Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The growing obesity issue in this country, in particular with our children, is something that should be addressed on a national level. With the spike in juvenile diabetes, the long term health problems associated with poor nutrition, as well as the growing cost of health care directly and indirectly associated with this epidemic, it's time we face this head on.
But Palin, always looking for an opening to demagogue, saw this as a chance to spout off about "government control" of our lives. She could have taken the higher road and agreed with Michelle; I'd imagine that would have raised her polling numbers as well. Could you imagine? A positive message we could all agree on: Proper nutrition for a healthy life both physically and emotionally. Attack the mind numbing, and frankly shameful, obesity epidemic in this country starting with our children, who need our guidance (we are the grown ups after all) the most.
Instead Palin chose to take the low road as usual and attack the First Lady. While that's not surprising, what's encouraging is that with over 300 comments at the end of this article, nobody supports Palin's appeal to the inane. Readers conclude what a serious issue this is, and that Palin's opportunistic attempt to exploit this issue for political gain is childish and backward thinking.
Palin may very well rally her base, who are easily swayed by illogical and emotional arguments. But the rest of the country who witnessed her puffed up and out of sorts about a message of healthy nutrition don't seem to like what they see. Those not enamored of Palin simply ask a question in response to her cries of "big government" : What is your take on childhood obesity? How would you deal with it?
From what I can see, it appears her way would be to bring cookies to kids at school and ignore reality.
Quote:
Sarah Palin is again taking aim at Michelle Obama over her anti-obesity campaign, taking the opportunity in Sunday's "Sarah Palin's Alaska" to land a diss against the first lady's efforts to improve nutrition. While making s'mores at one point during Sunday's episode, the former Alaska governor proclaims the marshmallow and chocolate treat is "in honor of Michelle Obama, who said the other day we should not have dessert."
Palin also hand-delivered cookies to a Pennsylvania school last month before delivering a speech there, saying: "Who should be deciding what I eat? Should it be government or should it be parents? It should be the parents."
I have absolutely NO use for Sarah Palin, but her statement of "Should it be government or should it be parents? It should be parents" is something I wholeheartedly agree with. The watering down of parental responsibilities in favor of government mandates on what people should use on their food, show on television, allow in their mouths, etc. has already gotten out of hand. For goodness sakes, they won't even serve a pack of peanuts on planes anymore!
If parents have a child that is boderline obese or diabetic, isn't it THEIR reponsibility to change matters in their OWN HOME rather than insisting that every kid at school can now no longer bring in cupcakes or cookies for their birthdays? If these parents took their responsibilities to heart, their home woud have healthy food, the kids would have been receiving that since infancy, there would be sporting activities to get them off the couch, off their computers, gameboys, etc., and outdoors where they would be on teams of kids playing. That would also introduce them to the fact that not everyone is a winner.
Teachers and schools have enough to do with trying to impart an education onto these kids. Absolutely add a Health Class where issues like this can be taught - but to mandate a change in school policy because some parents have no common sense is madness.
I have absolutely NO use for Sarah Palin, but her statement of "Should it be government or should it be parents? It should be parents" is something I wholeheartedly agree with. The watering down of parental responsibilities in favor of government mandates on what people should use on their food, show on television, allow in their mouths, etc. has already gotten out of hand. For goodness sakes, they won't even serve a pack of peanuts on planes anymore!
Nobody is telling our children what to eat, but advocating proper nutrition for a healthy lifestyle. To try and twist this into some "big government forcing us to eat Tofu three times a week" argument is absurd.
Seems there have been some great threads discussing this very topic recently. M. Obama critics would attack her for saying we need to curb drug use among youth. Really, anything M. Obama does, her critics would find a problem with.
Picked up Palin's recent book and it actually looks like a pretty good read. That said, I do think she is narcisstic to her detriment as well as nearly delusional in the way she twists realities.
Making smores on her show "in honor of Michele Obama"? Couldn't that screen time been used to do something useful like, I don't know, making nutritious snacks for Alaskan school children or something? How about even just taking the high road and instead of criticizing the First Lady, maybe holding some speeches at Alaskan schools to educate kids about teen pregnancy, domestic violence and rape? They're all MAJOR issues in Alaska.
People should stay out of what other people eat. If someone wants to eat a Double Bacon Cheeseburger with large fries, and a large coke from Wendy's for dinner every night then that's their choice.
For what it's worth, diabetes is mostly genetic. If it's in your genes then your going to get it regardless of what you eat or drink.
Kids need to be encouraged to exercise and eat healthy. Parents and teachers need to be teaching children healthy habits when they are young because obesity is a national problem right and only getting worse.
How unfortunate for the former governor that she has yet to outgrow the cheap shots and snide one liners that defined her time as an Alaskan politician.
The funny (ironic) thing is, Sarah is so skinny, I doubt she eats more than 1 S'more a year! And, she's a runner!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
