---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a leftover sixties liberal, I believe…"
description: "\"“As a leftover sixties liberal, I believe that the long arm and beady eyes of the government have no place in our bedrooms, our kitchens, or the backse..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/jeffrey-steingarten-43157_baked-goods_as-a-leftover-sixties-liberal-i-believe_2429714.jpg"
---

#  As a leftover sixties liberal, I believe that the long arm…

![“As a leftover sixties liberal, I believe that the long arm and beady eyes of the government have no place in our bedrooms, our kitchens, or the backseats of our parked cars. But I also feel that the immediate appointment of a Special Pastry Prosecutor would do much more good than harm. We know the…” quote by Jeffrey Steingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/jeffrey-steingarten-43157_baked-goods_as-a-leftover-sixties-liberal-i-believe_2429714.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/jeffrey-steingarten-43157_baked-goods_as-a-leftover-sixties-liberal-i-believe_2429714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/jeffrey-steingarten-43157_baked-goods_as-a-leftover-sixties-liberal-i-believe_2429714.jpg)

> ““As a leftover sixties liberal, I believe that the long arm and beady eyes of the government have no place in our bedrooms, our kitchens, or the backseats of our parked cars. But I also feel that the immediate appointment of a Special Pastry Prosecutor would do much more good than harm. We know the free market has totally failed when 89 percent of all the tart pastry, chocolate-chip cookies, and tuiles in America are far less delicious than they would be if bakers simply followed a few readily available recipes. What we need is a system of graduated fines and perhaps short jail sentences to discourage the production of totally depressing baked goods. Maybe a period of unpleasant and tedious community service could be substituted for jail time.””

[Jeffrey Steingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-steingarten/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The government should not intrude on private life, but targeted regulation of harmful baked goods could improve quality and safety.

**In simple terms:** Limit bad pastries, not privacy.

Key Takeaway

Regulate harmful foods.

Themes

food safety government role consumer protection

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

policy satirical

When to use this quote

- baking industry
- food standards
- consumer complaints

Key Concepts

regulation public health

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines a harmful food?
- How to balance freedom and safety?

A Different Perspective

May raise concerns about overreach.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Baked goods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baked-goods/) [Community service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community-service/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Free market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-market/) [Jail time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jail-time/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm a liberal - I believe in subsidies for public goods and in regulations to curb harmful externalities, but neither of those things exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-yglesias/i-m-a-liberal-i-believe-in-subsidies-for-public-goods-and-in/)

[Matthew Yglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-yglesias/)

> [I think if you're a liberal, you believe that we all are, at least to some extent, our brothers' keepers, you really believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-think-if-you-re-a-liberal-you-believe-that-we-all-are-at-least-to/)

[Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/)

> [ If they \[liberals\] didn't believe we were mean spirited they couldn't stay liberal. They have to believe they mean better than us, but we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/if-they-liberals-didn-t-believe-we-were-mean-spirited-they-couldn-t/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [All these rappers on stage and Martha Stewart has done the most jail time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-leggero/all-these-rappers-on-stage-and-martha-stewart-has-done-the-most-jail/)

[Natasha Leggero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-leggero/)

> [“If you have to call the police on your man, then you'd better choices. If not, what have you taught him? Better him in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-e-quinones-miller/if-you-have-to-call-the-police-on-your-man-then-you-d-better-choices/)

[Karen E. Quinones Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-e-quinones-miller/)

> [I'm actually a lowlife. On the street at fifteen and also in jail for the first time at that age, and off and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/i-m-actually-a-lowlife-on-the-street-at-fifteen-and-also-in-jail-for/)

[Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/)

> [“There was no closure to be had, just jail time in my head. What's he doing? What's he thinking? Does he still love me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/there-was-no-closure-to-be-had-just-jail-time-in-my-head-what-s-he/)

[Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/)

> [“Although 'debtor's prison' is illegal in all states, many states use the threat of probation or parole revocation as a debt-collection tool. In fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/although-debtor-s-prison-is-illegal-in-all-states-many-states-use-the/)

[Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/)

> [..living in this life where people having sympathy. going to jail all the time living with no discipline..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-williams/living-in-this-life-where-people-having-sympathy-going-to-jail-all/)

[Christopher Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-williams/)

> [It'd be great to be so famous that if I murder someone, I will never, ever, ever serve any jail time, even if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/it-d-be-great-to-be-so-famous-that-if-i-murder-someone-i-will-never/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [“By contrast, Dresher and Flood found that the minority of game players who refused to testify against their criminal partner were almost always of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/by-contrast-dresher-and-flood-found-that-the-minority-of-game-players/)

[Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/)

> [“Gwen was fighting really hard not to get caught up in Blayne’s excitement. She’d done it before, gotten caught up. And that way laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-laurenston/gwen-was-fighting-really-hard-not-to-get-caught-up-in-blayne-s/)

[Shelly Laurenston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-laurenston/)

> [If being dumb was a crime, youd be in jail in no time!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-being-dumb-was-a-crime-youd-be-in-jail-in-no-time/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“If Barack Obama had come up in a time when the drug war was being waged as intensely as it is now, we probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/if-barack-obama-had-come-up-in-a-time-when-the-drug-war-was-being/)

[Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/)

> [“I’m going to kill Mr. Mysterious for this. Kill that crazy motherfucker. Why does he have to live on the edge all the time?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-huss/i-m-going-to-kill-mr-mysterious-for-this-kill-that-crazy-motherfucker/)

[J.A. Huss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-huss/)

## More by Jeffrey Steingarten

> [The only thing more enjoyable than chocolate, is bacon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-steingarten/the-only-thing-more-enjoyable-than-chocolate-is-bacon/)

[Jeffrey Steingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-steingarten/)

> [“Vegetarianism is always the product of scarcity, of religion, or of ideology, including nutritional fads and fashions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-steingarten/vegetarianism-is-always-the-product-of-scarcity-of-religion-or-of/)

[Jeffrey Steingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-steingarten/)

> [Maybe evolution is irrelevant at dinnertime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-steingarten/maybe-evolution-is-irrelevant-at-dinnertime/)

[Jeffrey Steingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-steingarten/)

> [“In Valencia, when you catch snails for your paella, you feed them rosemary for a few days, both to purge them and to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-steingarten/in-valencia-when-you-catch-snails-for-your-paella-you-feed-them/)

[Jeffrey Steingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-steingarten/)

> [But the goal of the arts, culinary or otherwise, is not to increase our comfort. That is the goal of an easy chair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-steingarten/but-the-goal-of-the-arts-culinary-or-otherwise-is-not-to-increase-our/)

[Jeffrey Steingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-steingarten/)

> [Whenever I travel to the South, the first thing I do is visit the best barbecue place between the airport and my hotel. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-steingarten/whenever-i-travel-to-the-south-the-first-thing-i-do-is-visit-the-best/)

[Jeffrey Steingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-steingarten/)

> [Among the cognoscenti, though, it is not just about elaborate new flavors. I always consider the main test of ice cream to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-steingarten/among-the-cognoscenti-though-it-is-not-just-about-elaborate-new/)

[Jeffrey Steingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-steingarten/)

> [What’s so bad about addiction? I can’t remember. Isn’t it something about giving up your freedom? Isn’t freedom an illusion?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-steingarten/what-s-so-bad-about-addiction-i-can-t-remember-isn-t-it-something/)

[Jeffrey Steingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-steingarten/)

[Explore all 9 Jeffrey Steingarten quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-steingarten/)

## More Baked goods quotes

> [Replacing white flour with whole wheat generally makes baked goods denser, drier, and more crumbly because the germ and bran in whole wheat absorbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-saffitz/replacing-white-flour-with-whole-wheat-generally-makes-baked-goods/)

[Claire Saffitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-saffitz/)

> [“Well, I don’t know about you girls,” Patti called out, “but I’m starving. You wanna help me throw everything together before I go check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/well-i-don-t-know-about-you-girls-patti-called-out-but-i-m-starving/)

[Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/)

> [I try to eat on the healthier side, but baked goods are hard to resist. I just love sweet things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-vonn/i-try-to-eat-on-the-healthier-side-but-baked-goods-are-hard-to-resist/)

[Lindsey Vonn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-vonn/)

> [“Uh… not sure buying the entire store for that boy is good, Chace. If he’s living on the street, the rest of the homeless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/uh-not-sure-buying-the-entire-store-for-that-boy-is-good-chace-if-he/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [“Filosofia is pretty and polite, but comes from the country. Good for: Artisanal baked goods. Fine jams and preserves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-coles/filosofia-is-pretty-and-polite-but-comes-from-the-country-good-for/)

[Stephen Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-coles/)

> [“To tell you the truth, I'm curious about this place now. I wouldn't mind exploring. What do you know about it?" "I haven't been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wiggs/to-tell-you-the-truth-i-m-curious-about-this-place-now-i-wouldn-t/)

[Susan Wiggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wiggs/)

> [“she could sell in the café provisions she baked in her own time with a shelf life longer than pastries. When she thought of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-weinreb/she-could-sell-in-the-caf-provisions-she-baked-in-her-own-time-with-a/)

Karen Weinreb

> [“Our culture sends some amazingly contradictory messages about what an ideal mother is like. Mothers try to live up to these ideals without recognizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-kendall-tackett-ph-d/our-culture-sends-some-amazingly-contradictory-messages-about-what-an/)

[Kathleen Kendall-Tackett Ph.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-kendall-tackett-ph-d/)

> [I have baked, I have involved myself in the baking process, but no one has wanted to eat said baked goods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-beaumont/i-have-baked-i-have-involved-myself-in-the-baking-process-but-no-one/)

[Lucy Beaumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-beaumont/)

> [I actually don't bake too often, but I love eating baked goods!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-palmer/i-actually-don-t-bake-too-often-but-i-love-eating-baked-goods/)

[Jesse Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-palmer/)

> [“The culinary influence of the Eucharistic wafer appears to have launched a variety of nonsacral baked goods, including waffles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-culinary-influence-of-the-eucharistic-wafer-appears-to-have/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“appreciate quality baked goods.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-lloyd/appreciate-quality-baked-goods/)

[Natalie Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-lloyd/)

> [“What if I promise to make you a batch of brownies tomorrow?" she asked, deciding to use his love of baked goods against him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-mathewson/what-if-i-promise-to-make-you-a-batch-of-brownies-tomorrow-she-asked/)

[R.L. Mathewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-mathewson/)

> [Peeta smiles and douses Haymitch's knife in white liquor from a bottle on the floor. He wipes the blade clean on his shirt tail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/peeta-smiles-and-douses-haymitch-s-knife-in-white-liquor-from-a/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [“The occult town was vibrant, busy with fiddles playing themselves on street corners, and enchanted paper lanterns hanging mysteriously string-less in the dead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayne-leighton/the-occult-town-was-vibrant-busy-with-fiddles-playing-themselves-on/)

[Shayne Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shayne-leighton/)

[Browse all 55 Baked goods quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baked-goods/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“As a leftover sixties liberal, I believe that the long arm and beady eyes of the government have no place in our bedrooms, our kitchens, or the backseats of our parked cars. But I also feel that the immediate appointment of a Special Pastry Prosecutor would do much more good than harm. We know the free market has totally failed when 89 percent of all the tart pastry, chocolate-chip cookies, and tuiles in America are far less delicious than they would be if bakers simply followed a few readily available recipes. What we need is a system of graduated fines and perhaps short jail sentences to discourage the production of totally depressing baked goods. Maybe a period of unpleasant and tedious community service could be substituted for jail time.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jeffrey Steingarten"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-steingarten/as-a-leftover-sixties-liberal-i-believe-that-the-long-arm-and-beady/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Baked goods"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-steingarten/as-a-leftover-sixties-liberal-i-believe-that-the-long-arm-and-beady/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/jeffrey-steingarten-43157_baked-goods_as-a-leftover-sixties-liberal-i-believe_2429714.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/jeffrey-steingarten-43157_baked-goods_as-a-leftover-sixties-liberal-i-believe_2429714.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/jeffrey-steingarten-43157_baked-goods_as-a-leftover-sixties-liberal-i-believe_2429714.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“As a leftover sixties liberal, I believe that the long arm and beady eyes of the government have no place in…” — Jeffrey Steingarten",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jeffrey Steingarten",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-steingarten/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“As a leftover sixties liberal, I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-steingarten/as-a-leftover-sixties-liberal-i-believe-that-the-long-arm-and-beady/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-steingarten/as-a-leftover-sixties-liberal-i-believe-that-the-long-arm-and-beady/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
