Jun 5, 2011 -- 3:24PM, NATAS wrote:

I think that if Americans still refuse to follow the guidelines then laws should be passed to.......encourage them to do so. 

There should be laws against transfats, laws limiting the amount of salt and sugar that is put in processed foods.  

There should be laws limiting the amount of calories that fast food places and resturants can serve at meals. 

There should be laws preventing fast food places from giving out toys with meals that are unhealthy and they should be banned from operating within a mile of any school. 

There should be "sin taxes"  on donuts, sodas and cakes.

People who are obese should be required to exercise at least one hour a day. 

If people are too stupid and lazy to take care of themselves then the state should step in for their own good.

Jun 5, 2011 -- 5:21PM, Ebon wrote:

"Sin taxes" only make sense in countries that have national healthcare (we have them here on tobacco and alcohol). I do hope the rest was sarcasm. I'll usually support giving the consumer more information but not forcing them to eat better.

In the United States or at least in New York State we have  "sin taxes" on alcohol and tobacco.  In New York City a pack of cigarettes cost tweleve dollars.  I think that at least half of that is in taxes.  In New York City a law was recently passed making it illegal for resturants to use "transfats" in cooking food.   We don't have national healthcare we got Obama care.

It is my understanding that one of the purposes of "sin taxes" is to discourage people from "sinning".   I think that another purpose of "sin taxes" is use the money gained from the sin taxes to offset the healthcare costs incurred by those who "sin". 

I don't know how effective the "sin taxes" are in preventing people from "sinning"  but I am sure that they do help to some degree in offsetting the healthcare costs incurred by "sinners". 

It would therefore be reasonable to apply  "sin taxes" to  salt and sugar  .   The same line of reasoning would apply to junk foods like donuts and soda.  People, like me are contributing to the rise in healthcare costs by eating such foods so it makes sense that people like me should pay for our "sins". 

It is not forcing people to eat good foods it is forcing people not to eat bad foods!

Jun 5, 2011 -- 4:36PM, Girlchristian wrote:

Wow, this post is insane. You want to see a revolt, have the gov't start trying to force people to exercise. Should each of us have a gov't agent that lives with us to make sure that we're taking care of ourselves according to your standards?

They are not "my" standards.  Eating poorly and not excerising is bad for your health. 

But I am a nice guy. I am willing to comprimise and take out the requirement that people have to exercise.  

Jun 5, 2011 -- 4:36PM, Girlchristian wrote:

Jun 5, 2011 -- 3:24PM, NATAS wrote:

I think that if Americans still refuse to follow the guidelines then laws should be passed to.......encourage them to do so. 

There should be laws against transfats, laws limiting the amount of salt and sugar that is put in processed foods.  

There should be laws limiting the amount of calories that fast food places and resturants can serve at meals. 

There should be laws preventing fast food places from giving out toys with meals that are unhealthy and they should be banned from operating within a mile of any school. 

There should be "sin taxes"  on donuts, sodas and cakes.

People who are obese should be required to exercise at least one hour a day. 

If people are too stupid and lazy to take care of themselves then the state should step in for their own good. 

Wow, this post is insane. You want to see a revolt, have the gov't start trying to force people to exercise. Should each of us have a gov't agent that lives with us to make sure that we're taking care of ourselves according to your standards?

I quite agree.

If we task gov't with looking after our physical health, why not have gov't see to it that all citizens are well-educated, properly socialized, spiritually developed and mentally well-balanced?  Why, we could cede gov't control  over every single aspect of our lives - all in the name of personal improvement.  Every person would be developed to their fullest potential - in all respects. Wow-wee!

I'll pass.

Irene.

Jun 5, 2011 -- 3:24PM, NATAS wrote:

There should be "sin taxes"  on donuts, sodas and cakes.

Oooh, that would hit me hard, but I can agree with the concept.

Jun 2, 2011 -- 10:22PM, MMarcoe wrote:

I like how vegetables occupy the biggest portion of the plate. They should.

Of course. With the exception of a few people who require special diets, veggies should usually be the largest part of a meal.

Jun 4, 2011 -- 1:22AM, Roodog wrote:

I prefer Merlot to Cabernet and a good beer to whiskey.

I prefer Chardonnay myself and I'm very picky about my beers. If I was willing to drink canned sewage, I could get it anywhere but since I like to drink real ale (microbrews to you), I usually have to find a specialist booze store (becoming increasingly rare here).

Jun 4, 2011 -- 11:28AM, Ur2 wrote:

I like the plate because it  takes thinking out of the equation. Isn't that the New American Way?

Are we striving for mediocrity now? Maybe we can reduce our language to symbols and reduce Math to "a bunch" or "some".

Language is symbols, the plate is deliberately designed to be simple and easy to understand and if a conservative had proposed it, you'd think it was great.

Jun 4, 2011 -- 11:28AM, Ur2 wrote:

I like the plate because it takes thinking out of the equation. Isn't that the New American Way?

Are we striving for mediocrity now? Maybe we can reduce our language to symbols and reduce Math to "a bunch" or "some".

Thanx,

Ur2

If you are striving for sarcasm, it was lost on me. 

Obesity, especially in children, is a national health issue.  This change from the food pyramid is an attempt to help families prepare and consume healthier meals.  It is deliberately designed so that even a second grader can understand.

How is this change an example of "striving for mediocrity"? Because it makes it easier to understand the concepts?