Quote :

"Except this entrepreneur was a 7-year-old named Julie Murphy. Her business was a lemonade stand at the Last Thursday monthly art fair. The government regulation she violated? Failing to get a $120 temporary restaurant license. Turns out that kids' lemonade stands - those constants of summertime - are supposed to get a permit in Oregon, particularly at big events that happen to be patrolled regularly by county health inspectors. ... "They wanted to support a little 7-year-old to earn a little extra summer loot," she said. "People know what's going on." Even so, Julie was careful about making the lemonade, cleaning her hands with hand sanitizer, using a scoop for the bagged ice and keeping everything covered when it wasn't in use, Fife said. After 20 minutes, a "lady with a clipboard" came over and asked for their license. When Fife explained they didn't have one, the woman told them they would need to leave or possibly face a $500 fine. ... Technically, any lemonade stand - even one on your front lawn - must be licensed under state law, said Eric Pippert, the food-borne illness prevention program manager for the state's public health division. But county inspectors are unlikely to go after kids selling lemonade on their front lawn unless, he conceded, their front lawn happens to be on Alberta Street during Last Thursday. ... Kawaguchi, who oversees the two county inspectors involved, said they must be fair and consistent in their monitoring, no matter the age of the person. "Our role is to protect the public," he said. ... "As far as Last Thursday is concerned, people know when they are coming there that it's more or less a free-for-all," she said. "It's gotten to the point where they need to be in all of our decisions. They don't trust us to make good choices on our own." "

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/100029544.html#idc-cover

Beware the dangers of 7 year olds with kool-aid and water. Celebrate the fairness and consistency of the inspectors who will maybe leave you alone, unless you happen to be in the wrong place on the wrong day. Remember that without these brave souls protecting the public, you too might be suckered into buying something that the government hasn't gotten a cut of yet.

[Edited on August 5, 2010 at 11:26 PM. Reason : link]

8/5/2010 11:25:51 PM

if it was a public fair with lots of people, i can see why it would be an issue. I'm sure the 7 year old wasn't running the thing by herself... she has parents too.

8/5/2010 11:36:32 PM

Seven-year-olds don't even wash their hands.

8/5/2010 11:38:50 PM

^^ Sounds to me from the description like it's more of a substantial community gathering rather than any sort of large fair. The question is though, what hidden public dangers were the inspectors protecting the public from? Does anyone really believe that had mommy gone down to town hall and picked up a temporary license for her $120 (likely a rubber stamped form) that somehow this lemonade stand would have been made safer? Are there rouge lemonade stands posing public dangers that a permit is even necessary in the first place?

8/5/2010 11:51:12 PM

Is it a sanitation issue or a tax issue?

8/6/2010 12:08:15 AM

definitely cootie related

8/6/2010 12:33:54 AM

Quote :

"Are there rouge lemonade stands"

yes


also I enjoyed the story in the OP making a reference to this classic meme: http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Last_Thursday

8/6/2010 2:00:11 AM

Quote :

"what hidden public dangers were the inspectors protecting the public from?"

This is kind of a circular statement isn't it?

What if the girl wasn't being safe and sanitary, wouldn't that have been a victory for the public good?

All things considered, i would have preferred the inspectors to be more lenient, but I can't find much fault with the spirit of the law or the implementation here.

8/6/2010 2:14:49 AM

You are a CommuNazi socialist hippie who worships Saddam Hussein Osama

8/6/2010 2:29:47 AM

[Edited on August 6, 2010 at 4:50 AM. Reason : Blah.]

8/6/2010 4:44:22 AM

Quote :

""They wanted to support a little 7-year-old to earn a little extra summer loot," she said. "People know what's going on.""

What does a 7-year-old need with extra loot? Furthermore, what does her mother mean when she says, "People know what's going on?" What is going on? A recession? A recession where maybe mom might need some extra loot?

Also, I think we should all be clear that Last Thursday attracts more than 15,000 people and costs the city $10,000/month to police with barricades and traffic control. If other food vendors have to get a temporary license, I don't think children should somehow get a pass. Furthermore, this lemonade consisted of some Koolaid/water (so practically free ingredients)...the profits a cute kid could make off thirsty customers at this kind of event would be comparable to those earned by adults.

Also, do people drink a lot of alcohol in Oregon? What about smoke weed? And what are the effects of marijuana on babies in the womb? Cause the county chairman, the mother, and the daughter--pictured in the article linked below--all appear to be underdeveloped, especially the chairman.

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/08/lemonade_stands_get_reprieve_m.html

8/6/2010 4:50:05 AM

Quote :

"What if the girl wasn't being safe and sanitary, wouldn't that have been a victory for the public good? All things considered, i would have preferred the inspectors to be more lenient, but I can't find much fault with the spirit of the law or the implementation here."

But what does having a permit, as in, I submitted a form to the government, have to do with sanitary conditions? The goal of the law should be to close down unsanitary lemonade stands, not close down stands whose papers are not in order. How about a different story of a lemonade stand where the health inspector was powerless to close it down, because they got a permit?

I suspect two laws exist. One shuts down unsanitary lemonade stands, regardless of permit status. Another shuts down all non-permitted lemonade stands. If we repeal the latter, the system will work as we all want it too. The lady with the clipboard walks up, asks some questions, sees the stand is sanitary, and then walks away. Or, finds flies in the lemonade, and shuts it down.

8/6/2010 10:07:43 AM

Why is this thread called "On camels, noses, and tents"? I'm very confused...

8/6/2010 3:04:20 PM

I'd have issue with this if the kid was doing it in her front yard. But if this was a big event/large gathering put together by the city then I don't care as much.

8/6/2010 3:26:20 PM