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Farm Bill Thesis

437 Words2 Pages

In the current farm bill, the large amount of subsidies that are going to donuts, breads, high sugar drinks, pasta, and ice cream, to name a few. These products begin as a grain crop and in a main contributor to the obesity problem. The roughly 66% of the country considered obese have stores filled with candy, soda, and and other "sinful sweets". They are made from seven crops (corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum, milk, and meat) that are receiving way too much of the hundreds of billions of dollars allocated for the farm bill. The easier and cheaper it is to produce and sell this crop, the more health insurance increases with obesity. This is rather contradicting and the policymakers and politicians are, in essence, passing the buck of the unhealthy lifestyle they finance to health insurance companies. While that battle goes in a circle, researchers are showing the results of an investment in fruit and vegetables. We need to fully commit to a healthy farm bill that puts a focus on farmers who commit to more fruits and vegetables. Allow these farmers to enter local and regional markets easier and continue to build upon farmer's markets. The growing …show more content…

With issues like the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico caused by fertilizer runoff along the Mississippi River Basin and the Klamath River Basin that flows into the Pacific Ocean (Faber). Farmers that practice proper farming techniques need to be heavily compensated. It is sad that it is that way, but it needs to be done because the problem continues to grow. There should be programs put in place that are mandatory for all farmers and employees that show the damage, the consequences, and the rewards. They should pay for the certifications, but the money from it goes back into cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico. Farmers should be helped out, that is for sure, but in our country, they are babied and the government enables them to operate in such a

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Mark Bittman a columnist for the New York Times and author of “Bad Food? Tax It, and Subsidize Vegetables” “July 23, 2011”, argues that people should open their eyes and fight to decrease obesity by going against the processed foods industries that make the bad foods. Bittman supports this thesis by saying how the food industry is incapable of marketing healthier foods, that instead of subsidizing production of unhealthy foods they should be taxed and make healthy food more affordable and available, then he goes on by saying how much money can be saved by taxing per ounce of sugar in sweetened beverages by one penny lastly Bittman claims how our society is profiting off of foods that make us sick and obese and how America could make a program

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Lastly, Pollan states that we should eat more plants, because they are the healthiest options available to us (Pollan 2015). The Western diet is very destructive to the health of someone who follows it, but many people would rather deal with the health issues caused by the diet than change the way they eat. The healthcare industry benefits from the poor decisions made by consumers. Rather than pushing people to try and improve their health, they create new drugs and procedures so that the healthcare industry makes a profit (Pollan 2015). While eating a cleaner and healthier diet might sound easy, Pollan warns consumers that many whole foods have been violated by industrial processes, and consumers should be hyper-aware of the quality of our food.

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By taking a critical approach to eating, individuals not only improve their health and well-being, but they also have the ability to change the food systems guided by harmful nutritionist ideology that maintains and promotes poor health practices. Conclusion Michael Pollen’s “In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto” highlights the significant shifts in the way we eat, critiques the harmful impact of nutritionism and a food system that prioritizes profit over health, and offers recommendations as to how individuals can take a more critical approach to nutrition and their overall well-being. Moreover, Pollan emphasized the critical role nutritionism, its constituents (i.e., public health officials, food scientists, journalists, and lobbyists), and the fortification of processed foods has drastically negatively impacted our health where we simultaneously experience micronutrient deficiencies and risk of chronic health-related diseases (i.e., Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity, Coronary Heart Disease, and

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587 Words | 3 Pages

The Iowa Farm Bureau mission is to create a vibrant future of agriculture, along with farm families, and their communities. My field of study will help support this mission of the Iowa Farm Bureau by defining agriculture’s brand to the masses. I am attending Iowa State University in the fall to major in Ag Communications and minor in marketing and sales. I hope to maintain a 3.5 or higher GPA, join clubs and organizations on and off of campus, and to expose myself to new people and things. In the fall I will also be rushing, and joining a sorority.

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563 Words | 3 Pages

In 2014, Michael Pollan's "How A National Food Policy Could Save Millions of Lives" was published by The Washington Post. Pollan urges the need for a food policy. Stating that "the food systems and the diet it's created have caused incalculable damage to the health of our people and our land, water, and air. " In his statement, Pollan's use of logic is used to convince his readers that there must be change to create healthier lives of Americans. To support his claim, Pollan provides us with the reality of the current policies and public investments.

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Promoting a healthy lifestyle is not only beneficial to the people but to the nation’s economy as well. “Truth is mighty and must prevail, and if any body of men believe that they have discovered a valuable truth, it is not merely their privilege by their duty

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670 Words | 3 Pages

Almost 3 in 4 men (74 percent) are considered to be overweight or obese” (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases). The government should be able to control and limit our food options. This will improve our health, help us save money, and live an overall happier life. If the government regulated Americans’ diets it would change our country and citizens’ health for the better. Many Americans who are obese or overweight can be taught to eat healthier and possibly lose the weight that is physically and mentally dragging them down.

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519 Words | 3 Pages

Since the government helped the rise of factory farms, they are the ones that will need to make changes in the reign of this industry. Congress needs to restore sensible farm programs that should put fair prices to crop farmers first. EPA needs to help set rules and enforce them on the pollution problem. The Food and Drug Administration can help with the overuse of antibiotics. The U.S Department of Agriculture needs to enforce regulations that allow independent livestock producers fair access to markets (http://www.beyondfactoryfarming.org/get-informed/industrial-vs-family-farms-

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697 Words | 3 Pages

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744 Words | 3 Pages

“They are getting fatter because they are eating more, exercising less, and spending too much time watching television” Norris, J (2013). When you look at the reasons why this is happening it leads back to the complex web of American agricultural, trade, marketing and scientific practices all this leads to a “globosity” epidemic. These policies are designed to give U.S. firms more money but it is outweighed, literally and figuratively, with the health of the people (consumers) mainly among the poor people. Michelle Obama continue to emphasize on creating her program to motivate children and parents to do more exercise and eat

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885 Words | 4 Pages

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1220 Words | 5 Pages

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560 Words | 3 Pages

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1419 Words | 6 Pages

Over the past two decades, obesity has escalated to epidemic proportions in the United States and many countries around the world. Currently, about 35 percent of Americans are considered obese. For children and teenagers, the rate is 16.9 percent and also rising. Obesity researchers and public health activists have targeted sugary drinks as one of the primary culprits in the escalating rates of obesity, prompting for government regulation to possibly curb consumption, including taxes on sugar, restrictions and even age requirements to purchase sugary foods. Many are skeptical of these proposals, arguing if the government did take such actions, they would not be effective against combating obesity, taxing sugar would do more harm than good, it would infringe on personal freedom, and it would create a victim mentality with consumers.

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