For those of you interested in Wars on _______

[bronwynrh]

In this case, we're talking about the War on Obesity and the big summit that's going on right now as we speak. The summit is hosted by TIME, ABC News and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the latter of which is the lobby group responsible for pushing legislation against drinking, smoking and now eating. I'm linking you to Radley Balko's reports from the summit, where he is in attendance. The reports are posted at Tech Central Station, my newest favorite what's going on site on the great WWW.

Welcome to the Obesity Summit

and

Tommy Thompson, HHS director, and Lynn Swann speak on the first day.

Pay attention, my friends, because the concept of personal responsibility is giving way to statist ideals. Think about what you really want out of your government.

Comments

[marstokyo.livejournal.com]

That is SCARY!! Let's have a summit on mind-control while we're at it. let's make the women all into Stepford Wives.

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

I'd like to know the percentage of overweight conference attendees...

[bramey.livejournal.com]

I asked Radley that question. . . we'll see if he gets around to replying :-)

[repoman.livejournal.com]

Is there anything "bad" that isn't linked to terrorism these days??

[bramey.livejournal.com]

No! And stop supporting the terrorists by asking these seditious questions!

I'll call Tom Ridge down on your ass, boy.

[repoman.livejournal.com]

Last time somebody called me "boy" I had chains around my ancles...

I guess I'll stop supporting the terrorists by not eating at McDonalds anymore. Wait, then I'll be removing money from the economy, which aids the terrorists cause. Man, I'm fucked any way you look at it...

[curlicue.livejournal.com]

Have some chocolate and it'll settle your nerves....wait, is that Swiss chocolate? Are they FOR us or AGIN us? Oh, dear, it's given me the vapors. I need more chocolate...and maybe a shake and a big mac...

[curlicue.livejournal.com]

And don't forget to supersize it!

[bramey.livejournal.com]

Lady, you make me smile :-)

[bramey.livejournal.com]

We're all fucked. At least you won't be alone :-)

Personal Responsibility

[ex-friedrich47.livejournal.com]

I just saw Super Size Me (http://www.supersizeme.com/), yesterday. So I am a bit reluctant to accept the food industry arguments against regulation at this point. There are many other areas where the state limits individual rights to offset liability, particularly with respect to accidents or health. Seatbelt and helmet laws, for example.

I do think that there ought to be information posted on what is in the food served in fastfood restaurants and as school lunches, just as there is on packages in stores.

Re: Personal Responsibility

[bramey.livejournal.com]

Ah, but have you seen the other 'work' that Morgan Spurlock has done? Check this out (http://www.theagitator.com/archives/012211.php#012211) and see if you still want to trust this guy.

And eating 5000 calories a day of anything will make you gain weight. It doesn't matter that he was eating burgers and fries.

Soso Wiley ate a McDonald's for a month, maintained an exercise regimen, and lost 10 lbs.

In any case, I disagree that restaurants should have to post nutrition information. It certainly shouldn't be legislated. Really, now, if you can't figure out that a Big Mac or a Whopper is a greasy pile of unhealthy, that's more of a personal problem.

As for your helmet and seatbelt laws, I actually don't agree with them. Sure they're meant to offset liability, but it's all just part of a big bad loop. We essentially have socialized medicine in this country - my insurance premiums pay for somebody else's foolish behavior, for instance. Hospitals have to treat people regardless of whether or not they have insurance. . . so the government tries to legislate common sense to force people to take care of themselves so the rest of us don't have to pay their health care. BUT we pay for it anyway, in taxes and useless enforcement efforts.

Maybe I'm not expressing it as well as I'd like, but I just see it as a perpetual loop leading to just more and more legislation that curbs freedom and negates personal responsibility.

seatbelt laws, I actually don't agree with them

[wistfulunicorn.livejournal.com]

Please tell me you use your seatbelt! Remember, I was the only one wearing one.

Re: seatbelt laws, I actually don't agree with them

[bramey.livejournal.com]

Of course I wear my seatbelt! I can't pull out of mydriveway without putting it on. I don't do it because it's the law. I do it because I know what could happen if I don't, and I just don't feel safe without it.

When the accident happened, I think we'd all been in the habit of wearing them on occasion, but we didn't really think about it. Afterward though, we realized and started wearing our seatbelts religiously. Now it's a reflex, at least for me, and it's the rule for anyone who wants to ride in my car. The law of Bronwyn, so to speak. It didn't take a law, it took a tragedy to wake us up.

I wouldn't wish such a wakeup call on anyone, ever, but I don't think legislation is the answer.

Re: Personal Responsibility

[ex-friedrich47.livejournal.com]

Actually I don't really believe in seatbelt laws myself. Helmet laws I am less sure about. I was not wearing a seatbelt in either of the two worst accidents that I have been in. I was thrown clear and probably would have sustained more serious injuries had I been wearing one.

I also agree with you that health insurance providers should be able to adjust their rates based upon lifestyle.

I guess my strongest views on this are about the school lunches and the candy and soft-drink machines in schools. Because in that situation we are forming habits of diet and lifestyle that continue throughout life. Parents probably have to take the initiative on a local level, though.

I did not accept everything in Super Size Me at face value. But I did enjoy it.