# Stupid liberal idea of the day
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [April 20, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086 "2011-04-20T15:35:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/1 "2011-04-20T15:35:49Z")
So many to choose from… Let’s start with a classic example of the jackass Nanny State mentality:
> [@](#):
>
> Red rover, red rover, send the New York State Department of Health right over. And back and forth the state agency is going, wobbling between regulating classic outdoor games such as Red Rover and pulling all regulations on those games.
>
> To appease a 2009 law (set to hit the books this year) aimed at regulating summer and day camp programs , the agency formed a list of “non-passive recreational activities with significant risk of injury” that if a program took part in would then classify the program as a camp, requiring additional—and costly—staffing for medical purposes and record keeping.
>
> The list, which went before the state’s legislature, hit the public this month and surprised more than a few people with the inclusion of wiffleball, red rover, dodgeball, kickball, tag (of all forms, even the ever-popular freeze tag), capture the flag, tetherball and so many more.
> **[Can Banning Red Rover Really Help Kids? New York State Weighs Summer-Camp...](https://newsfeed.time.com/2011/04/20/can-banning-red-rover-really-help-kids-new-york-state-weighs-summer-camp-safety/#ixzz1K4sONFA1)**
>
> Red rover, red rover, send the New York State Department of Health right over. And back and forth the state agency is going, wobbling between regulating classic outdoor games such as Red Rover and pulling all regulations on those games.
Wiffleball? Freeze tag? I’m surprised the legislature didn’t mandate that kids all be wrapped in cotton padding 24/7 until their 18th birthday. A perfect example of government “fixing” something that was never broken, and doing so in a massive stupid manner.
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### Author:  [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2 "2011-04-20T15:41:46Z")
Streeeeeeeeeeeetch…
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### Author:  [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/3 "2011-04-20T15:52:33Z")
Dumb fucking liberals! Insisting that medical aid be available in case a kid gets hurt.
What’s wrong with: “Rub some dirt on it, you little pansy?”
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/4 "2011-04-20T15:53:14Z")
The Department of Health yesterday announced they had changed their policy on most of the sports, as your link says.
> [@](#):
>
> Then an odd thing happened on Tuesday afternoon. The agency pulled its entire list of guidelines, scrapping the five-page document made in January outlining which activities were acceptable and which required more oversight.
>
> “We have withdrawn the guidance and are looking at new guidance,” Claudia Hutton, the agency’s public affairs director tells NewsFeed. “The guidance previously issued under a different administration needed further review.”
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### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5 "2011-04-20T15:54:09Z")
It sounds like all they’re saying is if you have kids doing things known to be inherently dangerous you need to have someone around who maybe knows stuff like CPR. Doesn’t seem too different than saying if you’re gonna have a pool you need a lifegaurd. We’re taking about summer camp, not your back yard.
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### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/6 "2011-04-20T15:54:11Z")
Yeah, seems a bit stupid. If you hadn’t stopped reading there, you might have noticed this, two paragraphs later:
> [@](#):
>
> Then an odd thing happened on Tuesday afternoon. The agency pulled its entire list of guidelines, scrapping the five-page document made in January outlining which activities were acceptable and which required more oversight.
>
> “We have withdrawn the guidance and are looking at new guidance,” Claudia Hutton, the agency’s public affairs director tells NewsFeed. “The guidance previously issued under a different administration needed further review.”
If the worst “stupid liberal idea” you can come up with is a wiffle-ball prohibition that was apparently never even implemented, I guess we’re not doing too badly?
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### Author:  [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/7 "2011-04-20T15:59:51Z")
Err… so a summer camp has to employ someone who knows first aid and CPR, and keep a first aid kit handy? Oh Noes, how ever will they meet such onerous requirements?
(Seriously, how the hell does this increase costs for any one in any way? TFA quotes some state legislator who says something to that effect, but doesn’t give any specifics.)
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### Author:  [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/8 "2011-04-20T16:00:11Z")
OK, **Clothahump** ’s first effort was a fail, but there are better examples if you know [where to look](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/20/fla-job-center-criticized-passing-capes-unemployed/):
> [@](#):
>
> Florida officials are investigating an unemployment agency that spent public money to give 6,000 superhero capes to the jobless.
>
> Workforce Central Florida spent more than $14,000 on the red capes as part of its “Cape-A-Bility Challenge” public relations campaign. The $73,000 campaign features a cartoon character “Dr. Evil Unemployment” who needs to be vanquished…
Admittedly, it’s not obvious why this is a “liberal” idea _per se_, but it’s a government benefits program, which is close enough. So, let’s just forget that first embarrassment ever happened and pick up with this one, shall we?
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### Author:  [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/9 "2011-04-20T16:01:47Z")
Clothahump isn’t very smart. Can we get another conservative to in here to keep this thread moving?
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### Author:  [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/10 "2011-04-20T16:03:40Z")
Fair enough. There aren’t enough :rolleyes: in the world for that one. And $73k could actually be spent on something useful, like computers that unemployed people can use to find jobs, along with a part-time tech support guy to maintain 'em.
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### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/11 "2011-04-20T16:03:51Z")
> [@Clothahump](#):
>
> So many to choose from…
Then why on earth did you choose that one?
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### Author:  [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/12 "2011-04-20T16:09:03Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#):
>
> Admittedly, it’s not obvious why this is a “liberal” idea _per se_, but it’s a government benefits program, which is close enough. So, let’s just forget that first embarrassment ever happened and pick up with this one, shall we?
But it’s Florida. Just about everything that happens there is batshit crazy. I’ve never been, but is there some sort of IQ test you have to fail at the border before they let you in?
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### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/13 "2011-04-20T16:09:56Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#):
>
> Admittedly, it’s not obvious why this is a “liberal” idea _per se_, but it’s a government benefits program, which is close enough.
Is Superman a liberal? I always had him pegged for a righty, with all the law-and-order bullshit and the lantern jaw. A liberal superhero would definitely be sporting a weak chin.
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### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/14 "2011-04-20T16:10:17Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#):
>
> OK, **Clothahump** ’s first effort was a fail, but there are better examples if you know [where to look](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/20/fla-job-center-criticized-passing-capes-unemployed/):
>
> Admittedly, it’s not obvious why this is a “liberal” idea _per se_, but it’s a government benefits program, which is close enough. So, let’s just forget that first embarrassment ever happened and pick up with this one, shall we?
Dude! ANY money spent on Superhero capes is money well spent!
Go ahead - raise my taxes - Superhero capes for EVERYONE!
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### Author:  [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/15 "2011-04-20T16:11:51Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#):
>
> OK, **Clothahump** ’s first effort was a fail, but there are better examples if you know [where to look](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/20/fla-job-center-criticized-passing-capes-unemployed/):
>
> Admittedly, it’s not obvious why this is a “liberal” idea _per se_, but it’s a government benefits program, which is close enough. So, let’s just forget that first embarrassment ever happened and pick up with this one, shall we?
I’m sorry but this example is just hilarious. Buying unemployed people red capes as part of a program called the “Cape-a-Bility Challenge” in order to vanquish “Dr Evil Unemployment”?
I can’t believe that’s even real.
“Hey, I still haven’t found a job, but I have this nifty cape!”.
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### Author:  [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/16 "2011-04-20T16:12:36Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#):
>
> The Department of Health yesterday announced they had changed their policy on most of the sports, as your link says.
In **Clothahump** ’s defense, he may have assumed the rescindment was pursued by gun-loving Kenyan-hating conservative Americans, and so didn’t contradict his theme.
But that’s nonsense, of course. The right-wingers would have formed into several camps, none working for rescindment:
[ul][li] Those blowing it out of proportion to prove “liberals suck.”[/li][li] Those whose main concern would be that immigrants not get access to the extra medical care.[/li][li] Those working to ensure that any new public contracts are overpriced and delivered to their right-wing favorites like Haliburtion and Corrections Corp.[/li][/ul]
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### Author:  [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/17 "2011-04-20T16:13:51Z")
**Clothahump** is the Charlie Sheen of the board. He always thinks he’s winning despite all empirical evidence.
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### Author:  [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/18 "2011-04-20T16:17:50Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#):
>
> Is Superman a liberal? I always had him pegged for a righty, with all the law-and-order bullshit and the lantern jaw. A liberal superhero would definitely be sporting a weak chin.
That explains why Ollie Queen grew that goatee – to hide his weak chin. 😛
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/19 "2011-04-20T16:19:06Z")
Has anyone considered the air-traffic control implications of thousands of moochers and bums whizzing through the skies? OK, maybe “whizzing” isn’t the best word…
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### Author:  [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/20 "2011-04-20T16:26:07Z")
I’m gonna start wearing a cape to my interviews.
Can’t hurt.
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