Recently, the city of New York came up with the idea to ban the purchase of beverages with more than 10 calories per 8 ounces, only if these items were purchased with food stamps. This proposal supports the government rule that food stamps are to be used toward nutritional purchases. The purchase of sugary sodas with food stamps, helps contribute to a current public problem we have discussed: obesity and diabetes. For this to become a law it must move up to the systemic agenda. Once it is a law, the way to implement it would be by the tool of social regulation. This imposition of restrictions on consumers would help everyone be healthier and allow government money to be spent more effectively. If consumers are taking steps to be healthier, this would also help with medical expenses too!
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-soda-food-stamps-20101011,0,2450220.story
Michelle Watkins
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This issue is high on the public agenda list. This is one example of a local government taking action to combat an issue. Local, state, and federal initiatives have been taken in attempt to fight off the nationwide obesity problem. This is also an issue of social regulation that could be controversial.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that the government can tell a citizen what he/she can buy could worry some conservative individuals of to much government involvement.
However, this type of law can help the United States government to save money in multiple ways. The low-income individuals who would be purchasing the "healthier" items could save the government a great deal of money by improving these individuals health. Ideally, the healthier the individuals' are the less medical help would be required in the future. If this health initiative proves to be helpful in cutting government spending I would expect to see it become used elsewhere.
-Mitchell Kellman
I think this is a great idea and the entire nation should follow New York's lead concerning this issue. Not allowing citizens to purchase "sugary or bad" foods by food stamps should only be the beginning of this issue. We should also have tax incentives that make buying healthier foods less expensive than unhealthy food. Regardless this idea would improve the health of many Americans and because of that this idea is great and one that should come into effect sometime soon.
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