BIDDING OUT TRASH SERVICE MAKES CITY LOOK GOOD: WHEN INSPECTING MEAT CAUSES MORE HARM

It's another case of government's good intentions going astray.

Concerns over bad beef prompted the U.S. Agriculture Department to impose so-called "white glove" treatment for beef carcasses last March. It stemmed from an outbreak of food poisoning traced to undercooked hamburgers in restaurants.

But now it seems the meat is being handled too much -- perhaps causing more cases of bad beef.

The meat industry told Congress last week that inspectors may be spreading invisible bacteria from one carcass to the next. Tests inside 15 major meat packing plants have found an increase in contamination.

It's simply another case of government overreacting -- and causing more problems. The list of these knee-jerk responses continues to grow -- Alar and apples, dioxin and Times Beach, to name a few.

Bureaucrats need to learn that government can't be all things to all people. Good intentions simply aren't good enough. Taxpayers should demand more accountability to turn this trend around.