tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4854598032016806639.post989563103827115690..comments2023-06-26T04:43:52.655-04:00Comments on The Lethological Gourmet: Friday Rant - Let's ban thinking next, mkay?The Lethological Gourmethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728934244935813026noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4854598032016806639.post-51420688092896438452008-09-07T17:58:00.000-04:002008-09-07T17:58:00.000-04:00WG, I totally hear what you're saying, and I agree...WG, I totally hear what you're saying, and I agree that their hearts are in the right place. And if they are using incentives for healthy food in conjunction with the ban on fast food, it may not be so bad. I know that there is something that needs to be done, and incentives and education (as well as crime prevention) do seem to be the best route to go.<BR/><BR/>Crabby, even given my whole rant on the subject, I totally agree that I wouldn't want a fast food strip mall to open a block from my house either...The Lethological Gourmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08728934244935813026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4854598032016806639.post-32806395740853454302008-09-07T13:45:00.000-04:002008-09-07T13:45:00.000-04:00from a public health perspective (which is what I ...from a public health perspective (which is what I studied), banning new incoming fast food places in inner city/poor areas is a smart idea because it addresses the issue of obesity/diabetes/cancer from a socioeconomic perspective. The people who live there eat crao food b/c that's all that's available to them. And the cyle begine. But if there are ways to incentivize healthy establishments to pop up, offering affordable healthy food, then the possibility of improving peoples' health in a way outweighs their "right" to eat fast food. I understand what you're saying about it being scary that the government can control what people eat, but I think their hearts were in the right place here. Inner city areas are not safe for a number of reasons and, as such, you won't see people outside jogging for exercise, or walking places, or gardening/raising their own veggies. It's a HUGE problem that needs to be tackled via govt. infrastructure to start effecting change. In Chicago, one of the worst areas just got a community farm where the kids come and tend to fresh fruits and veggies, then get to sell them at local farmer's markets and also bring them home to their family. THAT'S the kind of change we need!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4854598032016806639.post-17285819783364191482008-09-06T15:15:00.000-04:002008-09-06T15:15:00.000-04:00Well, playing devil's advocate here...Governments ...Well, playing devil's advocate here...<BR/><BR/>Governments often ban or limit the number of liquor stores or strip clubs or casinos because they're not good for people who can't handle them in moderation. Even though others are inconvenienced by having to go further afield to get their fix.<BR/><BR/>I really struggle with the issue of zoning. I'm actually one of those icky NIMBY type people--I'd be horrified if the neighborhoods I've lived in started spawning a bunch of fast food places. And part of the reason they haven't is because of aggressive zoning laws. <BR/><BR/>I don't have any solutions, 'cause I don't like the idea of outright citywide bans--but the ability of local communities to decide what goes where and how many is enough has often worked to my benefit.Crabby McSlackerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12108791388350253344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4854598032016806639.post-5115341158181256912008-09-05T12:30:00.000-04:002008-09-05T12:30:00.000-04:00LMAO Miz, that's hilarious! Leah, it's hard to fi...LMAO Miz, that's hilarious! <BR/><BR/>Leah, it's hard to figure out the right course, but this is such a silly ban. <BR/><BR/>Maybe I should write a story about an alternate reality where it's fast food that's been banned and proliferates on the black market. Hah.The Lethological Gourmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08728934244935813026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4854598032016806639.post-34453656683145470802008-09-05T11:59:00.000-04:002008-09-05T11:59:00.000-04:00yepwe'll be in the back alleyways getting our fix ...yep<BR/><BR/>we'll be in the back alleyways getting our fix for McDonalds fries smuggled in by ex-heroin mules.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4854598032016806639.post-6373613549024264342008-09-05T10:45:00.000-04:002008-09-05T10:45:00.000-04:00We'd have to ban thinking in order for a fast food...We'd have to ban thinking in order for a fast food ban to work.<BR/>If folk want fast food they'll go to where it is.<BR/>I don't know what the true answer is beyond educating people about nutrition and making it affordable and showing people on our favorite TV programs eating good, real food and liking it. That will do more than any silly ban.Leah J. Utashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497599109798015888noreply@blogger.com