TheLastManInAmerica

I have stated in my personal life that the people who are always trying to bring an end to smoking should quit wasting their time and go after the country’s obesity problem instead. But I didn’t think they’d do it! The L.A. City Council today approved a moratorium, banning all new fast-food restaurants in the South Central area of L.A. Citing concern over a growing (heh heh) obesity problem, the city imposed the plan in hopes of attracting sit-down eateries and grocery stores with healthier alternatives. But in an area that is notorious for violence, especially gang violence, what kind of places do they think they’ll attract? But say it does work and public markets bring in throngs of customers and salad bars start breaking the bank, then what? Will they lay down the iron hammer of fascism and ban fast-food completely and shut down all chains in the area for good and all?

            I find it amusing that I’m writing this while eating a skinless chicken breast dinner with a side of broccoli and spinach. But you know what? I’m overweight and I know it, therefore I should eat healthier. But you know what else? There are few things that taste better to me than a nice fattening cheeseburger, piled high with bacon and cholesterol. Of course it’s bad for you, that’s part of what makes it so good. If broccoli tasted like cheeseburgers, then there’d be no problem selling broccoli, right? The point being, did the Council consider that maybe these people eat there because they like to eat there? Are we to assume there are no fresh produce stands near by?  What about the other %71 of Latinos and the other %72 of blacks, how do they manage to not become obese? Surely it isn’t through genes alone.

            Nearly three quarters of the restaurants in South Los Angeles are fast-food joints, making it quite the easy meal to come by. But if everything goes to plan, the area will see an influx of diners with healthier menus. So what about the nearly %75 of fast food joints that are around now, were they never home to such places in the past. Could it be possible that they were driven out of business by consumers who would rather dine at McDonalds or Taco Bell? And who’s to say that such businesses would want to set up shop in these neighborhoods? We’re talking about an area of Los Angeles that includes Compton and Inglewood and Watts, areas that are swarming with gangs and the subsequent violence brought on by turf wars. Would any decent restaurant chain want their parking lots turning into crime scenes when a young Crip decides to pump a few rounds into a rival Blood?

But, for the sake of argument, let’s say things do turn out well and South L.A. begins to eat healthier and cholesterol and obesity start to decline. Other than being able to say, “We told you so,” what will the City Council do? Do they expect to be able to ban fast-food chains completely for the greater good of society? As opposed as I am to attempts to ban smoking, this perturbs me even more. Yeah, some say that second-hand smoke kills, but the thought of outlawing something that is only harming yourself is preposterous! We, as Americans, have every right to eat whatever we want, no matter how harmful it may be in the long run. It is an act of Fascism for a government to step in and prevent you from eating something you’ve chosen to ingest of your own volition! And if they aren’t, this whole thing still is an act of Fascism to me. The L.A. City Council is preventing companies from doing business where their market thrives, and why? Because they believe them to be the cause of rising obesity in the area, neglecting the fact that these people can think for themselves and make a conscious decision to eat at these locations.

It’s easy to blame McDonalds with their value menus as the cause for obesity. After all, why blame the people and risk offending all the wide loads with handicap parking permits who say their problem is glandular, yet just choked down a Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger Combo Meal, but opted for the Diet Coke because they’re watching their calories? This is just another attempt by some who want to alleviate the guilt of those who are truly at fault by blaming the problem on morally bankrupt corporations who just want to make billions of dollars. But the last time I checked, most of these places offer salads and other healthy alternatives, so why aren’t the people buying them? Because they don’t want to. Go ahead and slap a Surgeon General’s Warning on all Whopper wrappers. Will it stop people from buying them? No, because, just like cigarettes, people know the harm that can be caused by consuming such products, yet they invoke their Right as an American to do these things, despite the dangers. And that’s what Freedom is all about.