Center For Consumer Freedom = bullshits

[Dalya]

anyway, sry that sounded so rude. i was a little mad when i wrote it but now i can't even remember why.

sokay.

[Dalya]

It occured to me that the intentional concentration and distribution of ammonia, methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, cyanide, phosphorous, nitrates, heavy metals, salmonella, cryptosporidium, streptocolli, girardia and fecal coliform bacteria would be an act of terrorism if it were motivated by religious ideology, an act of war for political gain, but is tolerated when it is done out of greed.

The only difference here is that we get the McRib for two months a year. There must be something in that sauce, because I still think it's worth it.

WATCH THE CORPORATION!!!!! you can borrow my copy if you can't find it at blockbuster or wherever.

p.s. i just read an article about a girl who has been in prison for 4 months (of the 4 years she has to serve) for allegedly leading a web ring that promoted vandalizing companies that test their products on animals. by hurting their profits, she was commiting acts of terrorism. and they couldnt even prove she ran the website (because she didnt). get the Feb Jane magazine if you want to read the article.

...oh, did i mention this is in britain, not america?

welcome to the future.

[aquaphase]

It occured to me that the intentional concentration and distribution of ammonia, methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, cyanide, phosphorous, nitrates, heavy metals, salmonella, cryptosporidium, streptocolli, girardia and fecal coliform bacteria would be an act of terrorism if it were motivated by religious ideology, an act of war for political gain, but is tolerated when it is done out of greed.

The only difference here is that we get the McRib for two months a year. There must be something in that sauce, because I still think it's worth it.

WATCH THE CORPORATION!!!!! you can borrow my copy if you can't find it at blockbuster or wherever.

p.s. i just read an article about a girl who has been in prison for 4 months (of the 4 years she has to serve) for allegedly leading a web ring that promoted vandalizing companies that test their products on animals. by hurting their profits, she was commiting acts of terrorism. and they couldnt even prove she ran the website (because she didnt). get the Feb Jane magazine if you want to read the article.

...oh, did i mention this is in britain, not america?

welcome to the future.

I loved V for Vendetta.

[Dalya]

And to James' point, our culture is geared toward the idea that a meal must have some kind of meat (and chicken is somehow not meat) to be balanced. There are a lot of people who think a double cheese burger is a healthy option.

even poor people know that being overweight is unhealthy. they might not know the exact health risks, but no one would argue that its better to be obese. if there is a person below the poverty line, and they are obese, that is a problem. that is a problem that barely makes sense because how can you be obese and not be able to pay rent?

yes a hamburger might be cheaper than one can of beans, but if you go to sams and buy a case of beef chili, which will last you more than two weeks for dinner (say, 20 cans), that is cheaper than buying mcdonalds for dinner every night, where you will also buy fries and a soda, not just one plain hamburger.

also assuming you have kids, its a lot cheaper to buy peanut butter and jelly and bread than to give them lunch money for school.

i dont think buying mcdonalds every day is usually a thought-out process. most people know its bad for you, but continue to eat it out of laziness or lack of incentive to make something yourself.

there's also a difference between getting mcdonalds on the way to work once a week cause you're late and going there every day.

[Dalya]

I loved V for Vendetta.

is it that plot? i hate natalie portman so i refuse to see it.

dal "she associates with braff" ya

[Dogatron]

WATCH THE CORPORATION!!!!! you can borrow my copy if you can't find it at blockbuster or wherever.

I already posted a link to the shareware version you can watch for free in this thread on page 1

[Rebecca]

yes a hamburger might be cheaper than one can of beans, but if you go to sams and buy a case of beef chili, which will last you more than two weeks for dinner (say, 20 cans), that is cheaper than buying mcdonalds for dinner every night, where you will also buy fries and a soda, not just one plain hamburger.

If you're poor, you're probably not going to drive to Sam's and pay $50 for a membership so you can buy beans in bulk.

And all of this is assuming that there is a grocery store within a reasonable distance from their home and they have a car to get there (yes I know there is public transportation, but then you have to assume that they have enough time to walk to the bus stop, wait for the bus, get to the store, shop, wait for the bus, and walk home with groceries. This might not be easy if you're a single mom or you work more than one job).

I heard this story on NPR about a group that was going out into parts of the ghetto and educating people about diet and nutrition. There are no grocery stores, just fast food and convenience stores. So cheetos and burgers are really common meals for them, and (prior to being educated by these nutritionists) they didn't know any better.

People should be educated and make their own decisions and all that, but the way I see it, fast food companies target poor people with their ads, menus, and locations in a way that is sickening to me.

I realize that placing stricter regulations on the fast food industry isn't going to be a cure-all, but it's a good place to start. Teaching people about the food pyramid and healthy cooking is even more important.

And in the meantime, how many people are going to die or become disabled as a result of complications from diabetes, heart disease, etc.?

[Dalya]

ok i see what youre saying about the location thing. if theres not a store within walking distance its a problem. i don't know about in san antonio, but in dallas transportation and housing are considered more important than food. i learned this at a food pantry i volunteered at. in dallas it is more important to keep your car working than to have enough food to eat. families would come to the pantry and hadnt eaten in days because their rent was due and they couldnt be evicted. in dallas you often cant get to work without a car. the bus system isnt reliable enough and poor people dont have the kind of jobs where its ok if theyre 20 minutes late because DART fucked up. obviously this isnt true for everyone, but for the most part it is.

as far as people not being educated... i dont know if i buy that. that npr story could have been a really specific area that doesnt represent the vast majority of the working poor. if it were true that the majority of the working poor didnt know mcdonalds is unhealthy, then you shouldnt target mcdonalds with legislation, you should target the education system. isnt leanring what food will kill you and important piece of knowledge? i thought health is a required class?

[Rebecca]

i thought health is a required class?

I think it is, but one of my classmates asked me today if chlamydia was the one that's curable. Jesus.

San Antonio is the same way as far as transportation. We have a bus system, but it's not reliable at all, and the city is spread out so it doesn't serve all areas.

The main reason I believe in more food regulation is because kids are getting diabetes because they eat nothing but crap at home and at school. They might know better, they might not, but they are kids. We don't hold them accountable for most important things, so why should they be 100% in charge of their nutrition? Phyllis is right, if they get rid of Little Debbies and Cokes at school, kids will just bring them in their lunchbox. But there would still be a LOT fewer kids eating crap for lunch. There's simply no good reason for restaurants and school cafeterias to serve food that has no nutritional value whatsoever and is loaded with sugar, trans-fat, and partially hydrogenated oils.

Plus, if they grow up eating that crap, it's going to be a LOT harder for them to make healthy lifestyle decisions when they get older.

[Dalya]

i think the bigger problem is the way advertising targets kids (think: cereal ads, fruit roll up ads, candy ads, yoohoo, gatoraid, koolaid, etc etc etc). a kid watching cartoons just gets that crap drilled into them (not to mention what they should look like and all that).

the public owns the air waves and yet that shit is on the radio too (Radio Disney).

there's just no way to combat that many images being pumped into a child as their brain develops. no wonder so many kids have or seem to have ADD. they see millions of images a day and all they eat is sugar and grease.

[Rebecca]

i think the bigger problem is the way advertising targets kids (think: cereal ads, fruit roll up ads, candy ads, yoohoo, gatoraid, koolaid, etc etc etc). a kid watching cartoons just gets that crap drilled into them (not to mention what they should look like and all that).

Especially because appearance is reality to young kids. To them, a guy dressed up like Mickey Mouse is actually the REAL Mickey Mouse. So when cartoon characters tell them what cereal to eat (or what cigarettes to smoke, ahem), they have no concept that it is advertising because they can't distinguish fantasy from reality.

Re "learning all about child cognitive development this semester" becca

[lennon]

....There's simply no good reason for restaurants and school cafeterias to serve food that has no nutritional value whatsoever and is loaded with sugar, trans-fat, and partially hydrogenated oils.

sure there is (in their opinion). cheaper ingredients mean bigger profits for mcdonalds and being able to stay within alloted budgets for schools.

[Rebecca]

....There's simply no good reason for restaurants and school cafeterias to serve food that has no nutritional value whatsoever and is loaded with sugar, trans-fat, and partially hydrogenated oils.

sure there is (in their opinion). cheaper ingredients mean bigger profits for mcdonalds and being able to stay within alloted budgets for schools.

I said no good reason. Colossal profits for a huge corporation are not a good enough reason, and our schools should be funded well enough to serve real food to the kids.

[lennon]

the definition of 'good' to you and me is far different than mcdonalds definition.

bottom line is that mcdonalds (among others) will never change until consumers attitudes towards their own diets change. you can educate until you are blue in the face. it will do no good. if you like shoving cheeseburgers down your throat, someone telling you that you are doing harm to your body means nothing. to them, they can always have surgery (lap band) or take medication for diabetes.

[lennon]

there's just no way to combat that many images being pumped into a child as their brain develops. no wonder so many kids have or seem to have ADD. they see millions of images a day and all they eat is sugar and grease.

there is a way, but that would mean that parents would have to actually pay attention to their children instead of relying on the tv to be their babysitter.