these laws. A swat on the behind and a 'time out' is not child abuse. Big Nanny doesn't always know best.

Now the final straw in the government's interference!!. Crisco is going to change their formula after 95 years to comply with the war against trans fats. The food police are now going to be rummaging through my pantry for contraband shortening. They are getting up and personal with me now. No more Crisco in chocolate chip cookies. No more Crisco in pie crusts. Don't MAKE me use lard. I will use lard..but don't MAKE ME.

I've had it with the food police, the fashionistas, the eco-nazis and Big Nanny government. I'm buying light bulbs, Crisco and gonna swat a three year old on the behind..... come and get me...I dare you.

And in that vein I hereby publish the very best coffee cake recipe I have ever had. Full of fat, calories and sugar....nyaa nyaaa to Big Nanny.

Italian Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

2 1/2 cups Flour
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda

FILLING
12 oz cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1. Mix together the first six ingredients until crumbly. Reserve 3/4 cup of this mixture and to that add cinnamon and walnuts. Set the 3/4 cup topping aside for topping.

2. In a mixing bowl combine the filling ingredients until smooth. Set aside.

3.In another bowl mix together eggs buttermilk, baking powder, baking soda. Combine with the crumbly mixture. Pour half into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Don't worry if it looks like your first layer of batter seems skimpy. It will rise up just fine. Pour or spoon the cream cheese filling over the batter. Then pour or spoon the rest of the cake mixture over the cream cheese layer and top with the crumbly walnut mixture.

4.Bake at 350 for 40 to 50 minutes