The Myth of Choice_ Personal Responsibility in a World of Limits - Kent Greenfield [90]
A few words about a handful of colleagues who especially helped with this project. Jon Hanson’s scholarship and intellectual entrepreneurship around the power of situation was instrumental in my early interest in the topic of choice. Joe Singer and Larry Mitchell have both served as mentors to me not only in this project but in my career generally; I would not have enjoyed the professional success I have but for them. Dan Kanstroom has consistently offered friendship, collegiality, support, and a congenial laugh. My agent, Susan Schulman, recognized value in this project before almost anyone, and she generously saw me through to its completion at a time when, we both happily realize, the project has more currency than at any point in its development. My editor William Frucht’s wise counsel and deft suggestions have improved the final product immensely. Frank Partnoy offered numerous helpful pieces of advice on writing and publishing, based on his extensive experience as a law professor writing (in his case, successfully) for a broader audience. Adam Winkler became my writing partner, challenging me with chapter deadlines and dutifully reading and commenting on each chapter as I produced them. I owe each of these friends a large debt of gratitude.
Of course the largest dollop of appreciation goes to my family. Ruby is my new joy. My son Liam, during our frequent hikes or trips to the library, offered encouragement and substantive comments the sophistication and insight of which would surprise only those who don’t know him. This book is dedicated to my wife, Dana McSherry, who never flagged in her dedication to me or the project. She is the best choice I ever made.
Notes
CHAPTER 1
Choices, Choices, Choices
1. JOHN COOK, THE BOOK OF POSITIVE QUOTATIONS 253 (2d ed. 1993) (Roosevelt); 406–07 (Camus); 416 (Bryan); 406 (Auden).
2. Lamson v. American Axe & Tool Co., 177 Mass. 144, 58 N. E. 585 (1900).
3. Costa v. Boston Red Sox Baseball Club, 61 Mass.App.Ct. 299, 809 N.E.2d 1090 (2004).
4. See Kevin Baxter, Foul Balls Are a Scary Part of Baseball, LOS ANGELES TIMES, June 17, 2008.
5. For an excellent analysis of the role of individualism in American culture and how it can hide what is actually happening in social and economic terms, see generally LAWRENCE E. MITCHELL, STACKED DECK (1998).
6. For an excellent treatment of the nature of the choices made by the victims of Katrina, see generally Jon Hanson & Kathleen Hanson, Blame Frames: Justifying Racial Oppression in America, 41 HARV. CIV. RTS-CIV. LIB. L. REV. 413 (2006); for Brown, see FEMA Chief: Victims Bear Some Responsibility, CNN.com, Sept. 1, 2005; for Santorum, see Sean D. Hamill, Santorum Retreats on Evacuation Penalty Remarks, Post-Gazette.com, Sept. 7, 2005; Editorial, Malfeasance of Citizenship, WASH. TIMES, Sept. 9, 2005, at A22; Neal Boortz, Today’s Nuze: Sept. 7, 2005, http://boortz.com.
7. See James Carney, Living Too Much in the Bubble?, TIME MAG., Sept. 11, 2005, at 42.
8. Wash. Post et al., Survey of Hurricane Katrina Evacuees 5 (2005), available at http://www.kff.org/newsmedia/7401.cfm.
9. Study: People Found Unattractive If They Stand Next to Obese Friends, USA Today, Oct. 15, 2003.
10. See Pelman v. McDonald’s Corp., 237 F.Supp.2d 512 (2003); Marc Santora, Teenagers’ Suit Says McDonald’s Made Them Obese, N.Y. TIMES, Nov. 21, 2002, at B1.
11. The best work in legal scholarship on the context of eating decisions is Adam Benforado, Jon Hanson & David Yosifon, Broken Scales: Obesity and Justice in America, 53 EMORY L. J. 311 (2004); for “It’s the environment”: Natasha