newyorker:

 

Grading restaurants is a system that has been used in many states for years but for NY it has been avoided until now. This week restaurants will start to get their first grades A, B or C depending on the number of points they receive during an inspection on their CLEANLINESS. Restaurants that…

Hendrik Hertzberg responds to restaurant grading:

…

“Like Mayor Bloomberg’s trans-fats bans, smoking bans, and posted calorie counts, awarding A’s, B’s, and C’s for hygiene is an emanation of the liberal Nanny State so scorned by libertarians and conservatives—who, it seems, would prefer a Neglectful/Abusive Parent State and a Tyrannical Stepfather State, respectively. Don’t they know that nanny knows best, and is nicer besides? If the candidates in the next mayoral election are Mary Poppins (Dem.-W.F.P.), Pap Finn (Libertarian), and Mr. Murdstone (Rep.-Cons.), I’m voting for the carpetbagger with the umbrella. Spit spot!”