Given the poor health quality of Americans, are you in favor of strategies to improve food quality, reduce processed foods/sugar in our society?

[btthegreat]

I like mashed potatoes, but I tend to let potatoes go bad when i buy them raw. Few mash potato mixes are chemical free:

View attachment 67569231

Ingredients

99% Potatoes, Emulsifi¬er Mono-and Diglyceride-from Fatty Acids (INS471), Stabiliser Disodium Diphosphate [INS450 (i)], Antioxidant Sodium Metabisulphite (INS223), Synthetic Flavouring, Spice Extract. Contain permitted food additives of plant and synthetic origin

View attachment 67569233


Ingredients

IDAHO® POTATOES WITH EMULSIFIER (MONOGLYCERIDES) AND PRESERVATIVE (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM BISULFITE, CITRIC ACID, MIXED TOCOPHEROLS).





Are you the food police? Don't take Thanksgiving away.

Like the instant potatoes.


I don't think many people do that.

I want to be very clear as a liberal, while I do believe in a federal police agency monitoring compliance with my federal daily carb portions consumption law , I also realize that to get this regulatory bill past the filibuster in the Senate, we may have to compromise with moderates and exempt Thanksgiving and Christmas from the bill so that Americans are permitted 1/2 cup of mashed, 1/2 cup of stuffing, and a dinner roll, and pumpkin, apple or pecan pie.

Just to be clear for our literal minded posters, this post is designed as humor.

 

[jaypatriot]

Not sure why you're changing the subject, but your decision not to wear a seatbelt or to smoke in a restaurant doesn't just affect you.

My post was for those who like to think they are entitled to disobey laws they don't like. Like that stupid Newark NJ mayor who felt he had the authority to just walk into a building controlled by ICE housing illegal migrants.
He was lucky ICE let him go.. Hopefully other idiot Mayors in sanctuary cities in sanctuary states learn they must obey federal immigration laws.

 

[Lord Tammerlain]

Didn't Bloomberg try the soda tax in NYC and get ripped apart by conservatives for trying to use the government to control people's lives?

Yet now we have conservatives basically supporting the same thing

 

[PIPEWRENCH]

If you are in favor of this but disagree with strategies that have been utilized so far, please share proposals of how we, as a society, could implement changes to improve our health through nutrition.

Clearly improving the health of our children and young adults will make health care a lot more affordable. Unfortunately for the elderly the damage has been done. Prevention is what is needed. I watch children who can barely walk due to obesity and already diabetic. This is heart breaking and clearly something needs to be done. How can you say you love your children and not be for improving the health of these children. Again once the damage is done it is too late for a lot of them.

 

[jaypatriot]

Didn't Bloomberg try the soda tax in NYC and get ripped apart by conservatives for trying to use the government to control people's lives?

Yet now we have conservatives basically supporting the same thing

Are you criticizing Conservatives for wanting to save the lives of stupid people who don't care what they eat?
I know, don't tell people what they can or cannot eat.
Let them suffer from diabetes and extreme obesity so they can occupy hospital beds because they didn't take their medications or watched their diets.
At least there's Ozempic, Monjaro, Zepbound, and Wegovy.
People need those drugs to tell them they are not hungry and shouldn't eat. What have we come to?

 

[Lord Tammerlain]

Are you criticizing Conservatives for wanting to save the lives of stupid people who don't care what they eat?
I know, don't tell people what they can or cannot eat.
Let them suffer from diabetes and extreme obesity so they can occupy hospital beds because they didn't take their medications or watched their diets.
At least there's Ozempic, Monjaro, Zepbound, and Wegovy.
People need those drugs to tell them they are not hungry and shouldn't eat. What have we come to?

I am criticizing the hypocrisy of conservatives now wanting to control what people eat.

The flip flop

Sin taxes can work and I am not against them in general.

 

[jaypatriot]

I am criticizing the hypocrisy of conservatives now wanting to control what people eat.

The flip flop

Sin taxes can work and I am not against them in general.

You're right. Conservatives can also be hypocrites.
Why, just the other day I walked across a busy street where there was no crosswalk.
And last week I ate a heavily loaded cheeseburger with fries and didn't even feel guilty about it.
And, yes, I felt a bit of shame in doing so.

 

[Lord Tammerlain]

You're right. Conservatives can also be hypocrites.
Why, just the other day I walked across a busy street where there was no crosswalk.
And last week I ate a heavily loaded cheeseburger with fries and didn't even feel guilty about it.
And, yes, I felt a bit of shame in doing so.

Can be hypocrites?

That is rather an understatement don't you think

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

My post was for those who like to think they are entitled to disobey laws they don't like. Like that stupid Newark NJ mayor who felt he had the authority to just walk into a building controlled by ICE housing illegal migrants.
He was lucky ICE let him go.. Hopefully other idiot Mayors in sanctuary cities in sanctuary states learn they must obey federal immigration laws.

OH LORD!!

There have been all kinds of whataboutisms on here, but that one takes the cake. Has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the subject matter being discussed.

Whataboutism is an argumentative tactic where a person or group responds to an accusation or difficult question by deflection. Instead of addressing the point made, they counter it with “but what about X?”.

Whataboutism: Behind the Deflecting Tactic in Arguments | FlaglerLive

Whataboutism is an argumentative tactic where a person or group responds to an accusation or difficult question by deflection. Instead of addressing the point made, they counter it with “but what about X?”

flaglerlive.com

Hey Everyone..............

 

[Hello My Son]

1. American diet, one of the most fattening diets in the world. Sugars are only part of the problem. But what would the OP suggest, that we ban sugars, trans-fats, hamburgers and steaks?
2. Get off your lazy asses. Besides spending way too much time on debate forums and watching every football game that comes on TV, get mobile. Expecting the government to do the work FOR YOU while you sit on your ass, ain't gonna make you healthier.
3. A health care system designed on preventative health care. Let me explain - I live in a socialist paradise that my southern brethren like to ridicule, but because our doctors are not paid to keep us sick but to keep us healthy, every time I go to a doctor - besides not having to pay a penny - I also get an ear full if I show too much fat.
4. Let's ban cigarettes and booze. If the OP is serious about "strategies" then start there and see how much support he gets for THAT idea. Seriously, ban smoking and booze and watch the health of Americans improve ten fold.
5. Upbringing, and culture: Unless you also want to ban video games, cellphones, computers, and all the other distractions kids have nowadays, put the burden on parents to start parenting and not just giving into little Johnnies and little Karens who want every new gadget out there yet can't kick a soccer ball worth a d*mn.
6. Finally, and this is the biggy, EDUCATION. Why isn't health care, like sex ed, getting more attention is schools? Are those topics too woke? Too progressive? Taking away parent's rights? Seriously? I never learned anything about nutrition when I went to school, nada, yet my son did and yet not one parent up here in Canada whined "Why are you wasting time with this nonsense? Teach the ABCs and stop trying to teach them things like good nutrition."

Did you want to ask me anything specifically or just randomly assign positions I never advocated to me?

 

[jaypatriot]

OH LORD!!

There have been all kinds of whataboutisms on here, but that one takes the cake. Has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the subject matter being discussed.

Whataboutism is an argumentative tactic where a person or group responds to an accusation or difficult question by deflection. Instead of addressing the point made, they counter it with “but what about X?”.

Oh Yeah. But what about those posters who preach to others about those who hide behind their whataboutisms?

 

[dmpi]

This is the classic: Can't eat healthy vs. Won't eat healthy. Essentially almost everyone knows how to eat healthy and almost everyone has the means and resources to do it. They just don't do it because it's more fun to live in the moment and just pig out on junk food rather than deprive yourself on a measured restricted diet of fruits and vegetables. Unless you take away people's ability to choose, no government action is going to make much of a difference.

 

[Callen]

Of course but if won't work. The food industry is too powerful. As it is the red dye ban is a request not a ban.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

This is the classic: Can't eat healthy vs. Won't eat healthy. Essentially almost everyone knows how to eat healthy and almost everyone has the means and resources to do it. They just don't do it because it's more fun to live in the moment and just pig out on junk food rather than deprive yourself on a measured restricted diet of fruits and vegetables. Unless you take away people's ability to choose, no government action is going to make much of a difference.

These folks would agree with you................

 

[L88]

Agreed. How would you propose we work toward achieving the affordable food part? Obviously, the affordable health care part is essential, but I was just attempting to focus more specifically on strategies to improve food quality in this thread.

This I don't understand. It's cheaper to eat at home. Fresh is less expensive than processed, for the most part.

 

[gbg3]

Of course but if won't work. The food industry is too powerful. As it is the red dye ban is a request not a ban.

Incorrect. It's a ban and the food industry has until the end of next year to fully comply.

 

[rahl]

Hmm… isn’t that the goal of Medicare For All?

No. Medicare for all is simply a single payer system which is empirically superior to the for profit model of the US.

 

[Callen]

Incorrect. It's a ban and the food industry has until the end of next year to fully comply.

Sorry I said red dye but I meant the "bans" recently announced which are not actual bans but rather encouragements. I heard this directly from the doctor you liked so much during Covid who is now in HHS. If you remind me of his name I'll find the exact words.

"but it is being encouraged to do so voluntarily. The FDA has requested the industry to phase out six synthetic food dyes. While not a ban in the strictest sense, the FDA is working with the industry to encourage this change, and some states have already passed laws banning certain food ingredients. "

 

[JMR]

The EU has tackled the problem by taking foods containing certain additives and ingredients off grocery shelves.

Another problem the USA has, IMO, is the reliance on huge stores, on the highway. It's so inconvenient to shop that people buy food that they think will "keep" so they have many meals covered. I'm lucky to have several local small markets very nearby. I stop on my way home several times a week so have almost entirely fresh food. Takes like 20 minutes, and I don't have to schlep boxes and bags into the house.

 

[rahl]

Not sure why you're changing the subject, but your decision not to wear a seatbelt or to smoke in a restaurant doesn't just affect you.

People being unhealthy doesn’t affect just them either. It drives up medical costs for everyone else.

 

[Callen]

Incorrect. It's a ban and the food industry has until the end of next year to fully comply.

Here it is I found it....not a ban

FDA stops short of synthetic food dye ban, calls on industry to stop use

Federal health officials want companies to swap out certain food dyes with natural alternatives.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[rahl]

On the affordable healthcare part, the left would have to be willing to give up on insanely stupid concepts like the so-called Affordable Healthcare Act and Medicare for All and actually seek real healthcare reform

The ACA has kept costs down significantly. Medicare for all, which is just single payer healthcare, is superior to the current US model. Every first world nation with single payer provides better care than we do at a fraction of the cost we pay.

How so?

 

[Noodlegawd]

People being unhealthy doesn’t affect just them either. It drives up medical costs for everyone else.

Then we should make it illegal to be unhealthy, or stop forcing the rest of us to subsidize their healthcare.

 

[Peter]

The UK has a sugar tax for some food and drinks and it was implemented by a conservative government.

 

[rahl]

Then we should make it illegal to be unhealthy, or stop forcing the rest of us to subsidize their healthcare.

There’s no choice but to subsidize their healthcare. They drive up the total cost of services for everyone. Unhealthy foods need heavily taxed (sin tax).