Step Away from the Soda, Fatty

Tyler Durden reports from the slipperiest part of the slippery slope:

From Bloomberg: “Governments should regulate food companies on unhealthy ingredients in products that contribute to obesity, an epidemic that now affects 1-in-3 Americans and costs the U.S. $150 billion a year, said New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley. More than education and voluntary action by companies is needed, Farley said. New York’s limit on sugary soft drink sales is one example of the steps governments must take to stop the rise of obesity, he said today at a press conference on the topic held by the Journal of the American Medical Association.” Punchline #1: “Publicly traded food companies, charged with making a profit for their shareholders, can’t be relied upon to make their foods more nutritious, Farley said.” In other words, Uncle Sam knows what is best for you, always. Punchline #2: “There is a clear role for government in the solution,” Farley said. “Obesity rates have been rising considerably for the last 30 to 40 years. If we don’t do anything, I think it is a fair prediction that they will continue to rise.” Surely, when it comes to things that are soaring which will not stop soaring unless something is done, the US government knows best.

Try cutting food stamps in half. That’d be a good start.