Re:As obesity keeps rising, more Americans are just giving up
by matthewmacleod on Wednesday March 08, 2017 @07:46PM
(#13825598)
Bear in mind that it's not a binary choice - "total free-for-all" versus "ban it". We can implement public health measures that strongly discourage harmful activities, or offer mitigation, without banning them.
Re:As obesity keeps rising, more Americans are just giving up
by xg15 on Wednesday March 08, 2017 @07:42PM
(#13825572)
You can view it from the other side, though. if the market is skewed in such a way that most food readily available contains e.g. unnecessary amounts of sugar and you need specific skills, knowledge and mental resolve (not to mention money) to not eat unhealthy food, I believe a bit influence to re-balance things is justified.
Consumer-choice and personal responsibility is a nice thing as long as that choice isn't systematically undermined by market forces.
Re:As obesity keeps rising, more Americans are just giving up
by minikites on Wednesday March 08, 2017 @07:29PM
(#13825441)
I think alcohol is a thorny example because of status quo bias stretching back thousands of years. Based on what I know of the physical harms of alcohol, I think if it was invented today it would be illegal.
I personally rarely drink alcohol, don't smoke, take drugs etc etc. I still don't think any of the above should be forbidden. I've found it's a good idea to me - cheaper, better for my health, better for my mental state. Somehow I'm able to follow this without the state compelling me to do so.
Should we ban alcohol as well - as that is how "society works"? It does a lot of harm in many countries.
I don't understand why every good idea has to be enforced with a law.
(As an aside, I'm from a country where bicycle helmets are mandatory, despite their dubious safety benefits, and the fact as soon as the law was introduced cyclist numbers plummeted).