This is an assault on freedom, plain and simple. Does that sound like hyperbole? Well, it isn't. If parents don't mind their kids eating whatever they want, providing it isn't immediately dangerous or stupid, then it isn't any business of government. Especially the federal Department of Agriculture; aren't they supposed to be concerned with the quality of food products as they are produced and sold rather than with who consumes them? Even that is more of a threat than people realize, but it at least allows, for now, those who want salty snacks to have them.
It is or will be argued that it is in the best interests of the nation to do this. To be fair, that might be true. A healthier people would be a better people. Yet when people are, not quite compelled, yes, but certainly stigmatized by an agent of government to eat yogurt or granola rather than Fritos, are we really that far from being told that if you don't eat right, no health care for you?
That's the real threat: small and almost innocuous encouragement now (eat fruit) can develop into you don't get the best medical care you can when you're 50 because your high blood pressure is your fault you moron and the rest of us (society) don't have to help you.
The solution? Private schools and private health care. If someone wants to eat poorly yet can be encouraged through a market approach to take better care of themselves by simply allowing medical insurers to charge higher premiums to higher risks, if schools were not under the domain of government, freedom would be rightly expanded. As it is, far too many citizens will merely nod their heads and quietly agree that eating healthy is everyone's business anyway. That attitude will last only until their way of life becomes questioned similarly.
Or perhaps not. Perhaps by then they will be completely indoctrinated, and will accept that they have earned the punishment they receive. Big Brother will indeed have won, and be loved at the same time.
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