In his reply to my post, Jastonite points out the differences in our usage of the word tyranny, I use it to refer to cruelty, while he refers to arbitrary and unrestrained power. I think that pretty well sums it up. I remain opposed to the regulation, I just think tyranny is too harsh a word in this case, as I have defined it.
That being said, I don’t really agree that the ban is arbitrary and unrestrained, although I can certainly see the arguments that it is. One might argue that its arbitrary because why regulate soft drinks? There are a whole host of other (potentially or definitely) harmful things out there we don’t regulate! And I’m sympathetic to that line of reasoning. But, the mayor has identified what he believes to be a public health problem, and he has taken policy steps to improve public health. Now we can argue whether or not there really is a public health problem here, whether the regulation will provide the policy outcomes he seeks, and even whether or not the mayor should be acting in this space at all. Those are all perfectly good and useful areas of debate. But I think it shows that the regulation wasn’t arbitrary, it was an attempt to achieve what the mayor views as a legitimate outcome.
As for “unrestrained”, I’m also sympathetic to the argument that the mayor acted through committee and not city council, and thus no voting (by the public or elected representatives) will occur. Hence his use of power here has not been restrained. However, the mechanism for that restraint still exists! As I pointed out in the comments of my first post, if New Yorkers were so inclined they could pressure their councilmen to block or overturn the regulation. So the mayors power, while unrestrained thus far, is not actually free of restraint as he still answers to city council and ultimately to NYC voters.
At any rate, I understand the arguments in favor of this constituting tyranny and my issue is semantic, I just think the word is too harsh for a policy that serves only to make drinking large quantities of soda slightly less convenient.
520 Chestnut 
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