Why doesn't the government try to solve calorie inequality the same way they try to solve income inequality?

Josie is recommending gonverment intervention into solving a social problem? Ha!

They are trying to solve it by forcing hungry people to eat less (see: Kansas), and giving welfare tax breaks to corporations that produce the fatty food. /s
They are not trying to solve it.
They are not trying to solve it, because the government is wholly owned by the corporate elite.
And the only substantial “redistribution of wealth” that is going on is from the poor to the rich.

“1 in 6 go to bed hungry”. ~ And most of them are young women living in California.
(Actually I got to bed hungry occasionally since I’m trying to knock off a pound or two.)

Around the world America is known as the country where the poor people are fat. Obesity rates are higher for “the poor” than for the “rich”.

Want to see calorie inequality? Stand outside an inner city high school in a poor neighborhood and watch the kids going in. The BMI range is incredible.
Now stand in front of a high school in a well off suburban neighborhood. You won’t find many kids waddling up the door. The BMI range is much smaller.

Have you heard of farm subsidies?

The calorie laden food is empty calories, i.e. mac and cheese, ramen, etc. Nobody wants that unless they have no choice.

The people who own the government would prefer you to believe that wealth is being redistributed downwards. But ask yourself, if poverty is rising while the economy is “growing”, where is the money actually headed? If the rich get richer while the rolls of the poor expand, in which direction is the wealth being “redistributed”?

Just a fun fact. The states declared that pizza was a health food. I think it was the house that did it years ago.

If Congress solved calorie inequality as they have income inequality, those over 350 lbs would soon be over 450 lbs, while the starving poor would get hungrier.

I just gat a flash of an agent for the ICS, Internal Calorie Service, grabbing a sandwich from the poor, rather rotund, Sh’neequa Jones and giving to Nicole Richie.

“On its latest cover, Star claimed Nicole has dropped down to 88 pounds, ..
“Star went on to report the daughter of Lionel Richie is ‘anorexic again’ and has been living on a diet of sunflower seeds, celery and juices.
The LA native also allegedly uses chewing gum to stave off hunger pains.”

Did they include her in the 1 in 6?

And she has more money than many of us – combined!

On a side note, our health care system might benefit by such an action. Sh’neequa’s “sugerbetes” would be controlled so she could work and Nicole’s immune system and bones would be stronger. so she could do whatever it is she does.

Hungry people should get food stamps and working people should get a decent wage. That’s the purpose of government. The obese won’t starve as a result and the wealthy won’t be any worse off.

Perspective…

Amounts paid to program beneficiaries rose from $28.6 billion in 2005 to $76.6 billion in 2013. This increase was due to the high unemployment rate (leading to higher SNAP participation) and the increased benefit per person with the passing of ARRA. SNAP average monthly benefits increased from $96.18 per person to $133.08 per person. Other program costs, which include the Federal share of State administrative expenses, Nutrition Education, and Employment and Training, amounted to roughly $3.7 million in 2013.[4] There were cuts into the program’s budget introduced in 2014 that were estimated to save $8.6 billion over 10 years. Some of the states are looking for measures within the states to balance the cuts, so they would not affect the recipients of the federal aid program

And then:

Number built, 115 as of November 2014. Program cost, $59.2B for development, $261B for procurement, $590B for operations & sustainment in 2012.

If you think the poor are stealing your money you are a fucking idiot.

Many of those who are food insecure are the same ones who are overweight/obese, as the cheap, high calorie, fattening food is all poor people can afford to buy.

Amen.. Next time you go to the store note the cost of a peach (2.99 per pound as of Monday when I was at the store) and a pound of a Totinos pizza was 89 cents at the same store.

@johnpowell
Good editorial
Plus, I may be a fucking idiot but the good news is I’m not alone.
What does any of that have to do with my cool idea for calorie redistribution?

Does anyone know of a study that looks at cheap food vs expensive food and controls for calorie intake. For example: if someone of average size and activity level only ate 2000 calories per day of Totinos Pizza (let’s say ¼ of the pizza at each meal.) would they get obese? Or if they ate only one package of cheap cookies (2000 calories) all day, would they gain weight. Remember the 2000 calories per day is the key part to my question. I buy a bunch of kale for $1.99 It lasts me 1 -2 weeks! That is cheap nutrition with virtually no calories. Add it to the cookies or pizza. Would the person be obese?
I occasionally eat at McD when I’m out and need fast calories. I order a “dollar menu” double cheese burger and a water. $1.39. No fries, no sugar drink, no quarter-pounder with bacon. One double cheese burger. That is my meal. I look across the room and watch what everyone else orders! Every “large” person there orders (Yep I said it “EVERY”) fries and drink with their Big McWhooper. I want to scream: “If you are going to buy that, cut the damn things in half and share or eat it for dinner tonight!”
Nope! It’s all gone in 5 minutes—- and cheap food is blamed.
Surely someone has studied this.

I just checked number for McD. All their dietary info is online

Double cheeseburger from Dollar menu : 480 calories, water 0. Meal Total: 480 calories.
¼ pounder with cheese 520, large fries 510 , Choc shake (small) 560, Meal Total: 1590 calories!

I know it is cheap to super size. (I did not use super size numbers) If you want to eat that, fine. But split it with another person! You save money and calories.

Side question: Do you think they skip breakfast and dinner when they have that for lunch? Mmmm… probably not.

Please, anyone, if you think I am exaggerating please visit a McD in a “poorer” area and report what you see. Now compare with a McD in a nicer area and note what you see. More people ordering black coffee, and salad -. “hold the dressing, please”.

@josie This Q really made me think. Here, I’ll throw down a straw man proposal.

Everyone gets coupons for an equivalent of 1500 calories of food per day. 2000 for adult. 3000 for an adult actively working a job with heavy manual labor. (The numbers would be adjusted for age and current weight) These coupons are good for anything you like at a grocery store. All foods will have the calorie content of the container printed in large letters next to the price. Everyone would readily understand how mah calories are in the box. For example: a box of 6 donuts would have “3000” printed on the top.

BUT…. all food purchases made by cash, credit card debit card check, paypal, etc. are priced at 3 times the coupon price. You are free to eat as many McD Belly busters as you like, but you will pay a lot for it. The money collected will be used to fund the coupon purchases. the 3 times rate would be adjusted every year to ensure the program is self sustaining.

If extra food was more expensive people would be encouraged to eat less. Obesity rates would drop. Fewer people would be out on disability. There would be fewer hip and knee replacements. there would be fewer sway-backed scooters trundling obese shoppers into the grocery store. Insulin usage would drop. Surgical procedures would be easier and have higher rates of success. this list is the tip of the iceberg. Feel free to add to it.

Not only is the coupon program totally free, it would be optional. The only requirement is an annual weigh in and BMI measurement during your annual physical to determine if your base calorie rate should be adjusted A weight gain of 5 pounds would reduce the base calorie rate by 50 calories per day. A person getting 1500 calories per day would be reduced to 1450..
You must weigh in to be eligible for the program for another year.

Hunger would be eliminated. Obesity would be taxed to cover the extra costs incurred by society.

Democrats would like it because they can say they are feeding the poor.
Republicans would like it because they can say the ended the war on poverty. Educators would like it because they can teach kids at an early age to eat right.
The Poor would like it because they can save money.
The Rich would like it because they can continue to buy anything they like.
Libertarians would like it because they are free to opt out.
Free thinker commune dwellers would like it because they can continue to grow their own food and eat as much as they like.
Vegetarians would like it because they can eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and still have calories left over for wine.
Omnivores would like it because all foods are available
Farmers benefit by selling more crops. Stores benefit by selling more healthier .

I can only think of one group that would be opposed to it. the Purveyors of Krispy Dream lard rolls. But within a week they will convert their equipment to make deep fried carrots.

@josie. So, how’d I do?

@LuckyGuy universities have somewhat the same food plan that you suggest. The university of Alberta has a pre paid food card and if you want extra you have to pay cash.

@LuckyGuy

Sounds reasonable. Thus, possibly, the only problem.
Like you said, there is something for everybody.
Here’s a GA

@josie Who would vote against it? Heck even crack addicts would be in favor of it since they could sell their coupons for drugs.

Yep. I can see it now. The Food Equality Act of 2020. FEA 2020!! It’s Clear!
This is America! Let’s Make Food a Right Not a Privilege.”

It’s 20–20 Clear! FEA is for Everyone! Pass the FEA !

Folks! You heard it here first!