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Should unapproved lemonade stands be illegal? Or, is this a prime example of bureaucrats and government going beyond their legitimate bounds?
Every so often, almost like clockwork, there will be a news story about a kids lemonade stand being shut down because they don't have proper permits, health inspections, or whatever. A good example this the recent John Stossel report linked in this thread.
Personally, I am torn. On the one hand... it's kids trying to make some money... and doing something both educational and constructive in the process. Especially when the business license/permit thing comes in. Give it a break and leave the kids alone. I'm a believer that the intent of the law is more important than the letter of the law (in most instances), and I don't see any harm being done here. Not to local businesses, not to anybody. The government and other strict law-and-order types will lose me every time if they try and argue this point.
Where the other hand comes in is the health angle. Part of me again wants to say "they're just kids", but I am also old enough to remember what is a more relatively innocent time when the vast majority of kids wouldn't dick with other people by putting something unhealthy in the lemonade they're selling. Just for their own 'fun'. Granted, most kids still wouldn't, but in today's society I think some would.
What say you?
Should unapproved lemonade stands be illegal? Or, is this a prime example of bureaucrats and government going beyond their legitimate bounds?
Every so often, almost like clockwork, there will be a news story about a kids lemonade stand being shut down because they don't have proper permits, health inspections, or whatever. A good example this the recent John Stossel report linked in this thread.
Personally, I am torn. On the one hand... it's kids trying to make some money... and doing something both educational and constructive in the process. Especially when the business license/permit thing comes in. Give it a break and leave the kids alone. I'm a believer that the intent of the law is more important than the letter of the law (in most instances), and I don't see any harm being done here. Not to local businesses, not to anybody. The government and other strict law-and-order types will lose me every time if they try and argue this point.
Where the other hand comes in is the health angle. Part of me again wants to say "they're just kids", but I am also old enough to remember what is a more relatively innocent time when the vast majority of kids wouldn't dick with other people by putting something unhealthy in the lemonade they're selling. Just for their own 'fun'. Granted, most kids still wouldn't, but in today's society I think some would.
What say you?
I doubt that there are roving bands of police cars on the lookout for illegal lemonade stands.
"Dispatch, this is unit Charlie 47, we have a confirmed 6-19, I repeat a confirmed 6-19. Be advised we are on location at 53 Maple Street, suspects are approximately 10 years old. Suspect 1 is blonde with pigtails. Suspect two is wearing a t-shirt that says "I love my momma". We will be dismantling the stand. Charlie 47 out."
"Dispatch, this is unit Charlie 47, we have a confirmed 6-19, I repeat a confirmed 6-19. Be advised we are on location at 53 Maple Street, suspects are approximately 10 years old. Suspect 1 is blonde with pigtails. Suspect two is wearing a t-shirt that says "I love my momma". We will be dismantling the stand. Charlie 47 out."
small kids selling infront of their house? leave em' alone.
high school students with a larger operation on public property? they need a permit.
remember, these permits aren't just to harrass folks..they are also to protect the health of the folks who drink the lemonade.
Should unapproved lemonade stands be illegal? Or, is this a prime example of bureaucrats and government going beyond their legitimate bounds?
Every so often, almost like clockwork, there will be a news story about a kids lemonade stand being shut down because they don't have proper permits, health inspections, or whatever. A good example this the recent John Stossel report linked in this thread.
Personally, I am torn. On the one hand... it's kids trying to make some money... and doing something both educational and constructive in the process. Especially when the business license/permit thing comes in. Give it a break and leave the kids alone. I'm a believer that the intent of the law is more important than the letter of the law (in most instances), and I don't see any harm being done here. Not to local businesses, not to anybody. The government and other strict law-and-order types will lose me every time if they try and argue this point.
Where the other hand comes in is the health angle. Part of me again wants to say "they're just kids", but I am also old enough to remember what is a more relatively innocent time when the vast majority of kids wouldn't dick with other people by putting something unhealthy in the lemonade they're selling. Just for their own 'fun'. Granted, most kids still wouldn't, but in today's society I think some would.
What say you?
Hmm...thought the government would have better things to do.
Should unapproved lemonade stands be illegal? Or, is this a prime example of bureaucrats and government going beyond their legitimate bounds?
Every so often, almost like clockwork, there will be a news story about a kids lemonade stand being shut down because they don't have proper permits, health inspections, or whatever. A good example this the recent John Stossel report linked in this thread.
Personally, I am torn. On the one hand... it's kids trying to make some money... and doing something both educational and constructive in the process. Especially when the business license/permit thing comes in. Give it a break and leave the kids alone. I'm a believer that the intent of the law is more important than the letter of the law (in most instances), and I don't see any harm being done here. Not to local businesses, not to anybody. The government and other strict law-and-order types will lose me every time if they try and argue this point.
Where the other hand comes in is the health angle. Part of me again wants to say "they're just kids", but I am also old enough to remember what is a more relatively innocent time when the vast majority of kids wouldn't dick with other people by putting something unhealthy in the lemonade they're selling. Just for their own 'fun'. Granted, most kids still wouldn't, but in today's society I think some would.
What say you?
I don't see any reason for the govt. to go after little kids trying to run a lemonade stand. When I was a kid most of the people who bought the lemonade didn't even drink it! It was just a cute neighborhood thing kids did.
'Splain to me how paying $50 for a permit makes lemonade safer. I'll wait.
'Splain to me how paying $50 for a permit makes lemonade safer. I'll wait.
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