Fat=Force, Part Deux

It took a few days for them to get all their arguments for government force in a row, but never let it be said that Strib editors sat on the sidelines while others grandstanded on the backs of the poor.

Amazingly, they admitted the truth about healthy living:

Regardless of income level, most of us know what it takes to battle that bulge. Eat better and less. Exercise more.

But that would have been much too easy to simply end your editorial at that point, huh Strib? No, to "lead on issues" requires proposing government force and blaming all but the individual for their lifestyle choices.

The highlights of their litany of causes for the obese poor:

Duh! They're poor! Poor people, apparently, only shop where Mountain Dew and Little Debbies are sold in bulk and hence are not able to have "healthy, affordable food choices." C'mon, I'm to believe a supermarket is that inconvenient? If you want healthy food you'll get it. If not, you won't.

They are culturally pre-programmed. Liberals, always looking for a stereotype to excuse an action or non-action. Individuals can fight through their "cultural background" to live healthy. I work with so many healthy, minority people as to make this claim utterly ridiculous.

They're depressed and stressed. So sit around and get fatter, that'll help. Get big enough and Springer will have to come by with machines to extricate you from your home.

They offer a few solutions, suggesting they be "culture-based, well-supported education campaigns and environmental changes to support healthy living." Liberal, PC-claptrap to be sure, but the best is the following:

Low-income areas should be saturated with healthier foods at better prices, perhaps requiring, at least initially, public subsidies and close government collaboration with the private sector.

Businesses should be forced to operate near low-income areas. And if this doesn't work? If the poor, despite allow the government allowances made for stereotypes and economic forces, still won't forsake Snacky Cakes and Cheesy Poofs for veggies and granola?

Well, aside from mandating that the store not sell anything but vegetables? How about this idea, Star & Sickle:

A government feeding program whereby health officials simply go door-to-door everyday, force open people's mouths and proceed to cram in all the healthy food that they stubbornly refuse to eat, despite all the government efforts to give them the tools to make a healthy choice. Bring along a portable treadmill unit, strap them in and set it on "RUN!" and they can get their exercise to boot!

This should do it, I think.

Like Tracy pointed out the other day "[t]he US is the only country in history where the "poor" are fat and the "rich" are thin." And, I might add, worries about the fact endlessly.