The general decline in standards today

[ButteMT61]

...It took a lot of money, a lot of advertising, to introduce obesity to Chile. But McDonald's did a bang-up job of it.

Can't go there. That's saying people are just too stupid (and maybe they are) but it's not my government's job to tell people to not get sucked in and get fat and die of diabetes/heart attack/stroke.
I don't need someone telling me I shouldn't jump off a bridge, smoke cigarrettes, drink to excess, drive drunk, smoke meth, etc. Here's where Darwin kicks in...

 

[C-dot]

Our former prime minister Gro Harlem Bruntland was squeezed out as the leader of the World Health Organization when she tried to attack the sugar producers.

I believe it - Because that's where the money is.

Marc's example of McDonald's invasion of Chile is the very best example of this. They saw an opportunity for profit, and they took it. I'm positive, however, that there are a handful of thinking Chilean's who don't buy it, literally and figuratively.

 

[ButteMT61]

Hey..just found out that we are having 'chili' in a few minutes!! Hot Damn..!!:hungry:
Picked up on that aroma as soon as I walked in the house! I'm gonna run in there and read each can and container to see if it's good for me before I eat any,though. Oops..too late! There's a steaming bowl..with crackers and cheese sitting right beside me now! Sure smells like it's good for me..Wow tastes like it too.. I'm sayin..I made a damn good guess...

Mmmm! Chili is my favorite, and one thing I'm good at making

 

[ButteMT61]

JEEZ. Are people really that powerless that they can't stop eating sugar? Fat? Salt? I'm 50 this year and completely changed my diet. My father quit smoking cold-turkey after doing it for 25 years. People can do what they want to do. It's harder convincing them when they don't want to. That's the problem.

 

[PoohBang]

You are comparing apples to oranges. We would hope adults can make thier own choices. Children, however, are a different story.
And again, this is getting political.

how is it political? You're going on about politicians...?

I don't see how lines on road and ingredients on a food item as apples and oranges. They're both mandated items to help the consumer make a choice.

 

[jamespowers]

Can't go there. That's saying people are just too stupid (and maybe they are) but it's not my government's job to tell people to not get sucked in and get fat and die of diabetes/heart attack/stroke.
I don't need someone telling me I shouldn't jump off a bridge, smoke cigarrettes, drink to excess, drive drunk, smoke meth, etc. Here's where Darwin kicks in...

:eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap

 

[PoohBang]

JEEZ. Are people really that powerless that they can't stop eating sugar? Fat? Salt? I'm 50 this year and completely changed my diet. My father quit smoking cold-turkey after doing it for 25 years. People can do what they want to do. It's harder convincing them when they don't want to. That's the problem.

Why did you completely change your diet after 50 years?

 

[jamespowers]

how is it political? You're going on about politicians...?

I don't see how lines on road and ingredients on a food item as apples and oranges. They're both mandated items to help the consumer make a choice.

When? Where?
Children and adults are apples and oranges unless you think they are the same.[huh]

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Can't go there. That's saying people are just too stupid (and maybe they are) but it's not my government's job to tell people to not get sucked in and get fat and die of diabetes/heart attack/stroke.

Perhaps not. But it's also not your government's job (nor, in Chile's case, its government's job) to accept bribes, overlook violations, and generally smooth the path for a certain junk food restaurant chain (which sold its first franchises to oligarchs there with strong congressional and presidential contacts.)

 

[jamespowers]

JEEZ. Are people really that powerless that they can't stop eating sugar? Fat? Salt? I'm 50 this year and completely changed my diet. My father quit smoking cold-turkey after doing it for 25 years. People can do what they want to do. It's harder convincing them when they don't want to. That's the problem.

Some would have you believe so.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

There's really nothing new under the sun...

Phil Harris -- Some Little Bug Is Going To Find You (1946)
originally written in 1915

[video=youtube;FYX20RrHpDY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYX20RrHpDY[/video]

 

[jamespowers]

Perhaps not. But it's also not your government's job (nor, in Chile's case, its government's job) to accept bribes, overlook violations, and generally smooth the path for a certain junk food restaurant chain (which sold its first franchises to oligarchs there with strong congressional and presidential contacts.)

Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that you want their government---the self same government that made it easy for Mickey D's to come into the country---to regulate and makes laws against MD's food?! :rofl:
That ain't gonna happen.

 

[ButteMT61]

Why did you completely change your diet after 50 years?

Easy. I didn't like the way I looked or felt. I have finished (not technically, just the BIG piece) raising three kids and have been married for 20 years this month. I am a big guy - 6'4", 220lbs. I was 252 pounds at the end of last year, and my blood pressure for the first time was beginning to rise.
Between the stress of kids, a house, career, economy in general, three+ hours a day commuting, and less time exercising, I got out of my good routines. I just hit 50 in March and said, OK, time to get back to how things were, health-wise.
Nothing magical. Just made a decision...no gub'ment needed

 

[Marc Chevalier]

JEEZ. Are people really so powerless that they can't stop eating sugar? Fat? Salt?

Good point. And are some food manufacturers really so unconcerned that they can't stop making at least some reasonably-priced, widely-available products without any added sugar? Fat? Salt?

 

[TidiousTed]

JEEZ. Are people really that powerless that they can't stop eating sugar? Fat? Salt? I'm 50 this year and completely changed my diet. My father quit smoking cold-turkey after doing it for 25 years. People can do what they want to do. It's harder convincing them when they don't want to. That's the problem.

Had it been as easy as you say there had been no a addicts of any sort in the world, neiter of narcotics, tobacco, sugar or booze.

I had to have a triple bypass 7 years ago. Due to long hours at work, too much smoking, bad food eaten at my desk and too little exercise. I turned my life completely around after that. Sold my business, never work more than 7 hours a day and never in the week ends, started to exercise, began eating healthy food and reduced my smoking to no more than 5 a day. If you think that was as easy as you claim you are a fool

.

 

[ButteMT61]

Good point. And are some food manufacturers really so unconcerned that they can't stop making at least some reasonably-priced, widely-available products without any added sugar? Fat? Salt?

Apparently not. Sadly, even ones that pose as "healthy" are full of sugar! Look at juice. It's freakin' awful. But it's up to people to fight this, not the government, because they won't. Not any more than they protected us from banks, loansharks, outsourcing, devaluation of the dollar, etc.

 

[ButteMT61]

Had it been as easy as you say there had been no a addicts of any sort in the world, neiter of narcotics, tobacco, sugar or booze.

I had to have a triple bypass 7 years ago. Due to long hours at work, too much smoking, bad food eaten at my desk and too little exercise. I turned my life completely around after that. Sold my business, never work more than 7 hours a day and never in the week ends, started to exercise, began eating healthy food and reduced my smoking to no more than 5 a day. If you think that was as easy as you claim you are a fool

.

Easy and doable are two different things. My life changes have been easy to make, more difficult to implement. But, I've done them, as did YOU!.
Since when is what's good EASY? That's a cop-out. Playing victim rarely works for anybody...

 

[TidiousTed]

My life changes have been easy to make, more difficult to implement. But, I've done them, as did YOU!.

Good point

 

[Marc Chevalier]

But it's up to people to fight this, not the government, because they won't.

Ah, there's the rub. To fight this, people need to organize. (Think American War of Independence. Think labor unions. Think Tea Party movement.) But once people organize and begin to succeed, they enter the realm of government. In fact, they get in bed with it. The agents of liberating change become guardians of myopic, corrupt entrenchment. Right or left, it always happens.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

It's interesting to note that many dictators throughout the world initially came into power as part of a popular uprising or movement.