Obesity and the Fallacy of the "Common Good" Argument

Somehow we as citizens get used to hearing the word "crisis," and, naturally, we feel that something should be done about whatever it is this time that is causing the next in the long line of so-called crises. However, why is the assumption that government should be the solution? Why are other solutions not sought after? Take John Stossel's recent show on obesity (two clips):

As one can see, Meme Roth uses all of the standard demagogic arguments for government action. Our kids are our most precious asset and parents are just too stupid to take care of them. Second, because this is happening in a public sphere, it should be regulated. There are all kinds of problems with such arguments, and Nick Gillespie simply didn't have enough air time to get to the core of the idiocy, although he certainly did a good job of showing the authoritarian nature of her arguments.

I want a class-action suit by fat people against the Federal Government due to their faulty advice about the Food Pyramid.

Carbs are at the bottom of the food pyramid, indicating the Feds want you to eat them most.

Carbs make you fat.

Fat Kills.

Feds Killed Millions.

Sue their a$$e$ off.

Very good essay, and very good video clips.

The first thing I ever heard from Mike Huckabee was his advocacy of food prohibition laws, supporting them with the same arguments as Meme Roth. To paraphrase: “We’re paying the medical bill, so we have a say in what you eat.” (He did this while governor of Arkansas.) I still find it mind-boggling that conservatives like this statist.

In praise of Meme Roth...I wish I could do as good a job as she of explaining why “he who will not rule himself will be ruled by another.”

“Carbs make you fat”

I know your post is of a humorous nature, but carbs only make you fat only if you eat more calories than you burn off everyday. You are repeating a fallacy that infuriates my poor wife. Gram for gram most fats have twice as many calories as carbohydrates.

My wife is a nurse and in her younger days she taught nutrition and healthy eating classes both on and off of the military bases we live near. Nothing has been more frustrating to her than these high protein diets such as the Atkins. They do a lot of harm to much of the population and spread massive amounts of misinformation. Any proposed diet that promises you can lose weight while eating more calories than you burn is promising something for nothing. That should be a big red flag to any adult. But Americans love to get something for nothing which is why we now have Obama and the DemoRATS running our country into the ground.

There are no free rides when it comes to losing weight and living healthy. Despite all the High Protein diet BS that we have been bombarded with for nearly two decades most adults still know instinctively that they should be eating a balanced diet in moderation and getting some exercise. That is the only way to stay trim and healthy. Do we really need doctor's, scientists, government funded PR and a big butted president's wife to tell us that?

A balanced diet is one that includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, meat, fish, poultry and some dairy type products, along with plenty of water and other healthy liquids. It is possible to leave out some of the preceding food groups if you have special requirements and can substitute with some type of supplements and careful planning. Moderation is the key of course. And it has been obvious for thousands of years that anyone who spends most of their day sitting on their fat rear end is only going to keep getting fatter. If it wasn't for all the BS we are bombarded with everyday anyone with even a little common sense could figure it out.

So to anyone who is too fat and that is most of us... change your life style. Get some exercise... get off your butt, and eat some healthy food in moderation. If most people just cut out sugary soft drinks, candy bars, salty snacks fried in oil, french fries, hot dogs, and hamburgers and took an hour out of their TV time every night and went for a walk... they would lose up to several pounds a month.

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