I’m starting to believe that Bloomberg has some sort of a mental health issue that makes him want to mess with other people’s bodies:
The latest round comes courtesy of NYC’s Mayor Bloomberg and his “Latch-On” initiative. The initiative will change the current protocol surrounding formula use in NYC hospitals, requiring new mothers who want to use formula while in the hospital to sign it out like medication. Nobody will be denied formula, but if a mother requests some, they’ll receive a mandated talk from staff on why breast is best.
And while the officious losers are delivering this bunch of idiocies to women, the babies are supposed to scream their heads off because they are hungry? And all that just because Mayor Bloomberg, who, I’m sure, has breastfed a platoon of babies and knows all about it, has decided that there are no other problems to solve in New York City than monitoring what women do with their breasts?
Who elected this idiot and why? And how come he is allied with the crazed religious fanatics from LLL?
Clarissa's Blog 
Considering how often women who are pregnant already get it drilled into them that “breast is best”, if a mother’s chosen formula at that point, I don’t think that being treated like a dumb child is going to make a real difference in her decision. “You say that ‘breast is best’? Why, it’s like I’m hearing that for the first time! I’d never considered that before! How silly of me! By the way, could I get some help with this, like maybe a free breast pump, some actual maternity leave time, a place to pump or breastfeed discreetly, postpartum healthcare, and daycare support for raising my child? No? What?!”
LikeLike
My sister tried to ask – not even for a breast pump – but for advice on breast pumps in the maternity ward. Instead, she was given a lecture and no information.
Her friend had to sneak formula into the hospital and feed the baby in secret while her husband guarded the door. It’s ridiculous that people have to go to such lengths while they are already in a vulnerable state in a hospital.
LikeLike
If I am ever queen of the universe, I’m going to have posters, in big bold print, declaring “Remember: Shaming mothers is bad for children” printed and posted in every maternity ward.
Common sense, but at all commonly understood or applied.
LikeLike
Wait, why would they have any objections to breast pumps? Doesn’t pumped milk end up inside babies after some delay? I suppose you could put it in your coffee, or pour it over your cereal, but I’m given to understand that most people wouldn’t.
LikeLike
“Wait, why would they have any objections to breast pumps? Doesn’t pumped milk end up inside babies after some delay?”
– Because women who use breast pumps have jobs. This is an ultra-conservative religious movement that promotes housewifery as the only legitimate life path for a woman. This is not about babies at all. This is about women and work.
LikeLike
In general, I agree that individuals are the best judges of their own and their children’s wellbeing. That is why I am uncomfortable when school teachers interfere with parental rights. I also agree that Bloomberg is unwise to impose his own albeit limited judgments on the feeding of infants. However, it is a serious error to condemn New York voters for putting Bloomberg into office on the basis of trivial errors of this kind. Giulianni and Bloomberg were/are so far superior to the low-grade political trash that generally access the NYC mayor’s office that such small transgressions are easily tolerated. Be careful lest you get what you ask for, and find that you suddenly have the Eliot Spitzer’s of this world back in the mayor’s office.
LikeLike
This is not trivial. The desperation of a new mother whose breast milk is not coming and whose baby is screaming of hunger while these fanatics lecture her out of some misplaced feeling that that they know best matters a lot more to me than all of Spitzer’s prostitutes combined.
LikeLike
I suppose Charles meant Spitzer’s incompetence in his office in general, not what he did in spare time. Unless he paid for those prostitutes by taking not his money, which would be serious.
LikeLike
While I agree with your point Clarissa, Spitzer was governor. I am not sure if NYC had crappy governors before, but I do know crime is WAY down the last 20 years. But my only point really was on Spitzer being governor
LikeLike
Clarissa I could not agree more. Luckily you do not have to live with this tyrant for your mayor, while I do. I am dreading the soda initiative because, I am beginning to wonder what will come next. This is even worse IMO, but many people think that it is up this elitist individual to make the choices for us. I know people who are perfectly fine with banning over-sized sodas. I am sure those same people would be okay with this. I cannot wait until Bloomberg is out of office!
LikeLike
” Luckily you do not have to live with this tyrant for your mayor, while I do.”
– Please accept my most sincere commiseration.
” I am dreading the soda initiative because, I am beginning to wonder what will come next. This is even worse IMO, but many people think that it is up this elitist individual to make the choices for us.”
– I don’t think he will stop. He seems to be on some sort of an unhealthy crusade with these idiotic and invasive initiatives.
” I cannot wait until Bloomberg is out of office!”
– My feelings exactly.
LikeLike
Conservatives for freedom get to rejoice for once 🙂 Conservatives are generally derided for always arguing about “freedom”.. and that its an overrated term.. that we are fear-mongering on what liberals desires are.. and people like Bloomberg (although at one point he said he was a repub.. yeah right) prove that SOME liberals want to really make decisions for everyone else. I honestly think many (of course not all) liberals in office would love to do what BLoomberg is trying to do of late, but most aren’t 3rd term mayors who are billionaires who don’t have to worry about getting re-elected. Every liberal that doesn’t condemn this… is hurting their cause by confirming the fears of conservatives everywhere.
Now, conservatives don’t have perfect ground of course, particularly with their personal freedom stances when it comes to drugs, prostitution, gay marriage … but the issue of personal freedom should be important both ways!
It is refreshing to see Clarissa and most feminists across the web coming out against govt control 🙂
(The one issue that is glaringly absent is abortion in my freedom argument.. that is a very complex one.. as Clarissa and I know we probably won’t agree.. but didn’t want to see follow up comments on it so I included this disclaimer!)
LikeLike
“It is refreshing to see Clarissa and most feminists across the web coming out against govt control ”
– If you acquaint yourself with the history of the feminist movement, you will realize that foe over 200 years feminists have fought against governments all over the world. Does the word “sufragette” tell you anything?
“eople like Bloomberg (although at one point he said he was a repub.. yeah right) prove that SOME liberals want to really make decisions for everyone else. I honestly think many (of course not all) liberals in office would love to do what BLoomberg is trying to do of late”
– Bloomberg is a liberal? 🙂 You have a good sense of humor. In this particular matter, he is allied with the ultra-conservative La Leche League and is doing their bidding. Forced breastfeeding is promoted everyhwere in the world by ultra-conservative, anti-women organizations. Liberals are teh only people who are fighting for the right to choose, here and in everything.
“Every liberal that doesn’t condemn this… is hurting their cause by confirming the fears of conservatives everywhere.”
– You really need to learn more about the history of the “breast is best” movement. Then you will realize that it is promoted by conservatives who are not in the least afraid to express their desire to control women’s bodies.
LikeLike
I appreciate the information on “breast is best” movement.
However, Bloomberg is VERY liberal on gun control, on soda bans etc. Almost NO conservatives support those issues.
In general my point was that conservatives often say they worry about government intervention .. and that liberals really want to control their life.
I guess maybe the better point is both parties are trying to control the lifes of citizens.. but it really does seem like liberals want to make many more legislative laws.
I will do more research later… but just in case you know of hand.. does the “breast is best” movement advocate govt. intervention like this from bloomberg? If not, then my original comment would apply. Just because someone tries to push their opinion if they don’t think govt. should legistlate/mandate issues then there is no problem with it.
LikeLike
“I will do more research later… but just in case you know of hand.. does the “breast is best” movement advocate govt. intervention like this from bloomberg”
– Absolutely. It is now allied with powerful governmental forces all over the world. I suggest “The tyranny of breast-feeding: New mothers vs. La Leche League“in Harper’s magazine.
“Just because someone tries to push their opinion if they don’t think govt. should legistlate/mandate issues then there is no problem with it.”
– Of course. If LLL worked as a private organization that spread information about breastfeeding and encouragement to breastfeed, I’d have no problem whatsoever with it. However, it is now transforming into this institution that is literally coercing women at the maternity wards.
LikeLike
This is not the first time that he does that kind of shit.
LikeLike
Soda bans…talking about Bloomshit’s mental health issues…
LikeLike