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In Which Red Is A Responsible Member Of A Democracy
I just heard that there is a vote coming up which offers a chance to repeal an increased tax on, basically, junk food. And I was really unsure about which way I would vote for a bit because I have really mixed feeling about what we should do regarding increased obesity in the US. (A huge part of which is cultural; otherwise we would not be leading the waistline expansion. However, I also believe that people have the right to eat as badly as they choose and since I'm completely addicted to diet soda, this directly effects me and my pocketbook.) So I was very confused about which way to vote, until I did some research and realized that:
a.) the money is going to budget deficients
b.) it is an incredibly ill written law, in which Snickers are taxed higher than Twix bars
c.) it was really shoe-horned through the legislature.
Write me a consistent law where the money goes to libraries and/or schools and then we'll talk.
I am voting No on 1100 as hard as I possibly can, though. 1100 would privatize hard liquor sales which would most likely increase the ease for minors to get alcohol and (this is why I'm voting no) eliminate hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked for schools. Basically, it would be benefiting costco and other major groceries over Washington's school kids.
a.) the money is going to budget deficients
b.) it is an incredibly ill written law, in which Snickers are taxed higher than Twix bars
c.) it was really shoe-horned through the legislature.
Write me a consistent law where the money goes to libraries and/or schools and then we'll talk.
I am voting No on 1100 as hard as I possibly can, though. 1100 would privatize hard liquor sales which would most likely increase the ease for minors to get alcohol and (this is why I'm voting no) eliminate hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked for schools. Basically, it would be benefiting costco and other major groceries over Washington's school kids.
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Need to do my homework on the income tax one, though -- I really want an income tax, but I don't want an ill-written shoe-horned one.
Also need to figure out which one(s) Eyman is backing so that I can vote no hard it will leave a dent in the table.
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Thank you for reminding me to look up the issues on my ballot. :) I'll go do that now.
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It's because of the prepackaged, sodium-bloated "quick meals" and the way everything - everything - is stuffed to the fucking eyeballs with corn fillers.
It's the dominance of the fast food industry and their power to the determine the very methods of farming and food production for the cheapest, fastest product.
It's the way healthy organic food costs 3 times as much so that only the middle class and higher can afford to eat well.
It's the way we prioritize work over everything else so that cheap+quick+easy = best because we simply have no time for anything else. Because of that American's on average spend less on food per person than any other country in the world.
It's the sad, sad fact that a McDonald's sandwich is cheaper than a bushel of veggies. And when you have kids to feed and very little money? That KFC bucket is a more viable option than buying ingredients to cook at home.
There's a lot more, but I'll /end rant. Have you seen a documentary called Food Inc.? Its something everyone needs to watch.
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It's the dominance of the fast food industry and their power to the determine the very methods of farming and food production for the cheapest, fastest product.
It's the way healthy organic food costs 3 times as much so that only the middle class and higher can afford to eat well.
Right, and another huge aspect of it is the fact that organic food really is better for the Earth. I think the health for people is a rather tricky debate, but the health of fewer pesticides for the Earth is inarguable. As long as these HUGE industries control how food is farmed, we're screwed.
Fun fact- in France and Australia, almost 80% of their food is organic. That's because most of their food production has remained within the country itself, allowing for regulations that can actually be enforced.
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Most countries around the world don't have "organic" food...it's just food. I spent 3 weeks in South America this summer. I was twice as active as I normally am, ate half as much, and had so much more energy. I just felt better overall. A few days after I came home I fell into this listless funk. My food wasn't sitting well, I had no energy. It was crazy to feel that clearly how much food quality matters.
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I have not, but I'm aware of a lot of the problems you mentioned. I definitely there needs to be some sort of subsidization going on, so that eating healthy isn't a prohibitively middle-class thing to do.
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Also--didn't realize that the money from the liquor sales went to schools. I feel a need to research now where the money from the Alabama liquor stores goes...
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Moreover, it strikes me also as an excellent way to indulge in some obesity-panic moralizing that makes overweight people even more ashamed of their bodies than they already am. (Note: I'm clinically obese so I know what I'm talking about.)
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*nods* And I totally don't want to encourage that, or the idea that people (women especially) "owe" it to society to look a certain way or clearly have a moral failing if they don't.
Speaking personally, though, I think my society should make some changes around food and eating and junk food. What (if anything) do you think should be changed? I'd be curious to hear what you have to say but don't feel like you have to answer.
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-- make healthy food cheaper and more easily available
-- decrease the economic influence of fast-food chains (McDo was the sponsor of the last Olympic Winter Games and there was a 24/7 free venue in the Olympic Village. I know that from a reliable source who was there as a sports psychologist. Talk about irony.)
-- stop demonizing people who enjoy junk food and admit to the classist element in many a criticism
-- help workers and employees to have easier access to healthy food (e.g. it would be a nice office perk to have decent sandwiches and fresh fruits delivered for lunch break in exchange for a slightly lower salary, provided you can opt out of that programme)
-- stop hating on fat people and making them ashamed of their body -- this only leads to eschwing med exams and being afraid of exercising in public, which kind of defeats the purpose
-- stop mentioning weight at all
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So much this. I hate how (especially when I need something quick) the healthier I get the more expensive my food is.
-- stop hating on fat people and making them ashamed of their body -- this only leads to eschwing med exams and being afraid of exercising in public, which kind of defeats the purpose
Word.
-- decrease the economic influence of fast-food chains (McDo was the sponsor of the last Olympic Winter Games and there was a 24/7 free venue in the Olympic Village. I know that from a reliable source who was there as a sports psychologist. Talk about irony.)
So ironic. And I was just reading an article about the top ten healthiest fast-food chains... none of which are anywhere near me. It was like, 'thanks for nothing, article.'