Takoma Park, Md.----In this leafy suburb northeast of Washington, D.C., foie gras lovers now find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Or at least on the wrong side of a strongly-worded resolution that may or may not have any legal power.

The city council in this notoriously activist community of 20,000 people recently passed a resolution "opposing" the production and sale of foie gras, the French delicacy made from fattened goose and duck liver. The resolution, number 2008-49, spells out in detail the force-feeding methods by which farmers produce foie gras, and "encourages Takoma Park residents not to buy foie gras in order to avoid supporting this extreme form of
animal cruelty." 

“My mother was French, and I’ve eaten a bit of foie gras in my life,” City Councilman Dan Robinson said. “As I was educated about the process, I won’t eat it again."

Tough words, indeed. Too bad that Maryland state law doesn't grant municipalities the authority to enforce a ban on the consumption of food. Any such law has to come from the state legislature.

As it is, no food stores in this liberal-activist enclave even carry foie gras. And going into people's homes to enforce a ban on consuming the dish is a ridiculous thought.

Or is it? The "People's Republic of Takoma Park," as it's sometimes called, has a long history of taking aggressive stands on issues stretching far beyond city lines. In 2007, the city voted to impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney. And since 1983, it has proudly declared itself a "nuclear-free zone," banning manufacturers of nuclear weapons from doing any business with the city. Well, except for that one exception in 2002.

City councils have all the right in the world to grandstand about matters outside their jurisdiction. But voters should only tolerate it when all the roads are adequately paved, taxes collected, children educated, police trained, and all the other myriad municipal duties completed. So, congrats Takoma Park city council --- take care of those one or two offending hors d'oeuvres and a perfect little utopia you'll have.