Comments on: Why Does a Salad Cost More than a Big Mac?

By: Devon Herrick

Devon Herrick — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:13:56 +0000

Wasn’t it Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), speaking during the White House Health Summit, who said the (federal) Food Stamp Program results in more cases of diabetes than any other cause?

By: Rodrigo

Rodrigo — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:14:52 +0000

Larry, your solution to make the veggie lobby act sounds more of the same. Just cut the subisidies!!! all of them. Let the government out of the market. Tom has better chances to get the first lady pinpoint the evidence with basic chart drawing…

By: Larry C.

Larry C. — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:14:33 +0000

Tom, do you really think Michelle is going to come out and publicly say that the government is the problem and not the solution? I don’t.

By: Tom H.

Tom H. — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:43:20 +0000

Chris, I’m not asking her to lobby. I’m asking her to hold up the chart and point out that the federal government is subsidizing the very behavior she says she is trying to change.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:16:47 +0000

“Here is how to tell whether Michelle Obama is serious or not. If she calls for an end to these subsidies, then I’ll start listening to her. If she doesn’t we’ll know the campaign was never about substance to begin with.”

1) The First Lady has no legislative authority, and rarely does she directly lobby (when they do, it gets ugly politically — see First Ladies Roosevelt and Clinton).
2) A more successful policy strategy would be to work with the agribusiness lobby to get more fruits and veggies subsidized.

By: Tom H.

Tom H. — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:08:15 +0000

Here is how to tell whether Michelle Obama is serious or not. If she calls for an end to these subsidies, then I’ll start listening to her. If she doesn’t we’ll know the campaign was never about substance to begin with.

By: Virginia

Virginia — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:53:06 +0000

All of the agribusinesses have giant lobbying firms that do their bidding for them. This farm subsidy program has been around for years.

But you notice there’s no lettuce lobby.

King Corn is a great documentary about farm subsidies. It shows how much of the average Iowa crop goes to waste every single year because they grow so darn much corn. Crazy.

By: Larry C.

Larry C. — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:17:58 +0000

Let me see if I understand this. The same federal government which keeps telling us that we have an unhealthy obesity epidemic and whose First Lady is leading an anti-child-obesity campaign is subsidizing all the unhealthy foods?

That makes such perfect sense.

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:27:17 +0000

Funny. Sad. Revealing. Shocking. All those things.