The real problem hidden by America's obesity

Have you noticed that among all the jibba-jabba about obesity and America being too fat, there are still people who are trying to sound the alarm about how the horrible standard of beauty in our society is causing women to be anorexic? This is an excellent example of how stupid collectivism is.

First, we are to believe that it's "society's" fault that some women starve themselves in an effort to be thin. For one thing, these poor women would probably be doing this even if morbidly obese women were held up as the ideal of beauty. One friend of mine who struggled with anorexia confided that it was about control. She was depressed, and the one thing she could control was what she ate, so control it she did - with dangerous consequences.

Second, now that there are clearly more women (and men too) who are in danger of dying of obesity than of anorexia, that is "society's" fault too. And somehow, something in the culture made people become fat - this same culture that made some women dangerously thin! Now it takes a village (and universal health insurance, and bans on trans fats) to save America from this new threat. Mandated exercise and U.S. Attorney General-filed lawsuits against Mickey D's would not be amiss, would they?

Meanwhile, Dove® is a modern-day hero for the "Campaign for real beauty" ads (at the moment they seemed to be focused on hair), which celebrate overweight women as beautiful. It's true that more Americans than ever consider overweight people attractive, and we shouldn't be judgmental (except about Manuel Uribe: it's okay to be judgmental about him), but some of the preachy people are telling us we need to get with the weight loss program. So who's right? The "society needs to get healthier and lose weight" scientists, or the "society needs to appreciate fat people (particularly women) for who they are and say that they're beautiful" feminists?

Surprise answer: they're both wrong! ...for butting into other people's business and framing a lot of individual problems as a societal problem. Yes, obese people would be better off if they lost weight. But that is their problem. If they ask me for my help, I'll help, but I'll also fight for their right to sit on their backsides and stuff their faces all day. Scientists arguing for government intervention in the obesity "epidemic" make the point that the obese will cause huge medical costs if things continue as they are. Good point, but my problem is not with their obesity, then, but with the Medicaid/Medicare/Social Security Disability they get... and their food stamps.

I should start a campaign: a Campaign for Real Freedom. We need to free people from these unrealistic ideals of "freedom" that are pushed by the media. "Freedom from want?" A "right to health care?" These misguided concepts of freedom are endangering true freedoms of the next generation of girls (and, incidentally, boys). They may grow up not knowing that they have a right bear arms that shall not be infringed. Not even infringed. They may grow up ignorant that their government is authorized only to make appropriations for those purposes enumerated in the constitution, not all things supposed to promote the general welfare.

The one thing that threatens more girls in America than anything else our politicians should be worried about: collectivist politics.

SRS