Maybe it's the mother and me as I read this, but the economist suggesting that "children are just like cigarettes or mobile phones, [and] clearly impose a negative externality on people who are near them," is absurd. I understand what he's saying about how thinking about their people's needs, wants, and how it could affect the community is important but this example could very well be too far. People need to embrace the saying "live and let live." We are so up tight in this country and I think that the idea of externalities is often abused to over protect and heighten regulations, to provide loop holes for law suites perhaps. The idea of externalities is great, defining them is important and can benefit the community and a wonderful way. But they've got to be monitored. Each of us was a child at one point, children are our future, we can put up with them for a plane ride.
I find it really sad that the government has to put so many regulations in play. There should not have to be taxes put on certain foods in order to take down obesity rates, or smoking habits, etc. Its the person's choice, not the governments problem. I'm not a libertarian, may sound like one right now, but I honestly think that people in general should take more control of these things that they can deal with on their own and not have the government have to come in and do it for them.
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