Life lessons all around

A conservative in the making

NEW YORK stepped in toward the end of July—right where it was needed—and showed just how amazing government can be when it shut down a 7-year-old boy’s lemonade stand. Nicely done, New York State Department of Health. You’ve taught this boy an important life lesson: That is, just how much of a stumbling block government can be to free enterprise.

And perhaps there’s a second and maybe even a third lesson to be learned for young Brendan Mulvaney. That is, the big boys don’t like competition, and life ain’t fair.

Speaking of fair, at the Saratoga County Fair, lemonade vendors charge $7 for their nectar of the gods (which makes Silver Dollar City look like a nonprofit outfit by comparison). Naturally, when the bosses at the fair learned of a competitor across the street selling a similar beverage for 75 cents, they sprang into action.

To stifle the young business mastermind, they got the government involved to shut down the lemonade racket. Not long after they complained, a health inspector showed up at Master Brendan’s home and informed him that he lacked the proper papers.

Yes, New York has us Arkies scratching our heads quite often. Remember when they outlawed large sodas? (But small amounts of marijuana are OK.)

To New York’s credit, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has offered to pay for the kid’s permit. But we can’t help but feel the kid might want to throw in the towel at this point. He’s already seen how big a pain red tape can be, and his competitors might resort to more devious methods next time.

Who knows what would have happened had Master Brendan been allowed to start and grow his business unfettered. Perhaps he would have opened a second stand. Then maybe hired a buddy from school. He might have majored in business a decade from now. And started a real company in his 20s. And made his first million in cash by 35. There’s still time, kid. We’re rooting for ya.

Just remember this episode when you get older. That is, about voting age.