Jan 25
(One of my good friends, fairy godmother, and all around kind-hearted/hilarious human being, Aldra, left a very well-thought-out comment on the previous post about Obama’s first year in office and his approach to food policy. I loved her comment so much I’ve decided to post it here in its entirety. Please feel free to add your two cents in the comments, I’d love to get a discussion going! While you’re at it, check out Demandra’s AMAZING blog, Consciously Frugal. The name is the topic, and her advice is always spot-on.)
As a progressive, I’m mightily disappointed in Obama across the board, but not surprised. We old farts knew this would be the game. I think his food policy is much like the rest of his presidency at this point–one step forward, two steps back, all in an effort to reinstate the status quo while making minor, gradual changes in a vain attempt to calm folks like me.
I’m a bit concerned about the First Lady’s focus on fat kids. Instead of embracing a the Health at Every Size platform, she’s further stigmatizing a segment of the population. Research indicates that the stigma further harms fat folks, but that doesn’t seem to stop anyone. It’s maddening.
I’d love to see the First Lady focus less on making kids thin (dream on!) and instead on making a Farm Bill and food system that works for the benefit of the people, not 5 major corporations. But the money made from that approach will impact local communities and not major corporations. As long as the focus of the federal government continues to be Wall Street, I don’t think we’re going to see any significant changes to the current food system structure. – Aldra of Consciously Frugal
Jan 25
Aww, shucks. You sho’ is nice, for a boy.
If this turns into a fat-bashing diatribe by haters, I will fly through the computer screen and start kicking ass.
Another thing I would add–I really wish we would start having conversations at the national level about the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) instead of the GDP. All that matters to the conglomerates is the GDP, but would we be in such an economic pickle if we had stories about the rise of farmer’s markets and the money it injects into communities? Or any of the other 14 million localized revenue sources that are never reflected in Wall Street’s ramblings? ‘Cuz in reality, all that “obesity epidemic” drama is friggin’ awesome for the GDP (which is why we refuse to focus on food systems or health and instead focus on fat). This is something that even Republicans, with their supposed disdain for big government, could get into–localized economies. A truly bipartisan issue!