Comments on: First they came for the lightbulbs… https://habitablezone.com/2011/04/29/first-they-came-for-the-lightbulbs/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:41:18 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/04/29/first-they-came-for-the-lightbulbs/#comment-249 TB Sat, 30 Apr 2011 14:31:22 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=361#comment-249 Interesting that the only alternatives you give me is control over people's lives or lining them up and shooting them. If by "useful ideas" you mean "things I would force other people to do," you're right. Fresh out. I gave you an answer that will probably work. Is it that much harder than a government takeover of the food industry? Or is it unappealing because my answer reduces government power instead of multiplying it? Fact is, we didn't have this problem years ago and our diets were a lot crappier in many ways. The geniuses who want to be dictators are probably, as they so often are, wrong. Don't put them in charge. I showed some other possible causes for the problem. Demographics might also be an issue. Interesting that the only alternatives you give me is control over people’s lives or lining them up and shooting them.

If by “useful ideas” you mean “things I would force other people to do,” you’re right. Fresh out.

I gave you an answer that will probably work. Is it that much harder than a government takeover of the food industry? Or is it unappealing because my answer reduces government power instead of multiplying it?

Fact is, we didn’t have this problem years ago and our diets were a lot crappier in many ways. The geniuses who want to be dictators are probably, as they so often are, wrong. Don’t put them in charge.

I showed some other possible causes for the problem. Demographics might also be an issue.

]]> By: Eri https://habitablezone.com/2011/04/29/first-they-came-for-the-lightbulbs/#comment-242 Eri Sat, 30 Apr 2011 06:14:52 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=361#comment-242 It's obvious you have no useful ideas to solve the childhood obesity problem, considering that you know what you suggested is NOT going to happen. So maybe we should just take all the obese kids, stand them up against a wall and shoot them. Problem solved and no totalitarian government agendas to worry your little brain. It’s obvious you have no useful ideas to solve the childhood obesity problem, considering that you know what you suggested is NOT going to happen. So maybe we should just take all the obese kids, stand them up against a wall and shoot them. Problem solved and no totalitarian government agendas to worry your little brain.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/04/29/first-they-came-for-the-lightbulbs/#comment-237 TB Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:38:36 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=361#comment-237 On the other hand, there are <a href="http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2010/04/do-seed-oils-cause-multi-generational.html" rel="nofollow">other theories </a>about the obesity epidemic. As with other issues, we need to be careful not to jump to conclusions. There's a chart <a href="http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/meetings/workshops/child-obesity/chart1.jpg" rel="nofollow">here</a> on childhood obesity. Anything we identify as a cause needs to correspond to this. <a href="http://www.solarnavigator.net/solar_cola/cola_images/sweetener_use_per_capita_food_consumption_USDA.jpg" rel="nofollow">Here's</a> a chart on HFCS use. Close enough? Or maybe a chart showing video game use would correspond better? Tell you what. Kill the corn subsidies (ethanol too, while you're at it.) Tar and feather <a href="http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-241.html" rel="nofollow">Archer Daniels Midland</a> and run them out of town to earn an honest living. Maybe do the same with the Nutrition Nazis while you have the tar warm. Drop all the government sugar tariffs and protectionism. Then see what market forces can do. On the other hand, there are other theories about the obesity epidemic. As with other issues, we need to be careful not to jump to conclusions.

There’s a chart here on childhood obesity. Anything we identify as a cause needs to correspond to this. Here’s a chart on HFCS use. Close enough? Or maybe a chart showing video game use would correspond better?

Tell you what. Kill the corn subsidies (ethanol too, while you’re at it.) Tar and feather Archer Daniels Midland and run them out of town to earn an honest living. Maybe do the same with the Nutrition Nazis while you have the tar warm. Drop all the government sugar tariffs and protectionism. Then see what market forces can do.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/04/29/first-they-came-for-the-lightbulbs/#comment-235 TB Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:12:32 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=361#comment-235 You might be on to something there with the corn syrup. Certainly it's not like kids years ago were all eating veggies and yogurt. Try and remember why we're using so much fructose. Hint: it ain't the free market. There's a lot of cheap regular sugar that can't get into this country, and a lot of government subsidies thrown at the corn industry. Some of the problem might also be related to a more sedentary lifestyle for kids. Obviously their parents aren't exercising them enough so the State should take control of that as well. Come to think of it, there's so many things parents probably aren't doing the way our intellectual superiors think they should. Fat kids. Have you noticed that the bar for interfering with out liberties and choices keeps getting lower all the time? In so many areas? Totalitarianism has a definition. It means that there is nothing considered beyond the control of the central authority. If you think it doesn't count if nobody's wearing jack boots, you're making a serious mistake. Whether enforcement is by storm troopers or lawyers and police makes no real difference in the end. You might be on to something there with the corn syrup. Certainly it’s not like kids years ago were all eating veggies and yogurt. Try and remember why we’re using so much fructose. Hint: it ain’t the free market. There’s a lot of cheap regular sugar that can’t get into this country, and a lot of government subsidies thrown at the corn industry.

Some of the problem might also be related to a more sedentary lifestyle for kids. Obviously their parents aren’t exercising them enough so the State should take control of that as well. Come to think of it, there’s so many things parents probably aren’t doing the way our intellectual superiors think they should.

Fat kids. Have you noticed that the bar for interfering with out liberties and choices keeps getting lower all the time? In so many areas?

Totalitarianism has a definition. It means that there is nothing considered beyond the control of the central authority. If you think it doesn’t count if nobody’s wearing jack boots, you’re making a serious mistake. Whether enforcement is by storm troopers or lawyers and police makes no real difference in the end.

]]> By: Eri https://habitablezone.com/2011/04/29/first-they-came-for-the-lightbulbs/#comment-232 Eri Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:42:22 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=361#comment-232 But back in those days, they did not add high fructose corn syrup to every damn thing they put on the shelf. It's additive, Tom, and this has reached critical mass. Which is also what the kids are doing weight wise. It has nothing to do with totalitarianism, which is ridiculous to even suggest in this case, but with the health of young people and the increasing cost in taking care of their obesity which is promoted by the unhealthy products put on the market and the advertising done to sell them. If you could talk parents into taking care of the problem and not buying the crap for their kids to eat, that would solve the problem. But you can't, they won't and therefore, it requires intervention so might as well just suck it up and shut up. But back in those days, they did not add high fructose corn syrup to every damn thing they put on the shelf. It’s additive, Tom, and this has reached critical mass. Which is also what the kids are doing weight wise. It has nothing to do with totalitarianism, which is ridiculous to even suggest in this case, but with the health of young people and the increasing cost in taking care of their obesity which is promoted by the unhealthy products put on the market and the advertising done to sell them. If you could talk parents into taking care of the problem and not buying the crap for their kids to eat, that would solve the problem. But you can’t, they won’t and therefore, it requires intervention so might as well just suck it up and shut up.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/04/29/first-they-came-for-the-lightbulbs/#comment-231 TB Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:31:14 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=361#comment-231 Oddly, I completely expected an answer like that. Naturally, since I oppose giving demented academics absolute power over what I am allowed to buy and eat, I must not care about children. I continue to gather information on the widening appeal of totalitarianism in this country. Amazing that people my age somehow managed to survive to adulthood when sugar was king in kid's cereals, and cigarettes were advertised by Fred Flintstone. Oddly, I completely expected an answer like that. Naturally, since I oppose giving demented academics absolute power over what I am allowed to buy and eat, I must not care about children. I continue to gather information on the widening appeal of totalitarianism in this country.

Amazing that people my age somehow managed to survive to adulthood when sugar was king in kid’s cereals, and cigarettes were advertised by Fred Flintstone.

]]> By: Eri https://habitablezone.com/2011/04/29/first-they-came-for-the-lightbulbs/#comment-228 Eri Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:15:55 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=361#comment-228 So what did you expect? Market forces are NOT solving this problem, can't and won't, unless forced. Period. Of course, as a Republican, it's obvious you don't care about the children or whether they are obese because it's the parents' problem. It is child abuse and it's everybody's problem. I pay for it in my health care rates and the prepared foods available to me. I pay for it every day and so does every other person in this country. You're either part of the solution or part of the problem. People who think like you are part of the problem. So what did you expect? Market forces are NOT solving this problem, can’t and won’t, unless forced. Period. Of course, as a Republican, it’s obvious you don’t care about the children or whether they are obese because it’s the parents’ problem. It is child abuse and it’s everybody’s problem. I pay for it in my health care rates and the prepared foods available to me. I pay for it every day and so does every other person in this country.

You’re either part of the solution or part of the problem. People who think like you are part of the problem.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/04/29/first-they-came-for-the-lightbulbs/#comment-225 TB Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:47:30 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=361#comment-225 More from Marion Nestle and the food fascists <a href="http://www.palgrave-journals.com/jphp/journal/v32/n2/full/jphp201114a.html" rel="nofollow">here.</a> More from Marion Nestle and the food fascists here.

]]>