Posted on 04/18/2005 5:44:13 AM PDT by FlyLow
Since 1964, thanks to taxes, lawsuits, social pressure and prevention programs, the percentage of Americans who smoke has dropped from 65 percent to 25 percent. It's time to tackle obesity just as aggressively.
Libertarians, the fast-food industry and advocates for the obese object to "nanny-statism" and discriminatory incentives to fight the obesity epidemic. But in all likelihood, we'll need negative as well as positive pressure to slim America back down to a healthy size.
Lawsuits like the one pending against McDonald's aren't my preferred solution — they'll likely benefit trial lawyers more than consumers — but taxes on the fat content of food would be useful, and so would higher insurance premiums for those who are overweight.
The life insurance industry does impose higher premiums for the obese, but not as large as it does for smokers. And the health insurance industry generally provides lower premiums on a limited basis only as a reward for participation in diet-and-exercise programs.
(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...
Schools used to be built in neighborhoods near the students' homes and kids walked to and from each day. Now local school boards are closing the small neighborhood schools and building huge regional schools far away where the huge acreage can be purchased cheap. This means the kids are bused. It also means it's harder to get on sports teams since there is so much more competition to make the team in large school.
Road standards. Roads must be built and maintained according to DOT standards recommended by a quasi governmental association. These standards dictate that roads are unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists. In many surburban communities, these government roads are unsafe to cross on foot. This leaves no choice, *no choice* but to drive everywhere.
Land use policy. Local governments write zoning laws that forbid anything to be built near people. In most American suburbs, you must drive everywhere, even to get a loaf of bread because the zoning laws won't allow a neighborhood grocery store.
Instead of taxing food or going after restaurants, the government should look at some of their own policies and change them.
You said:
"Well, it's a nice rationalization, but the only reason people are overweight is because they ate more calories than they burned."
While technically true, there can be extenuating circumstances, as in medications, disease processes, hormonal imbalances, etc.
http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/treatments/a/WeightGain.htm
We will need obesity police standing at checkout lines at the grocery store. I am always appalled at the crap I see in fat people's carts, actually in most people's carts. And many times, I am willing to bet that we are helping to pay for most of the crap!
LMAO!! Now kids can't do that anymore! The obese kids have no one to run from, thus they keep getting fatter! :)
I just hate it when things which are not contagiouws are described as "epidemics". Why don't these idiots save it for the flu or something.
You can have my deep dish pizza when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.
contagiouws=contagious
But even back in Monroe's day, during the fifties, fashion models were terribly thin.
The annual death toll from obesity-related illnesses — diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers — is estimated atc300,000, rivaling the 400,000 who die from smoking.
To begin with, the CDC uses a computer program with NO supporting data to estimate the number of smokers that die from smoking related causes. They probably use something similar with obesity related deaths.
Another slight of hand - Libertarians, the fast-food industry and advocates for the obese object to "nanny-statism" and discriminatory incentives to fight the obesity epidemic.
Notice, it's an epidemic. Now is that putting a negative spin on it, or what?
but taxes on the fat content of food would be useful
If you can't outlaw it, tax the heck out of it.
Big Brother at his best.
In 1991, only 12 percent of American adults were considered obese, according to U.S. government data. By 2001, that was up to nearly 21 percent, a 75 percent increase. Other studies indicate that 65 percent of the population is overweight and 30 percent is obese.
Notice, he doesn't tell what guidelines were changed in that time period so that the large percentage was counted in the later study.
And the government should help
Help me! I can't help myself!
Calling for government intervention on this subject is NOT what needs to be done.
You don't see the epidemic? Go to the airport. See really big people trying to fit into airline seats. Go the the hospitals and see all the oversized wheelchairs they have. Ask the EMTs if they're having to carry more obese people. Perhaps you live in an upscale area where people exercise a lot?
-One reason why there are so many obese people is because the number of smokers has been drastically reduced.-
Good point! Happened to my sister.
Oh and I suppose you have never noticed anything going on beside you in your life. Where do you get such blinders?
Considering that a hugh reason for obesity in America today is slavish adherence to the low fat regime and the food pyramid, pushed by our government, one would have to be an idiot, which I assume Kondracke is, to ask for government to legislate our weight.
But I have a solution that can't fail, that should be sure to please all rationalists, socialists, and big government types like Kondracke: prohibitively tax all food, we won't be able to afford obesity, except in our already top heavy government.
And why stop at obesity, just think, we can mold all of society to a government ideal merely by intelligent use of taxation.
"But even back in Monroe's day, during the fifties, fashion models were terribly thin."
Clothes look better on clothes hangers than they do on people. That is just the way it is, but fashion models are not the universal standard for good looks. Most men prefer more rounded women. It's only women who read fashion magazines who think super thin is preferable. Black men actually prefer fat women.
I believe when Bill and Hillary Clinton started this "It takes a village to raise a child," I truly believe they mean the government as "the village" and the children are US!
The term "social justice" may not be quite the same as "socialism," but I note that it is used pretty much interchangably. Hayek, for instance, remarked that to arrive at the true meaning of the term social justice, you could substitute the word "coercive" for the word "social."
It is true that even conservative Jews often look for government imposed solutions. Sometimes, as in national emergencies such as war, it's necessary, usually it isn't.
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