Don't worry, Big Brother is here!

grex1949

Hey government. Let me decide what I want to eat. You go and do something you're supposed to do like, umm I don't know, protect our borders or something?

There will be a lot of these posts.

And when tainted or diseased food products are sold to the public by private corporations the same people will scream "Why did the government do nothing to keep us safe?!"

Exactly.
The right has the same knee-jerk reaction to the word "tax" at every turn. Tax=Bad.
Even taking away subsidies is considered a "Tax".
I see no reason why my tax dollars should subsidize production of HFCS, or, for that matter, corn for use as auto fuel. Agribusiness interests (purely for the sake of democracy and personal responsibility, I'm sure) are pigs feeding at the tax trough. Profits are far more important than health.
If eating healthy food was easy and cheap, why, then, are obesity rates among the poor so high? For a relatively recent scholarly article on the subject, see the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2004; 79:6–16.
I agree with the article in every respect. Current farm policy supports the status quo, and the status quo is killing people. This isn't Big Brother. This is reality.
Re-read George Orwell's classic, 1984, and explain how these modest efforts put our nation on the road to dystopia, please.

angryguy77

Hey government. Let me decide what I want to eat. You go and do something you're supposed to do like, umm I don't know, protect our borders or something?

There will be a lot of these posts.

And when tainted or diseased food products are sold to the public by private corporations the same people will scream "Why did the government do nothing to keep us safe?!"

Exactly.
The right has the same knee-jerk reaction to the word "tax" at every turn. Tax=Bad.
Even taking away subsidies is considered a "Tax".
I see no reason why my tax dollars should subsidize production of HFCS, or, for that matter, corn for use as auto fuel. Agribusiness interests (purely for the sake of democracy and personal responsibility, I'm sure) are pigs feeding at the tax trough. Profits are far more important than health.
If eating healthy food was easy and cheap, why, then, are obesity rates among the poor so high? For a relatively recent scholarly article on the subject, see the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2004; 79:6–16.
I agree with the article in every respect. Current farm policy supports the status quo, and the status quo is killing people. This isn't Big Brother. This is reality.
Re-read George Orwell's classic, 1984, and explain how these modest efforts put our nation on the road to dystopia, please.

The poor are allowed to buy unhealthy food with food stamps. As long as it has nutritional information on the package, they can buy it. That is a big part of why there is a weight problem in that social class. Plus if you're poor, food is one of the few things you have to enjoy which *could* be a factor as well.

BrettPGH

There are a lot of naive people in the world, and the first sign of it is when a person suggests the government is only trying to help. The government never makes anything easier, cheaper, or more efficient. All they do is bribe the public with the public's money.

There should be no such thing as any kind of subsidy or tax break for producers or consumers of certain products. Any kind of tax policy that attempts to manipulate public behavior is bad tax policy.

Enjoying the internet? That's cool. You're welcome.

Sincerely,
Government of the United States of America.



There really are a lot of naive people in the world.

cannonsky

I see this more as a dual approach, personal responsibility coupled with some regulation to change our food supply away from mass consumption toward affordable healthy food.

Yes because that's the function of our government, to tell us what to eat

I'm pretty sure I read that in the federalist papers somewhere

It is not telling us what to eat but it is making healthier foods more accessible. Currently, it is cheaper to buy soda and such than it is to buy juices and milk.

If taxing a product as a means to get the public to act a certain way isn't telling us what to do, then I don't know what is.
Why should the gov have that kind of authority? So essentially, because the avg person is too dumb to eat right, we need the government to step in and make sure they eat what is deemed acceptable. Why not mandate each person only consume a healthy amount of calories a day?

I saw this coming once they started taxing tobacco as a means to control the habit. Actually it was never about health, it was about increasing revenues and control.

lol, the government has been doing that for decades. A majority of oil cost is taxes. Alcohol and cigarette taxes. Tax breaks and incentives for various building projects and the like. Why is this the sticky wicket? Are you afraid that the government is suddenly going to turn on its citizenry? If this was the plan, it must have been set in motion generations ago....I blame the Masons.

ETA: tobacco taxation was a way to use the addiction to fund other programs rather than trying to stop the habit.

So because the government has been doing this type of stuff for decades is reason to allow it to expand? Makes perfect sense.
This is not a tax on a company to get it to act a certain way, and to equate the two shows your lack of comprehending the issue. Tobacco taxes have increased so much since the 90's that its near impossible for people to continue to do so without sacrificing spending in other areas.


The government won't need to turn on its citizenry if we keep allowing it to control everything we do. They in essence control most of what we do anyway.

Go ahead and keep mocking, you are just the type of person these government control freaks love.

Do you not understand that this movement is to control what we do on a very personal level. There are plenty of alternatives to bad food that won't break the bank. People just need to do some work on their own and educate themselves on the alternatives. Should we be taxed if we don't exercise? Should we only be allowed to watch so much tv because sedimentary life styles contribute to obesity?

I am mocking this chicken little -esque fear of the government because there is nothing new going on. Our freedoms are not being threatened by the government trying to give us healthier options, they are actually expanding because this will, in turn, reduce healthcare costs. It must be so exhausting to be this vigilant of shadows.

Right, it's so chicken little to say enough is enough when it comes to the government intruding into our daily lives. I should be thrilled the government could one day tax food that I enjoy because it knows what's best for me! I should be thanking some bureaucrat who will one day do all the work for me so I don't have to think. I mean, who needs to make decisions when we have such a benevolent government there to do it for us. After all, world history has proven that governments who have had the tightest control over their populations have always had the best intentions hasn't it?

You know, all I want is for the government to do it's job, and execute the powers granted to it in the Constitution. I don't need it regulating everything I do because it believes I'm too stupid to dress myself in the morning.

I don't see the government as trying to control, I see it as trying to find a way to fix what large corporations have broken. We still have substantially more freedoms than any nation in the world and it will remain that way. We are just trying to not drown in the unhealthy lifestyle that has been created due to corn subsidies and a broken healthcare system.

Corporations didn't do this, the people that chose to buy their product did. Corporations are selling a product that people are demanding. If people made the CHOICE to stop eating unhealthy, then these corporations will offer more alternatives. People are making the decisions to eat the bad food, they are not being forced to put that mcburger into their mouth buy some corporate suit.

So the same people that put us into this mess with subsidies are going to be the ones who are smart enough to get us out of it? So the answer is government on top of more government. Government cannot make an artificial demand for a product work(see green energy) unless they make that the only option. All this tax will do is strengthen a bad precedent, and take more of our money.

I agree we are still a free society to an extent, but we are not as free as we were 20 years ago.

I'm not sure how you simultaneously acknowledged and denied the subsidy issue in the same post... why do you think there ARE subsidies..

And that last part is debatable depending on your demographic

Captain_Tightpants

Huh? Where does that even fit into the conversation. I don't know of anyone who chose to have a child because their was a tax break involved. I know I didn't. I also didn't buy my house for the tax break either. I did it because I wanted to live in one instead of an apartment.

We are not talking about merits of taxes, but the use of taxes to control a habit on everyone in the country. What is so hard to understand about that?

It fits into the conversation because taxes have always (and will always) be used to stimulate certain social values and perceived behaviorial and habitual changes in the population. It's practically the sole reason tax breaks and hikes really exist.

It's never been used for "control" and to think that way is nothing but fear-based reactionism. It's used to nudge, reward certain behaviors, punish others. There's no free will lost. It's completely normal, age old, tried and tested politics. This isn't some Orwellian 1984 land as much as the small government fearmongers would like everyone to believe.

angryguy77

There are a lot of naive people in the world, and the first sign of it is when a person suggests the government is only trying to help. The government never makes anything easier, cheaper, or more efficient. All they do is bribe the public with the public's money.

There should be no such thing as any kind of subsidy or tax break for producers or consumers of certain products. Any kind of tax policy that attempts to manipulate public behavior is bad tax policy.

Enjoying the internet? That's cool. You're welcome.

Sincerely,
Government of the United States of America.



There really are a lot of naive people in the world.

And that has to do what with the conversation again? You did miss the old standby which is roads and police etc. Obviously we are all advocating against the existence of all government. Seriously, try thinking a bit.

Eaglesfanintn

"I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."

The scariest words ever spoken!! For folks out there who think the gov't CAN help, name a Federal program that has been successful. How about SS.... no that is almost bankrupt..... I know, the Post Office!! Oh, no..... pretty much bankrupt. The welfare system? Ummm...... again, no.

Actually, you're wrong about the Post Office The Post Office would be doing much better if Congress hadn't put a requirement on funding their pension plan that no other government agency has. But, that's ok. Don't let facts get in the way of a good story. And, Social Security wouldn't have a problem if there wasn't a limit on what portion of your salary can be taxed. Raise the taxable income limit above $107,000 and you'll pretty much fix that.

mccarol1956

I don't necessarily advocate government intervention but I do agree that obesity isn't a reflection entirely on lack of will power. For one, eating healthy is expensive, working out has costs (even if you don't go to a gym), and one would need a solid amount of leisure time and accurate information (eg time to sift through all of the crap out there) PLUS the will power not to eat delicious food that is often laden with socially pressure (does you MIL drown everything in butter? Too bad, gotta eat it or else be in a fight with her and hubby for the next two weeks). You call them excuses when you overcome them, but they are obstacles everyone faces and some fail to overcome.

Being obese isn't simply about a person's ability to eat or not eat. It's about a lot more underlying social and personal issues. Like I said, I don't believe it's up to the government to address (especially with so many more pressing issues abounding) but I DO agree with the assessment that it will take far more than simply blaming overweight people for lacking self control to improve.

I can not agree with this more! So darn true!

doorki

"I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."

The scariest words ever spoken!! For folks out there who think the gov't CAN help, name a Federal program that has been successful. How about SS.... no that is almost bankrupt..... I know, the Post Office!! Oh, no..... pretty much bankrupt. The welfare system? Ummm...... again, no.

Actually, you're wrong about the Post Office The Post Office would be doing much better if Congress hadn't put a requirement on funding their pension plan that no other government agency has. But, that's ok. Don't let facts get in the way of a good story. And, Social Security wouldn't have a problem if there wasn't a limit on what portion of your salary can be taxed. Raise the taxable income limit above $107,000 and you'll pretty much fix that.

Social Security also would have been fine if Reagan hadn't written a little clause in his bill that raised the portion taken out of paychecks that allowed the government to use any surplus to fund other government programs.

gpstrucker

The nanny state mentality has run wild because there are always people who welcome it. That is until it becomes directed towards them, and then they scream bloody murder.

I suppose even more regulations are going to stop that 500 lbs fellow I saw at the truck stop who made no less than six trips to the buffet, bringing back a plate of food heaped six inches high each time. But at least he was drinking a diet soda.

I am all for trying to educate people to be healthier, I am not for using taxation to try and force them to do so.

ChristiH4000

Everybody rail against the big bad government because it's out to get us and tell us what to eat. Oooooh soooo scary!
Yes, personal responsibility has taken a back seat to frivolous lawsuits and parents who blame teachers when their kids screw up in school, but how dare the government try to do anything about it.
*puts on a tin foil hat and sits down to watch the show.*

Eaglesfanintn

There are a lot of naive people in the world, and the first sign of it is when a person suggests the government is only trying to help. The government never makes anything easier, cheaper, or more efficient. All they do is bribe the public with the public's money.

There should be no such thing as any kind of subsidy or tax break for producers or consumers of certain products. Any kind of tax policy that attempts to manipulate public behavior is bad tax policy.

Exactly right.

If we get rid of all subsidies, gas prices will go through the roof because the corporations that have made the most money in the history of histories just lost billions of dollars. I'm ok with that, but not sure everyone else is.

angryguy77

Huh? Where does that even fit into the conversation. I don't know of anyone who chose to have a child because their was a tax break involved. I know I didn't. I also didn't buy my house for the tax break either. I did it because I wanted to live in one instead of an apartment.

We are not talking about merits of taxes, but the use of taxes to control a habit on everyone in the country. What is so hard to understand about that?

It fits into the conversation because taxes have always (and will always) be used to stimulate certain social values and perceived behaviorial and habitual changes in the population. It's practically the sole reason tax breaks and hikes really exist.

It's never been used for "control" and to think that way is nothing but fear-based reactionism. It's used to nudge, reward certain behaviors, punish others. There's no free will lost. It's completely normal, age old, tried and tested politics. This isn't some Orwellian 1984 land as much as the small government fearmongers would like everyone to believe.

Wrong. There isn't a tax to control a behavior that affects everyone which does not give a choice. Tell me about these federal taxes that affect everyone. We all need food, we don't have choice in the matter. We do however have choice to buy certain products over the other. These behavior taxes that you mention reward/encourage certain companies or a certain segment of the population. There are none that impact every individual in the country.

So if this tax were imposed and obesity drops as a result, would you be for repealing the tax then because the goal has been achieved?

BrettPGH

There are a lot of naive people in the world, and the first sign of it is when a person suggests the government is only trying to help. The government never makes anything easier, cheaper, or more efficient. All they do is bribe the public with the public's money.

There should be no such thing as any kind of subsidy or tax break for producers or consumers of certain products. Any kind of tax policy that attempts to manipulate public behavior is bad tax policy.

Enjoying the internet? That's cool. You're welcome.

Sincerely,
Government of the United States of America.



There really are a lot of naive people in the world.

And that has to do what with the conversation again? You did miss the old standby which is roads and police etc. Obviously we are all advocating against the existence of all government. Seriously, try thinking a bit.

She said the government only steals from people and never provides any services. I corrected her with an example. And you are correct that roads and police are other fine examples of what government provides for it's citizens.

If you need me to explain anything else I can.

Sunscreenandsweat

I like the article, if someone is obese then there children are going to pick up their habits without question it's a cycle so why not have someone do something about?

angryguy77

There are a lot of naive people in the world, and the first sign of it is when a person suggests the government is only trying to help. The government never makes anything easier, cheaper, or more efficient. All they do is bribe the public with the public's money.

There should be no such thing as any kind of subsidy or tax break for producers or consumers of certain products. Any kind of tax policy that attempts to manipulate public behavior is bad tax policy.

Exactly right.

If we get rid of all subsidies, gas prices will go through the roof because the corporations that have made the most money in the history of histories just lost billions of dollars. I'm ok with that, but not sure everyone else is.

Actually, the oil companies don't get subsidies, the US tax code allows corporate tax payers the ability to recover costs and to be taxed only on net income. They are not getting money directly from the gov. But that is for another topic

ChristiH4000

Let's completely get rid of the FDA and trust the corporations to provide us with safe, healthful food. After all, corporations always have the consumer's best interest at heart and not the almighty dollar. They would never try to deceive us into thinking a product is safe for consumption or healthful when it truly isn't. Why in the world would we want anyone to steer the rampantly obese general public towards better choices? Crazy talk - all of it!

BrettPGH

Let's completely get rid of the FDA and trust the corporations to provide us with safe, healthful food. After all, corporations always have the consumer's best interest at heart and not the almighty dollar. They would never try to deceive us into thinking a product is safe for consumption or healthful when it truly isn't. Why in the world would we want anyone to steer the rampantly obese general public towards better choices? Crazy talk - all of it!

Precisely! I will eat what I want, when I want and then the government can send me disability checks for my obesity problem!

I'm an American and no one tells me what I should do!

doorki

Let's completely get rid of the FDA and trust the corporations to provide us with safe, healthful food. After all, corporations always have the consumer's best interest at heart and not the almighty dollar. They would never try to deceive us into thinking a product is safe for consumption or healthful when it truly isn't. Why in the world would we want anyone to steer the rampantly obese general public towards better choices? Crazy talk - all of it!

I think Upton Sinclair was mad at you but then realized you forgot your sarcasm font.

DavetheHYNIC

http://news.yahoo.com/obesity-fight-must-shift-personal-blame-u-panel-123320915--sector.html

This is only the beginning, I expect a harder push for more control over our daily lives in the coming years by the pencil necks in D.C. We should all feel so good knowing that our gov is looking out for us, soon we won't have to make any decisions on our own.

I'm just always amazed that the right-wing foxnews drones are so concerned about the govt taxing a pack of cookies but could care less about corporate influence on the whole political system with limitless money, the reproductive rights of women being compromised by guess who the govt. or kids being able to walk down the street with an ice tea and skittles without getting killed. unbelievable