[Westbrook]

> Harvard prof, medical journal: Food taxes, regs solution to
> global ‘obesity epidemic’

Which of us is surprised that a Harvard publication would advocate more taxes and bigger government?

You know, when I was a kid growing up in the 50s and 60s, fatties were rare. There was usually some kind of glandular or metabolic problem that caused kids to be fat.

Because *ALL* of us were outside PLAYING HARD all day long in the Summer, after school in the winter, and on Saturdays. We played baseball, basketball, hockey, ice skating and sledding just for the thrill of it. You know, when you sled down a big hill, you have to walk back up towing your sled behind you.

We had no cell phones. Many of our homes did not even have telephones or TV. Nobody worried about where we were or what we were doing. There were no perverts to bother us, because we usually gathered in groups, were pretty tough, and the authorities electrocuted and hanged perverts or put them in jail for life.

I would leave after breakfast and my mom wouldn’t see me until supper. If she wanted me for something, she would send one of my uncles or siblings to find me. I could usually be located at the park, or at the swamp (skating) or at a friend’s house.

As teens, we WORKED HARD at mostly physical labor in factories or construction. That’s how a lot of us paid for college. I worked at one of the family businesses after school, and on Saturdays, and on Sundays, I worked at the car wash.

I never had any trouble with weight, except that I was a bit skinny, even though my Italian mama cooked the world’s best meatballs and we STUFFED ourselves indiscriminately.

We ate large, played hard, worked hard, and never, ever got fat.

We don’t need any more government regulations or taxes. What we need is for the government to burn the perverts and get out of the way so the kids can work and play and eat the way God intended.

[combat_boots]

“telephones or TV”

You’re forgetting party lines and the very small TV screens with the rabbit ears you had to whack every so often.

[jonrick46]

You have hit on the truth. In earlier times, there was limited attractions that would cause people to sit with no exercise. If you were bored, you would walk over to a neighbor's house and see it they wanted to play a round of basket ball etc. Neighbors were always involved with each other for a source of amusement. Most of it involved some form of physical activity; even if it meant things like helping mow a lawn. It was a good way to work off a nice dinner of beef stroganoff.

The kids were always physically active; playing baseball, cowboys and Indians, and etc. They would play until dinnertime and after dinner would play until it got dark. The moms would be out hollering for their kids to come home. It was time to come in and get ready for bed.

Now everyone distrusts their neighbor and the kids have nowhere to play or are afraid they will be taken by some pervert. No longer do they play until dinner time or go out again to play until bed time. Instead, they have the security behind their locked doors for mental amusements.

Some of the obesity is the natural product of an aging society. With the Baby Boom generation moving into the upper ages, there is a larger number from this demographic sector contributing to the obesity numbers.

[cld51860]

Sounds like how I grew up. It really makes me sad to know that kids today cannot grow up the way we did. I was just telling someone at work today: Heck we were gone ALL day during the summer. The only requirement was to to be home by supper! And if you didn’t make it, you didn’t eat! (Unless Mom took pitty on us and snuck us something later. LOL)