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While you can't blame government for people's irresponsibility, you can blame them if their actions are contributing to the problem. Look at how prevalent high fructose corn syrup is. Maybe if the government gave subsidies to farmers who grow fruits and vegetables instead of to corn growers, HFCS wouldn't be so cheap to produce and fruits and veggies would be more affordable.
Yes, but it is still a persons choice as to what they consume. It's not hard to find healthy choices now a days. Just because crappy foods are offered doesn't mean I HAVE to buy them. I can support smaller farms locally and choose to be active.
Yes, but it is still a persons choice as to what they consume. It's not hard to find healthy choices now a days. Just because crappy foods are offered doesn't mean I HAVE to buy them. I can support smaller farms locally and choose to be active.
I agree BUT if I were supporting a family of four on my same salary - as most people are - I'd be singing a different tune. When you are living paycheck to paycheck, feeding hungry children, you have to stretch your dollar as best you can. For this reason, I try not to be as judgmental as you are when discussing what other people eat.
I agree BUT if I were supporting a family of four on my same salary - as most people are - I'd be singing a different tune. When you are living paycheck to paycheck, feeding hungry children, you have to stretch your dollar as best you can. For this reason, I try not to be as judgmental as you are when discussing what other people eat.
I agree. It's easy to preach to others about taking responsibility. But for a lot of people, healthy food is either unavailable or too expensive. If you live below the poverty line and have children, you have to be smart about how you spend money. Most fast food joints have value items for $1. If I'm a single parent with 2 kids, I could get a burger, fries and drink for all three of us for under $10. What could also be true is that I live in the city and don't own a car. I may not have a grocer within walking distance and if I do, it may just be a convenience type store that doesn't have fresh or even frozen veggies. But you fast food joints are at every corner. Government can actually do a lot of good with targeted taxes and subsidies. I can understand paying sales tax on a TV, but on a bag of frozen carrots? How bout giving tax breaks to grocery chains who set up stores in areas where healthy food is hard to find?
Government can actually do a lot of good with targeted taxes and subsidies.
Government could do more by eliminating subsidies. How do you think soy/corn-based convenience foods wrapped in obscene amounts of packaging ended up so cheap in the first place?
I agree. It's easy to preach to others about taking responsibility. But for a lot of people, healthy food is either unavailable or too expensive. If you live below the poverty line and have children, you have to be smart about how you spend money. Most fast food joints have value items for $1. If I'm a single parent with 2 kids, I could get a burger, fries and drink for all three of us for under $10. What could also be true is that I live in the city and don't own a car. I may not have a grocer within walking distance and if I do, it may just be a convenience type store that doesn't have fresh or even frozen veggies. But you fast food joints are at every corner. Government can actually do a lot of good with targeted taxes and subsidies. I can understand paying sales tax on a TV, but on a bag of frozen carrots? How bout giving tax breaks to grocery chains who set up stores in areas where healthy food is hard to find?
Quote:
Originally Posted by formercalifornian
Government could do more by eliminating subsidies. How do you think convenience foods ended up so cheap?
Indeed, the worst foods are the most subsidized. High fructose corn syrup is the cheapest calorie which is why it is in damn near everything. Really I shouldn't be that specific and just mention corn as a whole. It's not going to change though, as for instance corn is a major export and of course billions of gallons of ethanol (which comes from corn) are blended into gasoline by federal law.
What's really stupid is states like mine, NY, are threatening to add a tax to soft drinks. I don't drink the stuff personally but I still think it is ridiculous to tax people for drinking stuff that is cheaper than water, and made that cheap by our own federal government... just another way to stick it to lower income people "for their own good."
...I still think it is ridiculous to tax people for drinking stuff that is cheaper than water, and made that cheap by our own federal government... just another way to stick it to lower income people "for their own good."
I'm pretty sure that tap water still comes out ahead, although your point is well made.
Last edited by formercalifornian; 04-22-2010 at 11:46 AM..
I agree. It's easy to preach to others about taking responsibility. But for a lot of people, healthy food is either unavailable or too expensive. If you live below the poverty line and have children, you have to be smart about how you spend money. Most fast food joints have value items for $1. If I'm a single parent with 2 kids, I could get a burger, fries and drink for all three of us for under $10. What could also be true is that I live in the city and don't own a car. I may not have a grocer within walking distance and if I do, it may just be a convenience type store that doesn't have fresh or even frozen veggies. But you fast food joints are at every corner. Government can actually do a lot of good with targeted taxes and subsidies. I can understand paying sales tax on a TV, but on a bag of frozen carrots? How bout giving tax breaks to grocery chains who set up stores in areas where healthy food is hard to find?
Only problem i see here you you said you can feed two children and yourself for 10 bucks. This is one meal for 10 bucks. SOunds cheap but if you spread that over a week 3 times a day thats over 200 bucks.
With half the money you could feed yourself and your two kids for a whole week and these would be complete meals with fruits veggies and your protiens. These meal would be much heathier then burger and fries.
Many times it due to lazy parents not wanting to cook and its easier to just run to the drive thru. You save so much money cooking your own meals plus the benefit of spend time with your family while cook instead of sitting in the local fast food drive thru.
Its not that hard to make healthy meals with a limited salary.
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