Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for November 14, 2016

The all present, all intrusive, government is here to help.

And a good thing, too. I have worked in the investigation of outbreaks of foodborne diseases and the things you find in some restaurant kitchens are nauseating. You cannot let the restaurants police themselves—they are too willing to trust to dumb luck.

Before I retired I had occasion to speak with telephone I&R (installation and repair) and they told me of the things they saw in restaurants, such as a mass of maggots around the floor drain of an expensive high end restaurant in downtown Chicago.

For once, I don’t understand the gag that is indicated in the last two panels. Can anyone explain it?

Or is it meant to be non-humorous, and it is a foreshadowing that their restaurant days are about to end.?

They may wish the day’s special had been something other than “Fresh Seafood Gumbo”. But then since they have a background working with seafood they might be ok, knowing best practices etc.

Or, it could be that the inspector sees how much the patrons are enjoying their food that he might have to leave the inspection backlogged and have a little lunch, wink-wink!

Just get another inspector. They all have different ideas. A friend and a her brother built houses next door to each other – different inspectors, different rules. Hogwash!

Uh-oh. They mentioned cooking the food at home in a previous cartoon. That is usually a no-no unless the kitchen has been brought up to code. That’s a nightmare in itself.

I bought a Trini and Carmen’s survivor T-Shirt after the 1977 Botulism outbreak.

Well Jimmy J, seeing the above comments, looks like you put (if not your foot then) your cartoonist’s pen in it. And so close to an election, too. What were you thinking? Hee, hee.

So will they get closed down for some violation?

Gosh darn the feds and having clean air and water, food (mostly) safe to eat, vehicles safe to drive….

Oh, oh…..

It’ll be interesting to see JJ’s take on regulation.

I very much like the drawing of the bearded fellow and his wife (or perhaps his mistress). It is a pleasant looking scene.

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I suspect that Gene and MaryLou have not filled out any of the needed permit applications etc for a food establishment…. as it seems their “restaurant” is a sort of “pop-up” affair. I hope they can get the situation sorted out without a lot of fines or problems. It is an interesting and nice story-arc of the two of them starting this restaurant. But, the reality is that food safety and proper food handling techniques ARE very important for the community’s greater good. These rules and regulations help us all.

…my take was “backlogged as ever” was an friendly early warning to Marylou that they might want to get everything in order before he comes back for a real inspection…

Common sense regulation is fine and needed, government micro management is not.

“federal government”? I believe all health departments are run by local city and town official.

Uh, oh.

Cue dramatic music

You want to know what’s killing small businesses and stifling employment? Government regulation overkill!

Ruh Ro

Only ignorant people would vote for someone endorsed by Russia and the KKK.

The inspectors response seems to me to be “maybe an insinuation for a bribe.” Slip me a 50 and I’ll let you slide.

wcorvi

That’s not Republican, it’s anarchist. Just let the criminals run things without law. Although granted, there is not much difference now, but there used to be, back when we were more civilized.

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jilectan

There are over a million slaves in the United States today, disproportionately black and brown because of that gaping loophole in the 13th Amendment used by kangaroo courts. When we achieve freedom by getting rid of the minority rule we will soon experience, we can get to work eliminating those eight words in the 13th.

Good lord! Could we all get off the politics and get back to normal!!!!!!!

BlueIris…..NO……

Night-Gaunt49

“Libertarian” is a euphemism for anarchy. Get rid of everything that doesn’t kill people (military at federal, police at local) and let corporations run schools, public safety, etc. No money, you house will burn down while they watch to make sure it doesn’t spread to their clients. I recall a book on the results of that philosophy, except he made the government that one big corporation in the book, while being one in real life

Great novel on this topic: Rocks That Float by Kathy B. Steele. Author was inspired by finding that her favorite farmer’s market soup had been shut down by the health department.