State and Schools and Excercise

The people of Michigan have weight issues, to put it nicely. The question has become so heavy (oh, come on, you like the pun) on the minds of our leaders that even the state government has taken notice. There are talks of pop taxes, and restaurants are being made to post calorie counts for their patrons. Governor Snyder is encouraging exercise and regular checkups. Schools are providing healthier lunches. Overweight issues are costing billions a year in health care. It's an epidemic of gross proportions.

And it's none of the state's business.

All this talk is little more than feel good stuff whereby our elected officials and schools board members can strut their plumage as community leaders and say they care about the people. But the fact is that without dictatorial methods there's no way you can actually control what people eat or how often they exercise or go to the doctor. Period.

This is not to say that too much weight or a lack of exercise are good things. But it is to say, quite firmly and without reservation, that it isn't anyone else's business. If people do not want to take care of themselves, then the rest of society must simply learn to deal with it. The most of an adjustment in public attitude which can properly be tolerated would be higher health insurance premiums, so long as they're driven by the private sector and not government (nor the schools). If folks choose unhealthy lifestyles, let those folks pay for it. But if you demand more than that, you're simply a little Hitler.

If you want to encourage friends and family to live more active lives and eat healthier, good for you. That's what friends are for. Beyond that, you have no right to make it a public campaign, unless you pay the costs yourself. There are worse troubles in the world for which the public sector must raise concern.