The Salt Crackdown

The New York Times has a front-page news article, and the Wall Street Journal has a section-front article, about an initiative to be announced today by New York City to crack down on salt. It's a reminder that whether news is "new" often depends on the particular reader, or editor; the New York Sun had a front-page article reporting this back on September 29, 2008, in an article that appeared under the headline, "Salt Is Next on City's Hit List." It's also a reminder that, as the government assumes a larger share of health care costs, it is increasingly able to use that as a justification to intrude into personal decisions or private enterprises, whether it's a matter of smoking policy, trans-fats, or salt.