The story on food stamps villified certain types of foods. People were fat, it implied, because they were buying the wrong kinds of foods. Policies should be aimed at changing what people buy.
The idea that calories in minus calories out equals weight gain or loss whether the food is potato chips, cucumbers, or organic soybeans seems to have escaped the reporter.
The notion that food should be subsidized for the poor ignores the fact than obesity is a bigger problem for the poor than hunger. Moreover, where hunger exists, it’s not the primary problem, rather it’s a symptom of something else (senility, child neglect, drug abuse, etc.)
The story about food stamps and obesity is telling. Poverty in the United States is certainly different than poverty in Africa or South America.
The story on food stamps villified certain types of foods. People were fat, it implied, because they were buying the wrong kinds of foods. Policies should be aimed at changing what people buy.
The idea that calories in minus calories out equals weight gain or loss whether the food is potato chips, cucumbers, or organic soybeans seems to have escaped the reporter.
The notion that food should be subsidized for the poor ignores the fact than obesity is a bigger problem for the poor than hunger. Moreover, where hunger exists, it’s not the primary problem, rather it’s a symptom of something else (senility, child neglect, drug abuse, etc.)
If the absurd conclusion that “food stamps cause obesity” were true, then the obvious fix would be to give out cash instead of chits.
That’s exactly right Bart. If you have to give people something, give people cash and let them spend it in a way that maximizes their utility.
Isn’t this more hypocracy from the New York Times. Haven’t they editorialized in favor of taxing or outlawing various fattening foods?