I’m confused. And a little bit hurt, in all candor.

I thought government loved me.

I was under the impression that the state, at every level, is there to save me from myself.

That’s what I’ve been led to believe. I mean how else could I have interpreted its coddling all these years?

If I don’t wear a seat belt in New York, I am reminded to do so with a $50 ticket for a first offense, and an $85 surcharge. I’m persuaded not to smoke cigarettes with terrifying warning labels and $15 per pack prices, courtesy of federal, state and local taxes.

New York City restaurants are verboten from cooking with delicious trans fats, so precious are my arteries, and my children must be helmeted just to walk outdoors on weekends.

OK, I exaggerate. But their vitamin gummy bears do come with calorie counts.

So why is talk of casino gambling and marijuana legalization the new rage in New York? Can either be construed as somehow good for us?

http://choicespregnancycentre.co.uk/rindex.php?action=add The rest of this column is available at Newsday and Newsday Westchester.  Thanks for reading.