Great news! The people who participate in SNAP may have the purchase of sugary soda drinks relegated to non-program funds. New York officials want to remove soda, sports drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages from the New York food stamp program.
Spearheading this effort is Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Paterson. I applaud both of them for taking this brilliant first step in helping fight obesity and the ailments that follow. The picture to the left is a result of uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes.There are almost 2 million New Yorkers participating in SNAP. If such a restriction passes the State Legislature, those clients would have the opportunity to buy those same drinks through other sources but not through the program.
Bloomberg and Paterson have asked for a two-year trial period. Put me on the list of advocates for this experiment.
Personally, I would start right off with a longer list of unhealthy products that are available in any supermarket. Ice Cream, Potato Chips and Cake are the first three examples I'd throw out there. If you want them, use the cash in your pocket, I wont stop you. But not on a program that my tax dollars subsidize.
Statistics back up this idea. A child who drinks one sugary drink per day has a 60 percent higher risk of obesity than a child who abstains from those drinks.
When the health problems start to mount, they start to miss school and become reliant on the very same programs that got them there...It costs all of us much more in the long run.
Is there a petition out there? Where do I sign?
Personally, I would start right off with a longer list of unhealthy products that are available in any supermarket. Ice Cream, Potato Chips and Cake are the first three examples I'd throw out there. If you want them, use the cash in your pocket, I wont stop you. But not on a program that my tax dollars subsidize.
When the health problems start to mount, they start to miss school and become reliant on the very same programs that got them there...It costs all of us much more in the long run.
Is there a petition out there? Where do I sign?
2 comments:
Wouldn't just be easier to put parents of fat kids in jail. Or how about we not allow certain parents to have kids in the first place.
I could not be a bigger advocate of this experiment! Food stamps are provided to cover the necessities of those who cannot afford them for themselves. The last time I checked, survival did not rely on the consumption of soda, potato chips, ice cream, etc. Compare soda to beer; they are both unhealthy carbonated beverages and they both create horrible health problems for those who consume them, yet food stamps can be used to buy soda?!? I do not mind the money from our taxes going to a family who really needs it to survive, but if the money is just going to someone so that they can drink soda and eat candy, wheres my cut?
Post a Comment