Do you think the government should legislate nutrition?

1. 76

   CarolineChicagoposted 13 years ago

   Do you think the government should legislate nutrition?
   
   From McDonald's toys and fast food menus to the vending machine industry, local, state and federal government is increasing its legislation in nutrition matters. Should it be doing this?

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2. 84

   Jason R. Manningposted 13 years ago

   Absolutely not, the government needs to focus on the myriad of problems it still hasn’t solved for the past 100 years.  Instead of looking for new sugar czars, and bloating a morbid budget, the Big G should be streamlining, let the adults be adults.  Nanny states do not solve problems, they create helpless whinny drones.

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3. 81

   Wesman Todd Shawposted 13 years ago

   absolutely not-that's government overstepping it's bounds. . . and it's a symptom of big government, which is a beast we see rearing it's fugly head in this country.  Also, media, the un=official, and most hideous form of government in this nation.. . .should be ethical as well.  Wait a second. . . .I must have been dreaming to have suggested ethics within the mainstream media. . . .

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4. 79

   Judah's Daughterposted 13 years ago

   Give 'em an inch, they'll take a mile.  What appears harmless can become more harmful than people realize.  Where I'm going with this is the movement toward implementing 'Sharia Law', which governs even the dietary laws of those under it. Right here in Sacramento, CA restaurants in Old Sac had to turn off their blowing fans that draw people in by the smells because Muslims can't stand the smell of 'pork'.  Campbell's Soup in Canada had to make their soups 'halal' certified, due to the Islamic religious movement and pressure.  Anyone heard about how Oklahoma just passed a law barring Sharia Law ever being implemented in that State?  Real deal.
   
   Look back in the times of the Law of Moses ~ talk about dietary laws!  Islam claims to follow the laws of the Old Testament ~ including stoning and hanging people.  What IF some claim this has nothing to do with religion?  It is an imposed way of life in an otherwise free America.  Allow legislation about such a basic freedom as the right to eat what one wants, and before you know it, more ground is given to radical movements taking away more and more freedoms.  It's no joke.  Don't crack the door!  LOCK IT.

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5. 68

   onegoodwomanposted 13 years ago

   No, and I do not believe this interference is about our health.
   
   Nutrition is not a new science, people knew what healthy food was many generations ago.  If the gov' was concerned about our health, vending machines would never have been allowed in schools.
   
   People are not going to a fast food place, or a diner, because they are unaware, they are going because it is easy to do so, and some may even like the food.  Basic nutrition info is everywhere, across the internet, on the labels, on the paper menus, in the news.......there is no excuse for adults not knowing.

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6. 60

   nightwork4posted 13 years ago

   no. the government has no right telling us what we can and can't put into our bodies. what they need to do is make it illegal to sue others because you became over weight from eating at some place. people need to make their own choices and deal with the outcome on their own,.

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7. 59

   Dmianposted 13 years ago

   They have labels and nutrition facts you know what you are eating that is enough regulation for me.

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8. 49

   rn0314@nc.rr.composted 13 years ago

   No, however the government should not be paying the hospital tab for diabetics or obesity.  People should have free will to do as they wish...just don't come crying to uncle sam when you have to pay the consequences!  It's all about the choices we make people!

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9. 79

   Wayne Brownposted 13 years ago

   Absolutely not...this is another area in which government needs to get our of our lives.  There must be standards and practices established and enforced with regard to health and food safety.  This is a government function and will probably remain one.  Regulating food nutrition is one step away from telling us individually what we can eat and cannot eat which eventually leads to crop controls and on and on and on... The government and some of the officials in it need to get over the idea that you can protect a fool from himself...it just does not work.  It would be nice to believe that is all they are trying to do but we are only kidding ourselves. Government inserting itself into the lives of people is a grab for power and an opportunity to take away some of the pursuit of liberty afford you under the Constitution.  WB

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10. 57

    Coming of Ageposted 13 years ago

    I'll answer this question with a couple of other questions.....Should government legislate the right to ask such questions, or limit access to the internet?
    
    Should government require that Americans present papers to cross from one state line to another?
    
    That's where this sort of legislation ultimately leads! Freedom is stripped away in small pieces, so by the time you realize its gone, even the right to say something about it has been stolen from those that would otherwise be free.
    
    When people of so-called superior intelligence are allowed to dictate what others can say or do it leads to the same type of dictatorships that existed under Hitler or Stalin!

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11. 62

    weholdthesetruthsposted 13 years ago

    Absolutely not.   It's a massive stretch to demand nutritional information, even.   Does ANYONE understand the massive costs involved for a restaurant to use the lab services to analyze the food they serve, and the massive cost to have it redone each time they make any change?   And then the cost of republishing every printed item just to add or remove some minor ingredient? 
    
    These things do us no measurable good, but they cost enormously, a huge tax on our lives with no benefit.   Please, people, stop begging to be regulated into bankruptcy as a nation.  Think about the costs of things before you start making fanciful wishes...

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12. 0

    Mr Tindleposted 13 years ago

    I say No... the government should not be regulating the diets of individuals. I don't think the government should regulate the health related decisions of individuals period.
    
    My main reason would be that the Government is not capable of forcing people to be healthy. Endless laws and regulations don't guarantee that the public will adopt healthier lifestyles. There are numerous examples that support my stated reason.
    Drugs, Prostitution, and Bar Fights all carry health risks and they are all subject to legal penalties. Does that stop people from engaging in such activities. Well maybe some, but for the most part people do it anyway and many incur legal and health consequences.
    
    Drinking alcohol in large quantities is not the best course of action for one's health. Of course we all know that Prohibition was a giant failure and people still pay higher sales taxes to consume adult beverages, but the consumption still persists in heavy doses.
    
    As for the recent happy meal ban in San Francisco, there is no guarantee that irresponsible parents won't substitute giving their kids a happy meal with something else that's even less healthy. Who knows maybe some will just buy their kids a large bag of candy every week or introduce them to smoking cigarettes so they don't have to listen to their kids whine about not getting toys with their greasy fast food meal.
    
    What will the powers that be in SF do then? Will they pass new laws that will create new unintended consequences? Then what? Will they create a new government agency and hire new police to monitor everyone to make sure everyone in the city is taking their vitamins and eating their wheaties?!
    
    And what will all the health consequences of that be? Why doesn't anyone ever think about the health risks of an oppressive government that meddles and interferes in people's lives? After all taxes, traffic tickets, acquiring the required licensing standards, etc., etc. are all sources of unwanted stress that wear us down mentally and aid the destruction of our health.
    
    Healthy choices have to come from individual desire not the "manipulation" and "control" of the government.

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13. 76

    CarolineChicagoposted 13 years ago

    I want to thank everyone who have answered this question. I'm thinking about writing a hub and/or a blog article on this issue. I appreciate all of the different opinions.

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14. 69

    jtcarr1164posted 13 years ago

    H*ll no! I know that continuing to eat Big Macs may kill me, but if I decide I want one, well I am too d@mn old to be told by ANYONE that I can not have one. I think I will go smoke a cig now.

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