Bake Sale Ban

[Patrick]

Take a gander at this New York Times article regarding the ban of bake sales in the NYC school system. In a "nutshell", NYC school kids are too fat and the bake sales used to raise money for whatever cause exacerbates (it appears) the problem.

The number one cause for obesity is corporate America. They are forever finding new ways (and reinventing the old) to take money out of ones wallet by glossing over the facts and apparent need for their goods. Case in point, the vending machines in the schools. It provides another venue for merchandisers to sell their goods and for the venue to make some money themselves. You see, the school also profits from having the vending machines. The only loser is the person that uses the machine. But who the hell cares? It's all about profit, is it not? Profit now, ask questions later. Keep in mind that the only reason that the unscrupulous corporate greed mongers survive is because of moronic consumers. Not much different than the brain dead Jerry Springer crowd buying into that trailer park, low life insanity. Score one for corporate America. They found a population segment that spells huge advertising revenue. Hell, forget about the value of the offering, again we're talking profits and profits out weigh the negative impacts on society.

Anyway, back to school. The vending machine debacle. When I was in grade school we had a vending machine in the hall. It sold, believe it or not....APPLES! That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. In grade school we also had what was called a milk program. For 25 cents (or whatever it was) their was a 5-10 minute break and little cartons of milk were distributed and you also got a handful of raisins. In high school, there were no vending machines. You had lunch and that was that. Of course, you could always bring something from home and stick it in your locker and eat it between periods. School back then was not a market venue for profits. It was to learn. But that has all changed and the results are being seen with 20/20 hindsight. Congratulations to the visionaries who leaped on board to the corporate ship of profits for the sake of all else.

A Twinkie as a kid to me was a treat, not a right.

[Debbie]

No one twists anyone's arm to eat or drink anything. Obesity is not caused by vending machines or what is in them. It is not caused by prepared, processed foods. It is caused by over consumption, whether it is good or bad food or drinks. It is caused by lack of control by the individual. School aged children who may be over weight are so, because of what their parents put in front of them at meal time, if they even get a meal. It is also caused by lack of activity. Over weight America and it's over weight children sit on their butts on the computer, watching TV, etc. while stuffing processed snacks into their gluttonous mouths which is their own choice in doing so. Case closed!

[John Barrows]

While Debbie is right, her argument and Patrick's are not mutually exclusive. In this case though, I am in agreement basically with Patrick's argument.

Our culture is run by corporate America, not by elected officials who (should) answer to us. Elected officials keep farm "welfare" payments high (using our tax dollars) to reward corporate farmers who produce nutritionless corn and sugar to keep "food" prices down (even though the "food" in question is the type that causes obesity). From McDonalds on every corner, to soda, potato chip and candy machines in schools, the only thing this culture offers youngsters by way of food, is crap. But as Patrick notes, ours is a culture that preys and profits on stupidity , the major personality trait of the majority of Americans. From gambling casinos (what I call "taxation of the ignorant"), to Rush Limbaugh and and some guy named Beck (what I call the "information highway of the bigots"), to the Republican party which promotes hate as their party's core platform plank, to the health industry's rejection of reform, our form of democracy is the culture of the lowest common denominator. Hell, the founding fathers knew that when they restricted voting to people with education and brains. Our country is run not for the good of the people. It is run for the good of a handful who make big bucks feeding off of stupidity. And that's the way it is. And that's why America is losing its moral leadership in the world - and indeed even at home. Our eating habits are only a symptom of our degeneration.

[Debbie]

The food in question in itself does not cause obesity. We cannot blame our eating habits on anyone else; it is no one's fault but our own. Again, no one is twisting anyone's are to eat anything. It is all a matter of choice. AND once that choice is taken away, what king of government do you have then?

[Patrick]

It is true that nobody is twisting anyone's arm but there is brainwashing going on. Convenience is the name of the game, now more than ever. This is true not only for the food but also where you buy it. Today, everything is under one roof...no more traveling to different "mom & pop" shops to get exactly what you need. Now while this "one stop shopping" concept is not wrong, in most cases, what is offered is not of the best quality and commercially mass produced, but not in all cases. Hey, I have an idea.......why not open a big building and house all the "mom & pop" establishments under one roof!? WOW what an idea. One stop shopping, small store quality and greater customer service. Little Italy in the Bronx has a place that pretty much operates on that premise. You can go to different owned butchers, bakers, produce etc under one roof.

[John Barrows]

They have these kinds of markets in many places in Europe. Barcelona has a very famous one. They're trying to create one here in downtown Portland.

[Patrick]

NEW FLASH! This just sent to me from Debbie.....................
Taking on deception at the grocery store