Thoughts about the second anniversary of "Let's Move"...

The elite media on the political left, like the New York Times, is currently celebrating the second anniversary of the signature program of the nation's First Lady, Michelle Obama.  Her Let’s Move initiative, announced in February 2010, was, in part, a challenge to parents---to feed their children nutritious food---as well as to children---to eat nutritious food and to exercise.  The ostensible target of the program was the so-called "national epidemic" of childhood obesity.

Insofar as signature programs on the part of the nation's First Lady go, Let's Move has been pretty successful, The Motley Monk would observe on its second anniversary.

Yes, greater attention is being paid to the quality and nutrition of food that many Americans eat.  That's good!  Yes, it appears that Americans "get it" that poor eating habits have negative health consequences.  That's also good!  Yes, it appears that Americans are more aware of the importance of eating whole grains, fresh vegetables and lettuces, as well as legumes.  A trifecta!  And, yes, it is important the children eat healthy and nutritious meals every day.  Just how good can it get?

Don't believe The Motley Monk?

Just watch the Food Channel and PBS.  Note what's being served up.  Lots of healthy and nutritious food, all of which models what parents should be doing in their kitchens for themselves and their children.

Then, too, ever notice how large the vegetable section of the local grocery story has grown?  Some are like a veritable Garden of Eden!

If that was the purpose of Let's Move, The Motley Monk would suggest that the First Lady deserves a "call out" and "high fives" for the success of her Let's Move program on its second anniversary.

But that would be to overlook how Mrs. Obama achieved these outcomes, positive as they may be.

Tapping into the executive powers of the presidency, bullying elected representatives and corporate CEOs, as well as sending out the Food Police to enforce Mrs. Obama's view of how she believes everyone else should eat, the First Lady has singlehandedly driven her agenda down the throats of what's becoming an increasingly compliant American populace.

Under the disguise of "ending childhood obesity in one generation" and all of those photo ops featuring the First Lady picking "organic" produce from the White House garden, this increase in public awareness of the importance of obesity has come at the cost of:

• Cowing the 2010 lame-duck Congress to pass the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act which increased funding for school breakfasts and lunches and gave regulatory power to the Agriculture Department authority to set health standards for all foods sold on school property---including those in vending machines.
• Arm-twisting Sodexo, Aramark, and Chartwells---three of the nation's largest food service companies that operate school cafeterias---to meet the government's recommended levels of fat, sugar, and whole grains in the next 5 years and to double the fruits and vegetables served over the next 10 years.
• Scaring Walmart, Walgreens, Supervalu, and other smaller grocers to build or expand 1,500 stores that sell fresh fruits and vegetables in "food deserts."  Walmart was so scared that the retailer announced that, by 2015, it would remove all trans fats and reduce salt and added sugars by 25% and 10%, respectively, from thousands of packaged foods it sells.
• Darden, Inc.---the owner of Olive Garden and Red Lobster, among others---"committed" itself to reducing total calories and salt across its menus, and is offering vegetables, fruit, and milk as the default side dishes and drink for children.

The issue is not whether these outcomes are "good," but whether the federal government has the right to intrude into the liberty rights of Americans to pursue happiness, as they determine and not as the federal government determines.  The long-term effect may be that, in retrospect, childhood obesity will decline and adults will be experiencing better health with fewer diseases associated with all of these federal mandates.

That's why the elite media on the political left is chortling:

We know that when Walmart drops salt by 25 percent, everyone will drop salt by 25 percent, because when Walmart demands suppliers change how they make their products, it drives the whole marketplace. Walmart has also committed to making healthier foods more affordable.

That's the strategy: cow, arm-twist, and scare the corporate world into submission so that, in turn, consumers will have no choice.  Don't doubt that the elite media relishes the success of the Food Police in enforcing Mrs. Obama's diktats:

In 2008, most Americans already saw obesity as a major problem, a majority opposed increasing federal spending to combat it. This attitude has begun to change. By 2011, a Pew survey found that most Americans believe the government should play a significant role in reducing obesity among children. Today, 80 percent of Americans acknowledge that childhood obesity is a serious problem.... 

Most powerful of all, Mrs. Obama's campaign has already begun to change the way the food sector — producers, restaurants and grocery stores---approaches its youngest customers. With rising public awareness of the importance of good nutrition, companies are changing their business models, incorporating nutrition when they design and develop cereals, snacks, menus or school meals. While not all food companies have changed yet, the market is beginning to require them to come up with healthier products. At this rate, I believe we'll start seeing childhood obesity rates declining after a few more harvests of the White House garden.

Whatever happened to "pro-choice"?

The more important question---the issue---is whether, in 10, 20, or even 30 years, healthier Americans will be free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness as they chose.

Starting as they have been the past two years with the nation's youth by indoctrinating them into the federal government's ideology through the public schools, The Motley Monk fears not.


Let the discussion begin...


To read the New York Times op-ed, click on the following link:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/lets-move-she-said-and-we-have/?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=thab1