Everyday Systems

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/opini ... 2&emc=eta1

Anyone else catch this?

I saw that, too and almost posted here. I've heard Pollan say before that we can't address the health care crisis without addressing the food crisis.

Here's a blogger commenting on it:
http://losingweightafter45isabitch.blog ... l#comments

These are interesting, too:

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090921

To me, it sounds like another opportunity for the government to infringe on our personal behavior. If the government takes over health care, I'm afraid that they'll start instituting a "fat tax" and justify it with the health-care-costs argument.

Thanks for the link wosnes.

I wonder if they will institute a fat tax!?

What are people's views on this...

If government helped create the problem of obesity in America by subsidizing grain which led to cheap corn and soy-based foods being marked artificially lower than they actually cost, then is it right for it to dis-incentivize overeating by charging for being fat?

Perhaps they should remove grain subsidies?

Gia wrote: If government helped create the problem of obesity in America by subsidizing grain which led to cheap corn and soy-based foods being marked artificially lower than they actually cost, then is it right for it to dis-incentivize overeating by charging for being fat?

Well, they subsidize tobacco farmers.

vmelo wrote:To me, it sounds like another opportunity for the government to infringe on our personal behavior. If the government takes over health care, I'm afraid that they'll start instituting a "fat tax" and justify it with the health-care-costs argument.

We've had government health care since the 60s and that's never happened here. Remember George H. W. Bush telling you to ask a Canadian if socialized health care is a good idea? It is.

Canada never had Prohibition, either.

We Americans can be complete jerks when it comes to moralizing through legislation. We're an intense and immoderate people, and make some nutty collective decisions often.

Noel and sporkfancier -- I agree!

NoelFigart wrote:Canada never had Prohibition, either.

This is a great point. I did want to point out that one of the items that's being discussed legislatively up here is tax *breaks* for healthy lifestyle decisions (e.g. gym memberships being tax deductible). It's also being discussed in the context of children's physical activity classes (e.g. dance lessons or soccer fees being tax deductible).