At A Minimum, The Most Costly Food Cop Idea

Consumer Freedom.com ^ | August 9, 2005 | Unattributed

[Still Thinking]

Sometimes we get the feeling that there's a secret competition between food cops to one-up each other for the most absurd way to attack our food choices. We recently told you about an Illinois physician who argued in a Chicago Tribune op-ed that the government should "mandate that, effective immediately, all portions of food served in restaurants and fast-food places be cut by one-half to two-thirds." Now, to fight the flab, another academic has proposed a harebrained economic plan.

Adding to the chorus of professors trying to argue away personal responsibility, the University of California Davis' J. Paul Leigh wrote in Sunday's Sacramento Bee

that fast food is just too darn convenient and inexpensive. "The inflation-adjusted price of fast-food meals has decreased by more than half," he complained. Which brings him to what could possibly be the silliest notion ever devised to trim a dress size:

The solution for the obesity epidemic is to double the minimum wage, which would result in an 80 percent increase in fast-food prices. A large increase in prices would reduce fast-food consumption just like the increase in cigarette taxes reduced cigarette consumption.

For a side order of irony, consider the self-stated hobby of this fat fighter: Watching television.

[Still Thinking]

People like this make my head hurt.

[Spok]

Here's an idea: celebrate will power.

[BenLurkin]

These kooks just don't get the whole "liberty" thing.

They aren't too swift about "pursuit of ahppiness" either.

[Maceman]

The solution for the obesity epidemic is to double the minimum wage, which would result in an 80 percent increase in fast-food prices. A large increase in prices would reduce fast-food consumption just like the increase in cigarette taxes reduced cigarette consumption.

Nah. The solution is to cut fat people's wages so that no one will be able to afford fast food.

[Brett66]

Hey I know, we could get a national ID card and you would report your weight weekly to the government. All fast food joints would be required to process information on the ID card before taking your order, if you're too fat, then you are denied any fattening food.

Wouldn't this be great for controlling the population -it's a Stalinist's wet dream.

[Politicalmom]

I can just see the black market sales of Ho-hos.....

[bigdcaldavis]

I actually suggested your idea in a frightening future scenario where McDonald's has two menus (Red for unhealthy foods and Green for healthy foods). You would scan your National ID card and if your info revealed either a history or genetic disposition of disease (and/or you were under the minimum legal age for purchasing Red menu items), you would be forced to order from the Green menu.