HEALTHY VEGETARIAN CHOICES FOR LIFE

Archive for the ‘opinion’ Category

In a sense I am thankful that the food pyramid so long in use has been changed to a simple plate icon called MyPlate according to the first lady, Michelle Obama.  Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are the main staple on this plate and that is a good thing.  I certainly don’t agree with everything on the plate if meat is the means by which we are supposed to get our protein needs filled, nor is milk a wise choice for the vast majority of people since almost everyone is lactose intolerant and certainly everyone that indulges in meat and dairy are also consuming dangerous amounts of hormones and antibiotics.  It is, however a step up from the former food pyramid which was woefully inadequate.

One of my problems with MyPlate is that it does not answer the question of why Americans partake of such atrocious diets. I think most of us would would very much like it if our families were able to eat a healthier diet and we know instinctively that fruits and vegetables should be the main part of such a diet.  In my opinion the answer to the question of why many Americans don’t eat a healthy diet is simply due to availability and affordability.  Have you ever gone to the market and attempted to buy healthy organic fruits and vegetables?  The prices are shocking and most Americans are in a struggle just to make ends meet thanks to a deep recession and ridiculous gas prices.  It would be difficult to sustain a healthy diet for any length of time due to affordability if you were even a modest family of four.  It’s wonderful to encourage Americans to eat a healthy diet of predominantly fruits, vegetables, and whole grains but unless your name is Obama you probably can’t afford to adopt such a lifestyle.

The very administration that is asking that Americans make wise dietary choices is now the head of the same government that has been supporting and subsidizing big food business for many years.  They are the ones who subsidize soda pop, genetically modified corn which is used to make the deadly high fructose corn syrup, and hormone and antibiotic laden milk just to name a few.  The foods which the government subsidizes and is therefore actually fairly inexpensive compared with good healthy produce, is also loaded with artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, and don’t get me started on all the deadly preservatives such as MSG, as well as a host of other ingredients which you probably can’t pronounce because they are chemicals that were made in a laboratory somewhere.

Fast food restaurants advertise heavily and our lives are bombarded with Big Meal deals which provide up to 2000 mostly empty calories at a whack and you can get all of this for a fraction of what it would cost to eat a healthy meal which Mrs. Obama claims we should opt for.  I assume that Americans feel that since their kids have to eat, and since they can’t afford to feed them the way the current administration encourages, then they just kind of have to settle for fast food and the refined and processed foods which the government subsidizes, and therefore makes affordable.

As long as Big Government continues to subsidize Big Food, Americans will remain the fattest, most unhealthy nation on planet earth.  We will continue to give large percentages of our paychecks to doctors who really don’t heal but who enjoy big perks from Big Pharma who would like to keep us all on a steady diet of dangerous synthetic drugs made in a laboratory.  As long as Big Government continues to support the Monsanto’s of the world, unlabeled, and very dangerous genetically modified organisms will continue to be the ingredients in almost every processed food found at the supermarket.  And when these genetically modified seeds are coming exclusively from Monsanto, do you think that such a monopoly will drive food prices down?  I don’t think so.  Instead of sponsoring this evil empire why doesn’t big government begin to support the local organic farmer through a re-allocation of food subsidies?  Why not tax the hell out of dangerous processed food (you do it with liquor and cigarettes) and make local, non GMO organic fruits and vegetables more readily available and affordable?

These and many more issues simply must be addressed (today and not tomorrow) before MyPlate will become more than a fairy tale.  Unfortunately, it is this writer’s belief that government has been too long in the hip pocket of Big Agribusiness, Big Food, and Big Pharma and since they have been on the dole for so long it is hard to give up the perks and start concentrating on the health of it’s citizenry.  Until these issues and more are recognized and dealt with by the current administration I will save my applause for something a bit more worthy.

Another Memorial Day has come and gone and I was reflecting on some of my past blogs which stand as a testament to the freedoms of expression I enjoy here in easy living America.  Many of these freedoms, I am ashamed to confess, I take for granted throughout the year.  Memorial Day seems to me to be the best time to reflect on the issues of freedom and democracy that I give little attention or thanksgiving for throughout most of the year.

That which I write is at the very least controversial, and at worst quite rebellious.  Many would roast me alive if it were legal and many more just wish they could.  Many agree with that which I believe and write about and many probably see me as a hypocritical blowhard.

I have written many a scathing entry which could be construed as an attack on the very government who paves my roads.  I have voiced my opinions about what I believe to be greed and corruption in our government from the USDA to the FDA and many individuals in between.

I have been very vocal about the horrible abuse of animals raised for human consumption on farm factories all over this great land.  I have placed the blame for this carnage on individual Americans who close their eyes to this unnecessary suffering and I have done so relentlessly.

I have made my opinion known to anyone who would listen and many seem to be doing that (although not necessarily agreeing) based on the many folks who read my blogs every day.  I am quite aware that many strongly disagree with my beliefs and I certainly can respect that.  I am at the same time grateful that they would continue to read my ramblings anyway.

This Memorial Day has given me pause to reflect on my last nine months worth of blog entries which have given me the freedom to express my opinion in no uncertain terms.  What I have written would probably be a death sentence if it were written in many countries of the world who do not value freedom in the same way we do in America.  For this I am grateful.

I am also mindful that these liberties which so many have sacrificed life and limb to attain for me are transitory at best.  Many who have died that freedom might live would be horrified at the state of America at this moment.  Many men and women who are at this very moment risking their lives for my liberty cannot possibly have the hindsight that fifty more years will bring.

America (which stands for freedom) is more and more becoming governed by big corporations.  The American government who should fear the people is becoming more fearless with each passing hour.  When Americans fear the government it spells tyranny.  When the government fears the people it spells liberty.

We must continue to wage war on our very own soil for the cause of liberty.  Since making judgements as to our and our families health and well being is a fundamental right, we must realize that we are in a colossal battle to maintain this most basic and precious of birthrights.  When big government takes control of this right out of the hands of individual citizens and abuses them, they have deprived us of the very core of that which makes America the greatest nation on earth.

In many ways our government has sold out the health of its citizenry in the name of the almighty dollar.  This trend continues unabated at this writing.  As Americans who live under the umbrella of freedom provided to us by the men and women who have died to secure our liberties, we have a duty to stand for this freedom and make a loud statement to our fearless government that we control you and you do not control us.  It is you that had better tread lightly especially when our liberties are at stake and you had better be mindful each and every hour of the sacrifices brave men and women have made to secure your own freedom.  You do not have the right nor the power to throw all of that in the dumpster, as it were,  and moreover, we will not allow you to do it.

God Bless America