rob

How about, next to the dietary info, a giant letter grade. Ho-ho's or donuts might have a giant F-. A bag of rice might have an A. This would be based off the proportions of the RDA that the food meets, per serving. I don't know. I'm just throwing ideas out there. I'm pretty sure, though, that I haven't thrown out any ideas that result in a "police state" or anything like that. There is clearly a problem, yet any suggestion *I* make to solve it is met with shrill, panicked screams about "nazis" and "police states." I've asked politely several times what other people propose to solve the problem, but all I get back is a bunch of nonsense about alcohol prohibition, nanny states, and "it's all their own fault anyway." Or, shockingly, that there is actually no problem at all.

Clearly, there must be some option between "draconian, nazi-ish control" of people's personal diets, and complete and utter libertarian abandonment. Obesity is a problem that affects all of us, and I don't think saying, "oh well, it's all their fault" is an really effective solution. I don't think anybody is arguing that it's not their fault, by the way. Just that something needs to be done. Don't you think? What do you suggest, Jay?

I have a pair of hardshell pants. I think I've used them maybe once or twice. Get soft-shell pants.

Salt + Fat + Sugar = FUCKING YUM

Oh, it's natural. It must be safe, then. You know, like hemlock.

I don't see what's wrong with a fat tax. We charge heavy cars and trucks a premium, because of the erosion they cause on the roads. Same concept.

god damn I'm going to buy a bucket of fried chicken tonight. YUM!

Of course it's available. I don't think "availability" is really the problem. I don't think fat people are fat because they just can't FIND good food. I was really poor once, and I still ate healthy food. Because I'm not dumb. I think junk food prob tastes better, is cheaper, and easier to prepare. But that doesn't mean healthy food isn't "available." Hence, the problem. No, the alternative isn't available for everyone, which is reflected in more obesity among the poor. But, the poor are more stupider. That's why they're poor.

yes - the problem that people are people - wait, why's that a problem? The problem is that fat people don't seem to get it. I saw a fat woman in the store once, asking her fat friend if Captain Crunch was "healthy." She bought several boxes. We use laws to protect the dumb. That's why we don't let them abuse antibiotics, or eat botulism. Maybe we need a label that says, "No. While delicious, Captain Crunch is not healthy." Or something. I'd be all for a fat tax.

those are some big milk jugs.

Of course it's available. I don't think "availability" is really the problem. I don't think fat people are fat because they just can't FIND good food. I was really poor once, and I still ate healthy food. Because I'm not dumb. I think junk food prob tastes better, is cheaper, and easier to prepare. But that doesn't mean healthy food isn't "available." Hence, the problem.

I drilled your mom last night. Lots of natural gas, though.

Not sure how taxing big macs (or labeling them) equates to "parsing every single habit," let alone "nazi-ish" (I'm invoking Godwin's Law, btw, so you lose by-default) Curious: do you think antibiotics should be completely unregulated (i.e. over-the-counter)? Regardless, I'm all for letting people lead their lives or whatever. I just want them to read a big label that says, "YOU"RE FAT" when they eat a bigmac.

then can I take a HUGE WHIPPER???

What is a big jump?

I mean, Lucky Charms are part of a nutritious breakfast. It even says so, right on the box!

perhaps b/c your regulations sound likely to be draconian? "hashish or hash-browns" great bit of poetry there jay! Are warning labels on cigarettes draconian? The tobacco industry sure thought they were, when they were first suggested. "It's all about choice!!!!"

well, your lungs and liver are either a de facto ward of Blue Cross, or of the State. What's the diff? It's not like I can afford to go without health insurance, so functionally it doesn't really matter who I answer to, does it? Oh, wait. LIBERTARIANISM!!!!!

"More Drilling???" is an implied opinion. Don't play dumb.

Stop driving your car, Kevin. Or else STFU.

yr galdurn right it is! USA! USA! USA!

tl;dnr. However, regarding your comment on the war on drugs: I think drugs should be legal, and should also come with a warning label. Sounds pretty consistent to me. I'm not talking about prohibition, so I don't know what relevance that long-ass ramble had.

Those are NOT free.

I think charging the obese more for health insurance is a perfectly reasonable idea. Or, assuming public healthcare, charge them a "fat tax." But if we do this, I think we need to put in place regulations on selling certain types of foods. We can't allow a completely unregulated market to provide easy, cheap and toxic choices to the ignorant while taxing them for their mistakes at the same time. I don't know how this would work. Tax food that is too calorie-dense, or too much saturated fat per serving? Put a warning label on it? I dunno. But it seems weird to do nothing. I think the FDA has a responsibility to ensure that we have reasonable protection from dangerous products. When I consider how enamored Americans are with junk food, and how they seem to just eat themselves straight into disease, I wonder if maybe they're not being taken advantage of by corporations that don't really care about their well-being. Isn't that the point of government -- to protect the vulnerable from the predatory? $0.02 Ka-ching!