Power to the Food

Power to the Food

In What You Eat is Your Business by Radley Balko, he talks about Time Magazine and ABC news doing a summit hosted by anchor Peter Jennings. To talk and debate about obesity, and try to come up with ways to stop obesity from being a health problem. Starting by federal funding’s to label food, and to restrict on what is being marketed to kids in food choices. Basically, involving government into obesity. He also refers to President Bush, with his funding’s of 200 million dollars for anti-obesity regulations. On board are the state legislature and school boards taking initiative with banning vending machine for soda and junk food. This includes the ideas from Senator Joe Lieberman and Oakland’s mayor Jerry Brown among others to tax on high calorie foods. Also the Congress with menu-labeling, making restaurants send their food to laboratories for calorie testing.

Radley Balko’s opinion is that government is headed for the wrong path. Instead of making regulations and restrictions the Government should point to “the people” and make them responsible for their own health. Other people’s health issues are no longer their own but a “public health” issue, which gives permission to our health care system to become socialist. Lawmakers give some people the responsibility to pay for others medicine that is not their own. He also feels that the government is protecting the obese by encouraging them that’s its okay to eat unhealthy, others will pay for the price. He also mentions that instead of doing that, why not make health care money go to the people instead of the government, this way people will at least think twice before going to the doctor. Make people responsible for their own health.

To my response, Radley Balko’s essay has a very strong stand with owning up to obesity in the U.S. In some ways he is ways correct, there is a lot of people who have obesity problems, and it’s expensive for them to pay on their own. There needs to be some ways to give them the satisfaction of stabilizing obesity without being so harsh. I agree that there needs to be personal responsibility, that its always once choice to become obese. What I do not agree with is, when Balko’s opinion includes only one side, the side where people gain weight. Also, I do not agree with his idea of making the government look like they are not trying to fix the problem.

Personal responsibility is something everyone should be familiarized with, on a regular basis making a mistake does not give a leeway to blaming others. Same with obesity, for those who just decide to not give an effort to being healthy. Balko’s point is, “Your well-being, shape, and condition have increasingly been deemed matters of “public health,” instead of matters of personal responsibility. (467)” This is his way of saying being a bit more responsible has not been applied properly. I agree to what Balko arguments are, no one is obligated to drive to a fast-food restaurant and get a double-cheese burger, large fries, and a large drink. When probably there is a grocery store nearby to try, and buy healthy food like a salad that takes minutes to make. Starting a diet, self-control, also doing it for yourself to be healthy. This way there won’t be a need for a doctor telling you the you are unhealthy and prone to having obesity problems like diabetes.  

There is one side of weight gain, but obesity in overall includes those with health problems, like cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, and those who have a genetic disorder, also those who are suffering from depression which can lead to eating a lot to a point where they gain weight, and become obese. This part is what Balko’s essay is lacking on, our taxes do not just pay for those who gain weight because they can’t stop eating at their favorite fast-food place, but for those who have serious health conditions. To my own personal life, it has affected my family. My dad has type two diabetes, and suffers from high blood pressure, as well as cholesterol problems, the health care programs is what my dad depends on, and there have been times where he’s had to make trips to Mexico to buy his medicine because his health care won’t cover for the cost. I know firsthand what happens when a person with health problems do not get the proper medication, and it’s a serious issue. Also, my dad made changes to his eating habits to make the process healthier, which is a part of taking care of the problem.

The government has always helped with what they think is best, even though they lack in certain areas, but helping those with obesity problems is a step to trying to do good. Balko states, “A society where everyone is responsible for everyone else’s well-being is a society more apt to accept government restrictions…, (468)” Its Balko’s way of criticizing those who let the government take responsibility for health issues, mainly obesity. I do not think that having government restrictions on what’s best for your health is a bad idea. Let’s take for example public schools, if there were no restrictions on what is given to the children during school hours, the chances of them being obese is far greater then what we face today. Some parents do not have the time to make food, or they work long hours, especially for single parents. Their first choice is to drive to the nearest fast food place and grab something fast. Also, money wise some parents can only afford from the cheapest place, why bother going grocery shopping and spending money they do not have, when there are other options Their simple solution would be at a fast food place and get something for an economical price. Government is trying to lower the percentage of obese people in the United States. The only way we can get others to become healthy is to be an example and take the initiative. As to public school we should be able to agree with the regulations. As for parents, they should feel better, because schools provide their kids better food choices, and not feel so bad for their afterschool eating habits.  

In conclusion, the whole personal responsibility as Balko discusses is important because there are people who blame their weight gain on something irrelevant, and they make that an excuse to avoid trying to be healthy. To me that’s a wrong turn for the worst. Also, the way Balko’s arguments are on one side is also wrong, because we need to be humans and feel empathy for those whose conditions are serious and extremely deadly. Lastly Balko’s criticism on the government is poor judgement, only because if it wasn’t for them the obesity rate in the U.S would probably be greater than what we see now days.

 

 

 

Cite work

            Radley Balko. What You Eat is Your Business. Cato Institute, May 23, 2004, https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/what-you-eat-is-business. May 23,2004.