by Patrick Sills

Created on: October 17, 2007   Last Updated: April 20, 2011

The government has no business whatsoever dictating what we as citizens choose to eat or not to eat. If I have enough plaque within my arteries to kill a living creature the size of a blue whale, that is my choice as a citizen and consumer.

This is the United States of America, and we as a nation are supposed to represent freedom. However, the liberties we once took for granted are slowly eroding. Regarding this issue, let's look at what has happened in the past decade and a half; give or take. The government is attempting to eradicate what it perceives to be unhealthy lifestyle choices.

First, the EPA grossly exaggerated the risks of passive smoke exposure to others. To coincide with this, the tobacco companies were viciously attacked for allegedly concealing the dangers of consuming their products. The warning labels on packaging that had appeared for 30 years suddenly wasn't enough.Now that smoking has been denormalized, the next targets Big Brother has in his sights are fast food and soda pop. The first steps have already been taken.

The definition of what is considered to be an ideal weight has convieniently been modified by simply lowering the acceptable Body Mass Index. This creates a perceived obesity epidemic. Schools have always had their share of overweight children and will continue to do so, yet they are beginning to ban soda from vending machines. Items such as potato chips and brownies are being removed from lunch menus. City ordinances prohibiting Trans Fats are gaining momentum.

Should this government intrusion into our personal lives and preferences continue, I envision a day in the near future when a person will be prohibited from ordering a double cheeseburger if their cholesterol and/or weight exceeds specific parameters. This information will be obtained in the form of something as simple as scanning a driver's license or Social Security card. That is; if double cheesburgers aren't banned altogether! Next, snack cakes, candy bars, or anything deemed as "junk food" will be taken off store shelves. In the last presidential election of 2008, candidate John Edwards proposed mandatory doctor visits as a part of a universal health care plan. No, thanks. I'll go to a doctor when I decide.

I wonder what will follow the current attack on fast and fatty food? Will we be arrested if we don't register with a gym or jog five miles a day? George Orwell's vision of 1984 was off by just a bit more than 20 years, which is quite unsettling. Let's come to our senses before it's too late, shall we? Let's accept the fact that heart disease is this nation's #1 killer, and will likely remain so; regardless of eating habits. Heredity; for example, plays a huge role. It has in fact been suggested that lowering your intake of fatty foods will only extend your life by a few months.

Put simply, human beings were not designed to live past 80 years or so. A select few will break the century mark, but regardless of any Utopian vision of individuals routinely living 120 years, it's not going to happen. The government needs to stay out of our personal lives.

This article has made me hungry. I think I'll order a pizza, while I still can, that is.

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