Banning Foods Leads Black Markets

I’ve been fascinated for some time with the idea of the government solving a problem by making something illegal, particularly popular items. Black markets emerge when getting goods becomes impossible.

A century ago, Prohibition in America led to speakeasies and bootlegging. Many people made a lot of money providing a product the people wanted. Further, many corrupt officials enriched themselves by looking the other way.

The point is that when a product people want is outlawed, they find a way to get it, usually at more expense and in the shadows. This is an observation of human nature, not a judgment on the value of the outlawed item.

I speculate that, in the future, the government will regulate certain foods and drinks out of existence because they consider them unhealthy. Items like soda, seafood, potato chips, sushi, chocolate, and so much more would be regulated away. The justification might be too much sugar, salt, cholesterol, or even high mercury levels.

Nevertheless, I anticipate the demand will be fulfilled. Further, I believe that ordinary citizens and ruling elites alike will indulge. They do so at different locations. For instance, I suppose that the rich would shop, still in secret, but in the pleasant surroundings of the basement of a high-end shop. In The Music of Mars, I had ordinary people shopping in abandoned shops and warehouses while the vendors often shifted locations.

Outlawing unhealthy food and imposing a government-imposed food allowance would ensure healthy citizens while allowing government bureaucrats more control of the citizens. I use this scenario as a backdrop to The Siege of Mars (and The Music of Mars) to add more realism to the oppressive environment.

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