Some people will never understand how slippery this slope really is until it is too late.

 

I suppose it's the substance I'm referring to. If we can ban trans-fats then we can also justify banning caffeine, high-salt foods, MSG, preservatives or anything else that's not healthy for us.


Substances that have been banned so far have largely fell under two categories; substances that have an effect on people that cause them to infringe on others rights (ex. drugs, alcohol while driving) or substances that are unhealthy that others have a right not to be exposed to (ex. smoking in public). While trans fats aren't healthy, using it doesn't infringe on anyone elses rights. That's where the law should stop in my opinon.

 

Now I don't believe the government should HAVE to step in and dictate what people should and should not eat. But there are certain things happening in our country that further obesity and heart disease and would benefit from some observation. For example, poor America statistically consists of parents with many kids (due to tax breaks, boredom, who the fuck knows?). With that many kids it is difficult to provide food, let alone healthy food. The price of 2, 2 liter bottles of soda is at least half the price of a gallon of milk. The snack aisle is calorie for calorie cheaper (much cheaper) than the fruit and vegetable aisle. And buying a family value meal at McD's is dollar for dollar cheaper than cooking a meal. So what happens? The people who cannot afford healthy food buy shitty food for themselves and their kids. The kids learn the bad habits and perpetuate the same cycle. Additionally, these same people gain weight, need health care, and live shorter lives because they cannot afford good food. Sure, we can educate the shit out of people but most are too lazy to take the time to cook a good meal especially for a lot of people. I'm not arguing that cheap and healthy alternatives don't exist, but most people are too lazy to care when there is such a big price difference between healthy and unhealthy. Although I still think the government should not control foods, it is difficult when health care costs are correlated to trans fats and the tax payer fronts the cost. I think that increasing the costs of healthier foods will eventually lead to either the invention of or the lowering in price of healthy foods that everyone can afford.

Hopefully this will encourage the healthy foods to lower in price. People have to still afford FOOD right?

I think that it does when you talk about the taxes you pay and the welfare it goes to. Consider the health care that you as a healthy individual do not use but pay for others.

But I will agree that it is a slippery slope when it comes to banning or outlawing foods. I think that trans-fats is a particular food that has inherent problems (see above), but MSG, caffeine, salt, etc. are foods that are "unhealthy" but no one economic sector is prone to buying, like trans fats.

 

You complacent bastards are the reason this country is going to shit. :rofl:

 

good post...A+++++ would read again


werd :goodjob:

 

Yes, only poor people eat fast food.

 

because I have the time and energy every day after working anywhere from 10-12 hours to come home and cook a good healthy trans fat free meal.

Fast food is a fact of life at all socio-economic levels.

 

lol I didn't mean it like that. Obviously rich and poor eat fast food, but poor people have less of a choice. And hopefully this will encourage fast food restaurants to offer fast foods that are healthier.

 

As a point, I don't disagree with it's affect on the human body. I do, however, have a problem with the .gov telling me what I can put into my own body.

Like John said, it's a slippery slope and I think we're on the way down.

 

How do poor people have less of a choice exactly?

You realize it costs more money to go out and eat fast food then it does to go to the store and get a weeks supply of decent food to cook at home. That argument is the biggest pile of bullshit ever for someone to use.