Homework #2 “What You Eat is Your Business”
In Radley Balko’s article “What You Eat is Your Business”, Balko argues that obesity is the responsibility of the individual, not the government or anybody else for that matter. He argues that obesity should be more so a matter of personal responsibility instead of being looked at as a matter of “public health”.
After reading Balko’s article, his position is pretty clear. He is completely against obesity being a “public health” crisis. What a person consumes, unhealthy or healthy, should not be anybody’s business but their own. He is also against the public paying for others unhealthy choices. Balko states, “It’s difficult to think of anything more private and less public concern than
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I do support Zinczenko’s position that the fast food restaurants should be held accountable, but I find Balko’s argument about personal responsibility to be equally persuasive. They each make really important points. I agree that fast food companies play a huge role in a lot of health risks, in today’s society, but I cannot agree that they are the only ones to blame. Nobody is forcing me to purchase that ten piece chicken nugget meal from McDonalds instead of getting something from Wholefoods that I can cook, it’s a choice. Everything that we do in life is a choice. It takes more than eating to become obese. Balko States, “We’ll all make better choices about diet, exercise, and personal health when someone else isn’t paying for the consequences of those choices.” People in today’s society don’t take accountability for their unhealthy choices because they don’t have to, the government makes it okay not to. Personal responsibility should be primary in our nutrition choices. The government shouldn’t be trying to control what we eat, but they should instead be giving us a healthier, affordable alternative. It’s not okay that we lack healthier alternatives, nor is it okay that we lack information about what we’re consuming, but it is definitely not okay us to look at everything possible to blame without even looking at
Poor health is much more than an individual, personal problem (Doc B). If people keep their eating the way they eat sooner or later more than half of the people in the United States will have obesity problems. With more than half of the country 's population obese in the future, many people will die at a young age, not leaving any older leaders to lead the country with wisdom. Most of those who lead the country, like President Obama and those in Congress, are elder people. If people were to die at a young age from a clogged artery, those who will remain in the future will not be nearly as educated as the wise people of
In the “Food Police” video, Joe Salatin, a farmer and activist, states that, “A big basic food freedom of choice should be as important as the freedom to worship, speak, or own a gun” (“Food Police”). I agree with Salatin because if the government makes laws on how we have the freedom to worship and speak, which is our individuality as a person, shouldn’t the government allow us to eat what foods we want. Understandably,the government is just trying to protect us from risks, but as Salatin says, “Life is a risk” (“Food Police”), if life 's a risk that we take everyday, should the government make us live in plastic bubbles to protect us from
Zinczenko’s Rhetorical Precis In his essay “Don’t Blame the Eater,” David Zinczenko sympathizes for port fast-food patron, like himself ages ago, he agrees that food industry should take some responsibility for obesity. He supports his claim by warning consumers about the dangers of fast food,as it play a factor in obesity. Within his argument, he questions other counter arguments and uses his narrative tone to show consumers that the food industry is necessarily at fault. Zincenko believes the prevalence of fast food and the lack of healthier food alternatives is causing obesity in America.
We have the right to choose what to eat, when to eat, and with who. There is no better solution than to eat our own that will not make it to the ethereal living that this great nation is known for eating at. We make our choices. We make our food. We are not outsourcing to foreign nations to obtain their lesser and degraded choices of food.
In “What You Eat Is Your Business,” Radley Balko tackles the issue of who is responsible for fighting obesity. Balko argues that the controversy of obesity should make the individual consumers culpable for their own health and not the government (467). As health insurers refrain from increasing premiums for obese and overweight patients, there is a decrease in motivation to keep a healthy lifestyle (Balko 467). As a result, Balko claims these manipulations make the public accountable for everyone else 's health rather than their own (467). Balko continues to discuss the ways to fix the issue such as insurance companies penalizing consumers who make unhealthy food choices and rewarding good ones (468).
Junk food is responsible for the growing rate of obesity. This is outlined by David freedman in his article of “How junk food can end obesity.” David Freedman has credited the “health-food” motion, and followers of it along with Michel Pollan. Freedman claims that if the America desires to stop the obesity epidemic, or at least reduce its effects, they must shift to the fast meals and processed meals enterprise for assist, now not the “health-food” movement.
In both David Zinczenko’s “Don’t Blame The Eater” and “ Radley Balko’s “What You Eat is Your Business”, the argument of obesity in America is present and clear from opposing viewpoints. Both articles were written in the early 2000’s, when the popular political topic of the time was obesity and how it would be dealt by our nation in the future. While Zinczenko argues that unhealthy junk food is an unavoidable cultural factor, Balko presents the thought that the government should have no say in it’s citizens diet or eating habits. Zinczenko’s article was written with the rhetorical stratedgy of pathos in mind.
He also states that the government should allow the citizens to access their health care funds account to support his conclusion, that, people will be more responsible for their health if someone else isn 't paying for their health problems. However, Balko fails to to provide evidence for to support his claim. Even though the problem of obesity is important, the Shorthorn should not publish "What You Eat Is Your Business" because it poorly argued and not interesting. Radley Balko’s central claim is that the government should not interfere in public health and diet. According to him people have no incentive to maintain their health when public money funds health care.
Don’t Blame the Eater: Rebuttal In his article "Don 't Blame the Eater", David Zinczenko discusses that obesity is a grave health issue I the United States of America. He argues that almost all of the kids who eats at fast food joints are more likely to become obese. He then goes on to inform his readers that during his teenage years, he, like many other American kids, was surviving on fast-food due to it accessibility and affordability.
The press is known to explode with news everyday, informing the people on different topics that are happening worldwide. The newest revelation is on the soda ban in New York. Websites and pages are plastered with information and headlines announcing how “Mayor Bloomberg is overreaching with N.Y.C. large soda ban” or “Banning the Big Gulp Ban”. Reporters are scrambling to join the bandwagon of criticizing or praising this mayor’s audacious decision. There are many factors that influence opinions on the matter, but one of the most popular reasons is because of the high numbers of people that are obese and overweight.
“Don’t Blame the Eater”, written by David Zinczenko, is a short article discussing how fast food is the main cause of childhood obesity. This article came about in relations to two kids filing a lawsuit against McDonalds for making them fat. He begins his piece by sympathizing with these individuals because he used to be like them. Zinczenko then informs the reader of his background and how he fell into the category of being dependent upon quick and easy meals. In an attempt to provide a valid argument, he debates on how kids raise themselves while their parents are at work and that the nutritional values are not labeled upon prepared foods.
I.Introduction A.Hook/Attention getter: “Fast food” is named as fast food because of the whole process from ordering, preparing and serving the food just take several minutes. B.General statement: Fast food is becoming more and more popular among people around the world because of the changing of lifestyle from the past times to the present times. C.Thesis statement: Due to the convenient, affordable price and good taste of fast food, consumption of fast food is rising but it brings negative effects on our health in the long run. II.Body A.Topic sentence: Fast food restaurant such as McDonalds (McD) or Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) are available almost anywhere in the world, and you can even get it with a simple phone call and get it delivered
The issue has arrived concerning the definition of “junk” food and whether or not the government should be able to control it. The committee seeks to prevent the nation from falling into this trap of confusion. The topic of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP has been a recent issue and we as a committee seek to address it. The major question is, Should the government be able to control what people buy or do not buy with food stamps? As a chairperson of the United States Department of Agriculture exploratory committee, we would like to present our information.
As a hole there should be more restaurants that promote healthy food choices. Obesity in the United States is out of proportion and something need to be don , not necessarily at the point of government intersection but this needs to be fix some way somehow. ”public health experts say that an unhealthy diet and the lack of exercise are still the two biggest culprits. ”-Felix gusson.
“Fast food restaurants have us hooked on to their tasty food. You See a lot of people buying fast food because how good it tastes. Well let me tell you it is not good for your health. Why do fast food places lower their prices because they know people will buy it if it doesn’t cost that much and most people buy it cause that`s how much they can afford”. Fast food places is a way to not cook every week I feel bad for people when I go to McDonald’s and ask them, do you know what you’re eating in they say