Why government has no business deciding what folks can eat in South L.A.

One of the more misguided decisions by the L.A. City Council - and friends, it's a long list - was placing restrictions on new fast food restaurants in South Los Angeles. This is terrible public policy - government should not have the prerogative of determining where a law-abiding business can be located. If there are eight hair salons on a single block, let the marketplace determine which ones survive. Besides, does anyone really believe that a fast-food ban will have any appreciable effect on obesity levels in South L.A.? That suddenly kids are going to eat salads (with low-fat dressing) because the City Council thinks it's a good idea? Anyway, Reason TV has a good backgrounder on what's wrong about the city's regulation. Lots of face time with Councilman Bernard Parks, who pushed for the ban (even if he clumsily notes that it's not really a ban).