One of the biggest recent successes in public health has been against smoking. Punitive taxes on tobacco, better education about the health effects, a near-total ban on advertising and the marginalisation of smoking in public places seems to have worked.'Seems to have', Dan? Either it's worked, or it hasn't. And if it's worked, why are they keeping up the pressure?
But no matter! Appearance is everything, so, onwards!
Food presents a more difficult problem: unlike tobacco, we need food to live. But trans-fats, salt and sugar are all identifiable ingredients that can be taxed and banned. It’s disagreeable to argue that government should interfere in the contents of our stomachs, but as this January will show — like every New Year before it — we are as a nation incapable of slimming on our own. We need help, before we literally choke on our own jowls.It doesn't seem to be true, but no matter!
Slippery slope? What slippery slope?
Shall I be the first to paraphrase Martin Niemoller? 'First they came for the smokers, but I was not a smoker.......'
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am not a smoker I am a drinker and an eater and a breather. If these 'righteous' people aren't careful I will become a murderer too.
God, I hate these people with a passion.
@ Paul, This shows the truth in Niemoller's famouse quote:-
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20914685
All politicians are B'stards!
Trans-fats are pretty terrible for the human body, but you know what? They were popularized by the vilification of animal fats, which the human body thrives on.
ReplyDeleteThis cat:
http://www.youtube.com/user/fatheadmovie
...did a documentary worth watching on the subject ("Fathead" - it may still be free on Hulu), and his Youtube channel is full of lectures relating to the pervasive psuedo-science regarding what is and is not healthy.
"God, I hate these people with a passion."
ReplyDeleteDitto. What I hate most is they seem to make a tidy living out of it!
"...and his Youtube channel is full of lectures relating to the pervasive psuedo-science regarding what is and is not healthy."
Ooooh, that's a useful resource!