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FoodandFarmRedCelery_t607.jpg
Celery won't be this fresh for city employees - they're offering it in the vending machines. (AP Photo/File)

Nanny-alert: Are Seattle government employees really that helpless?

BY Dori Monson  on March 4, 2013 @ 10:39 pm (Updated: 7:06 am - 3/5/13 )

Dori writes...

Do you ever have an event at work where the planner orders a bunch of pizzas for the staff?

They order a few pepperoni pizzas, a couple all-meat, a couple cheese, and one veggie pizza.

Toward the end of the event, you decide you want just one more slice - so you start flipping through the pizza boxes. They're all empty - except for the veggie pizza - there's plenty of that left. You know why?

BECAUSE VEGGIE PIZZA IS AWFUL!

I thought about that as I heard about the Seattle City Council vote Monday to require that at least 50 percent of all food sold in vending machines be "healthy" offerings.

So they will start selling baby carrots and celery sticks out of city vending machines. Mmmmm.

My favorite part of this story is the quote from Councilman Richard Conlin, "This is one way we can support healthy and productive city employees".

Really? Seattle government workers are so helpless and lack so much control of their own lives they need the City Council to force their food choices? City of Seattle workers are incapable of bringing healthy snacks from home if that's what they desire?

This is yet another pathetic example of a nanny-state run amok.

What's the over/under on how long it will be until the city council tells us they need to raise taxes to make up for falling vending machine revenues?

Dori Monson, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dori Monson is host of The Dori Monson Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays Noon-3) and the pre-game and post-game host for the Seattle Seahawks Radio Network. There are three words that Dori thinks best describe him - competitive, competitive and competitive.
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Comments (35)


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  • messiah101 wrote...
    "Offering healthy food choices is another example of
    March 5, 2013 3:02 am
    A nanny state run amok" What a truly IDIOTIC statement even from a Far Far Right Wingnut.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Raymong wrote...
    Why?
    March 5, 2013 5:21 am
    Why is this a "IDIOTIC" statement? What about vendor ? Now the state is telling them what to put in thier machines, machines that they own or rent, machines that won't produce enough revenue to make it worth thier effort because someone other then thier customer base is telling them what to sell. Shades of NY. Another victory for the anti-capitalists. Oh, that's why the statement is IDIOTIC...I get it... The offer of healthy food is just a ruse.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Raymong
    March 5, 2013 8:09 am
    The vendors want to do business on my turf I dictate the terms.If a vendor does not like it another will likely go along.Its about choice.Good heavens many restaurants offer many alternative choices now because people want to eat healthy
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Raymong wrote...
    Dictate
    March 5, 2013 9:32 am
    The operitive word here is "Dictate" to both the vendor and to your employees. Now if they (the employees) were requesting a healthier food be put into the machines then the vendor would be wise to accomidate. Correct me if I am wrong but the City Council are a group hired(voted) by the people to do the peoples business and not to tell them what to eat.
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  • RareClarity wrote...
    This is funny too...
    March 5, 2013 3:50 pm
    The vending machines will be ultimately removed after a number of cycles where the supplying vendor has to clear out moldy carrots and the like and or throw away $$$ on slow and stale inventory. Why these nanny state religious zealots will not relent. Vote with your feet City of Seattle Employees. LIVE FROM SEATTLE, IT's TUESDAY NIGHT!
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    messiah - shut up
    March 5, 2013 6:49 am
    and eat your seaweed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    I just had a seaweed salad a few days ago at a Thai place, Mr. ron
    March 5, 2013 7:26 am
    Great crunch and VERY tasty.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    ronp
    March 5, 2013 9:10 am
    I love my seaweed but I require a bit of raw fish rolled into it
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • monroemad wrote...
    Adults can make their own choices, unless you are a bureaucrat?We are
    March 5, 2013 11:06 am
    It just tells me how low the IQ is of most government workers. Too low to decide what they want to eat and must have a council decide it for them.
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  • froggy wrote...
    Who will reimburse the vendor...
    March 5, 2013 4:20 am
    when those "fresh" foods go stale and not sold and have to be thrown out?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cdbtx wrote...
    So Messiah
    March 5, 2013 5:01 am
    You're incapable, so mentally weak, unable to make a decision not to eat junk food?

    Or is it that you're a God, A superior being that is above all other humans and thus your word, your thinking should become the law.

    The difference between a slave and a freeman is that the freeman has the "FREEDOM" to make choices good or bad..and in turn accept the personal responsibility for making those choices.

    I know, I know.. not in your reality..

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • WiIliam Lawn wrote...
    Yes cdbtx messedup101 is incapable, and so mentally weak, he is unable to make a decision for himself
    March 5, 2013 7:21 am
    It's not he is god, it's that government is his god. And without it he would die on a street corner or in his closet. Freedom does not compute with him. He's gone as far to say this country was born on domestic terrorism, and England unfortunately failed it's war on terror. That pretty much sums up the insanity that's in his mind.
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    Willy
    March 5, 2013 8:21 am
    You have a real comprehension problem no wonder you have such a crazy view of America.I have NEVER even come close to saying that our country was born on domestic terror (you'll need to ask the Indians that question because I was taught American history written by the White man) and I never mentioned England failing in its war on terror (if you ask my Irish relatives it was England doing the terrorizing)You don't understand that YOU WILL NEVER HAVE 100% FREEDOM anywhere,who are you kidding? If 100% FREEDOM happened tomorrow mass Bloodshed would occur and 1/2 the population would likely be dead in a couple of years and most of those left would be enslaved by a FEW.
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    cdbtx Freedom my arse!
    March 5, 2013 8:14 am
    Why do you believe they have all the candy bars lined up along the check out aisles at the super market?Look around you all you see in this State are frigging FAT people. I for one do not want to share in their medical costs when they have a stroke or get diabetes.The advertisers do an excellent job selling us junk food,a better job then most people have resistance for.Thats the REAL world
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • The Wiz wrote...
    ha ha ha ha!
    March 5, 2013 10:41 am
    "I for one do not want to share in their medical costs...." oh, worry not 101. I'm pretty sure that including some carrots in the state worker vending machines will solve the problem. Are you for real? Don't city workers have pretty good health care? Ok, now is where you all me an idiot (probably in all caps) and spew some more gibberish. Carry on...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mynorthwester wrote...
    Dori
    March 5, 2013 6:14 am
    Please move. That is all
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    "productive city employees"
    March 5, 2013 6:21 am
    Ha ha haaaa.... That right there is funny stuff. Wa. State will be little California in a year or two.(Bankrupt.)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    The left thinks that vending machines are easy money
    March 5, 2013 6:53 am
    Pity the poor business owner who signs a 5 year contract with Seattle to rent space for his vending machines only to find out that Seattle has changed the rules. If he pays $8,000 for a vending machine with 80 slots but only can fill 40 slots with items that sell, he is up a creek.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Moondoggie
    March 5, 2013 8:23 am
    If the contract says the vendor decides what go's in the machines then thats the contract.Of course if the machines were on my property I would tell the vendor that I will honor the contract but when its up YOUR GONE.That may get the vendor to compromise
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    How about a compromise?
    March 5, 2013 6:59 am
    The vender gets to stock his machines with what he thinks will sell and in retrun he agrees to have a cup taped to the side of the machine filled with celery (with a sign that says, FREE CELERY). Then every week he can refill the machine with candy bars and chips, empty the money and then toss the old celery out and replace it with fresh celery.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    what amazies me the most is.........
    March 5, 2013 8:02 am
    There are people that actually need, want and desire this type of oversight.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    mnpat
    March 5, 2013 8:28 am
    If I'm an employer I want my workers to be healthy as it saves me money healthy people take less sick days and the health insurance is cheaper for me.Many companys today give employees a bonus for things like quitting smoking,losing weight.Watch TV some time and see how many commercials are for weight loss drugs ,gyms,diets.Wake up its 2013 not 1955. We need to think healthy
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HikerACE wrote...
    Sitting at a computer all day makes you fat.
    March 5, 2013 9:36 pm
    Shall we expect less M101 posts now?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ratrustle wrote...
    Can't wait
    March 5, 2013 9:45 am
    for the City regulation that requires everyone to breathe at the appropriate time. Maybe a flashing light and a siren set to go off at 10 second intervals?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    Lots if angry people in here
    March 5, 2013 10:43 am
    I recommend you eat a snickers
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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