Less now = more later

[Kofi Annan]

It is becoming increasingly clear that the American people are consuming way too much food and in the process turning into barrelasses.

Let someone else in a third world country eat damn you! Reduce your consumption by say.....a third. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/11/07/calories.aging/index.html"<a>The benefits to you will be a healthier, longer life</a> and the satisfaction of letting another group of fellow humans live. Win,win.

Or

You could find yourselves with a "fat" tax imposed by either the US or the WORLD government. The choice is entirely yours.

[elSicomoro]

People have the right to put pretty much whatever they want into their bodies. If they develop some sort of disease as a result of it, that's their own damned fault.

Having said that, many Americans do eat rather poorly. I've been doing a lot better in watching what I eat and exercising over the past year, but it still needs work.

And I don't think folks aren't going hungry b/c of over-consumption by the first world...food poverty seems to exist primarily due to corrupt government.

[slang]

Originally posted by sycamore
If they develop some sort of disease as a result of it, that's their own damned fault.

I agree. BUT we all end up paying for their healthcare and the costs of housing them when they cant work. If you could opt out of the system via some waiver, I say, go for it.

Thats the rationale for many of the restrictions on us. If there was a way to release the taxpayer from liability, we'd see a different society. People would be proactive. There would be cautionary tales walking around everywhere. Maybe people would feel more responsible for their own health (wealth, etc).

Originally posted by sycamore
Having said that, many Americans do eat rather poorly.

That's being polite about it. If junk food became illegal tomorrow, I'd be a lifer by Tuesday. But the attitudes of many are changing. I'll be god fucking damned if the govt tells me what to eat and not eat. To avoid whatever BS plan they will eventually put into place, to curtail the rising healthcare costs, I will make the changes gradually to my lifestyle. You're making similar changes too. So's Toad. So are millions of others. Best to get the new habits before they become laws or some tangent regulation.The Fat Police can kiss my ass.

Originally posted by sycamore
And I don't think folks aren't going hungry b/c of over-consumption by the first world...food poverty seems to exist primarily due to corrupt government.

Seems pretty reasonable to me. However, there are some people that are hell bent on reducing meat consumption. One in partucular I knew would quite often talk about the cost to the world of raising animals for food by depriving people of fruits and vegetables that would be consumed by the livestock. She'd give money to groups premoting this agenda too.

There is also the "blame America first" crowd. We are the reason for the suffering and starvation of most of the world becuase we eat so much junk. I'd feed em to the pigs myself, but there are a lot of them out there!

[elSicomoro]

Originally posted by slang
Thats the rationale for many of the restrictions on us. If there was a way to release the taxpayer from liability, we'd see a different society. People would be proactive. There would be cautionary tales walking around everywhere. Maybe people would feel more responsible for their own health (wealth, etc).

I don't see that happening. You would not only be disrupting commerce, but taking away what many would consider a "natural right."

One in partucular I knew would quite often talk about the cost to the world of raising animals for food by depriving people of fruits and vegetables that would be consumed by the livestock. She'd give money to groups premoting this agenda too.

I've heard that, and it just sounds like utter bullshit to me. There is so much food out there that NO ONE in this world should have to go hungry.

And while I think politics is a big part of the problem, Sam Kinison (though he probably meant it differently) said it best: Move to where the food is!

There is also the "blame America first" crowd. We are the reason for the suffering and starvation of most of the world becuase we eat so much junk.

Ah, but if we're eating a bunch of junk, that leaves lots of good fruits and vegetables for the rest of the world to have.

While we've had our hand in a lot of bad things, we can only be responsible for so much.

[xoxoxoBruce]

While we've had our hand in a lot of bad things, we can only be responsible for so much.

I'm not responsible for anything. As a matter of fact I'm completely irresponsible.

[OnyxCougar]

People going hungry is a direct result of political climate in the country in question. Time and time again we hear about a "rebel faction" or somesuch stealing the pallets of food as they're trucked in. Many in Iraq starved because Saddam used the money he was getting to feed his people on his palaces and military. In Russia, the govt has fixed the price of bread and flour because of the shortages in their breadbasket region. One of the world's largest (by land) countries and they can't (or won't do what it takes) to feed thier own people.

Not to say the US is blameless that way. I remember being 17, pregnant 7.5 months, homeless, jobless, and going to the welfare office in California and them telling me I don't qualify for aid. ANY aid. Not even food stamps or medical.

Don't get me started.

Is America responsible for feeding the planet? Absolutely not. But America IS responsible for feeding Americans.

[elSicomoro]

I thought the Socialist Republic of California took care of its own...shocking.

[OnyxCougar]

Thank god I recognized the unwritten [sarcasm] tags.

[elSicomoro]

That was one of my resolutions in '03...more subtle remarks (e.g. not as many smilies).

[Undertoad]

I believe that about a third of the money intended to make it to the needy actually makes it through the various programs, after it goes into the bureaucracies created to dispense that money.

Or NOT dispense it.

So they are taking care of their own, it's just that "their own" isn't who everybody thinks it is.

[slang]

Originally posted by Undertoad
...... after it goes into the bureaucracies created to dispense that money....

Such a cynical perspective. How would you change the system....have religious groups disperse the cash?

Obviously, the solution is to have Tony and I distribute the money.

[elSicomoro]

What, so you guys can blow it on pot, computers, pad gai, and video games? I don't think so.

Hey ugly, we'll take care of you too.

[Undertoad]

We take care of our own. You'll have a George Foreman grill so large that you'll be able to cook a side of beef on it.

Oh wait, you already have that.

Well you're not needy then!