Let's Move

Even with the war in Afghanistan, terrorist plots, a plummeting economy, and a multi-trillion dollar national deficit, we should be thankful that our First Lady still has sufficient time to construct a “cure” for our chunky American children. Truthfully, Mrs. Obama is right; nearly one-third of American children are overweight or obese, and that rate has tripled in adolescents and more than doubled in younger children since 1980. However, is it really the government’s place to tell us  now what we should and shouldn’t eat, how many calories we need to burn each day, and what junk foods should be prohibited? Is this “Let’s Move” campaign really a “Let’s Fight Obesity with Even More Bureaucracy” campaign? Unfortunately, the latter seems to be more likely. 

Mrs. Obama’s strategy for promoting a healthier American lifestyle, not surprisingly, stems from a focus on top-down bureaucratic programs stressing nutrition. She called for improving the nutrition of school lunches and earmarking $400 million a year to “eliminate food desserts” in areas with no access to fresh and healthy foods. The First Lady justifies this by saying, “This isn’t like a disease we’re still waiting for the cure to be discovered—we know the cure for this… We have everything we need, right now, to help our kids lead healthy lives. Rarely in the history of this country have we encountered a problem of such magnitude and consequence that is so eminently solvable.” Solvable, yes, but by government intervention? Sure, people will like the do-it-yourself nature of this obesity project, but all in all, it is far from first priority on the agenda right now. It is apolitical; it is ill-timed; and it is a safe way to expand the already-too-large federal government.

Mrs. Obama took the idea onto a personal platform by proclaiming that her children’s BMIs (body mass index) were too high and she was shocked by how small alterations in their diets and lifestyles brought about such a tremendous change. The first lady said after the surprising doctor’s visit, she made some small transformations that got her daughters, Malia Ann and Sasha, back on track. No more weekday TV, more attention to portion sizes, low-fat milk, water instead of soda, and more fruits and vegetables were seemingly the magic steps behind the improvement in health. Mrs. Obama states, “The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake. This isn’t the kind of problem that can be solved overnight, but with everyone working together, it can be solved. So, let’s move.”

Despite the genuine act of concern for our generation of young people, we have seen time and time again that behind every seemingly “good deed” supported by the Obama administration, there is a deep-pocketed left-wing interest. So we have to question:  Who really benefits from this crusade against obesity and push for improved nutrition in schools? The Service Employees International Union, perhaps? These bigwigs don’t care about slimming your kids’ waistlines. They do care, however, about beefing up their membership and swelling their treasury. What about Big Labor? SIEU represents tens of thousands of the 400,000 workers who prepare and serve lunch to American schoolchildren and are actively attempting to unionize many more. “More robust expansion” of the federal school lunch law means a mandate for higher wages, increased benefits, and government-guaranteed health insurance coverage (the more luxurious, the better now that SEIU has negotiated its Cadillac Tax exemption in Democrats’ health care takeover bill). Therefore, there are seemingly strong ties between SEIU lobbyists and this “good deed” proposal by the Obama administration (not surprisingly). 

The First Lady held an exclusive interview with former presidential nominee, Mike Huckabee, who has done his own work on the problem of obesity during his time as Governor of Arkansas. Mrs. Obama discussed the importance of finding a solution to this epidemic, and how the issue concerns her both as First Lady and as a mother. Although Huckabee was very inspired by her message and her willingness to change a generation of bad nutritional habits, he seemed skeptical about this campaign actually making the changes it proposed. “Fast food companies don’t make us fat, we have to put it in our mouths,” Huckabee said. “And the quantities, we have to choose. You are personally responsible for your own health.” By the end of the interview, he was concerned whether Michelle Obama’s goal of ending childhood obesity could actually be achieved. “She can tackle it, she can start it, but I’ve said for a long time, this is a generational change,” said Huckabee. “This needs to be looked at as how we are going to affect the next generation, not the next election.”

Michelle Obama said the Let’s Move campaign will encourage more physical activity for children, healthier food in schools and more accurate food labeling. Some of her initiatives, such as tax breaks for grocery stores to move into poorly served communities, will require congressional action. This principle operates under the idea that every parent wants the same things for their kids and feels that by political action, she can make it easier for them to attain the health they desire. The question remains:  Will ‘making it easier’ really inspire people to give up their bad habits, exercise more, and lead healthier lifestyles? In recent years there has already been a tremendous increase in the promotion of health foods, exercise programs, and diet tips. The American people are well-educated on what’s good for them and what isn’t, so this program would need to inspire the population on a whole new level. Is this possible? Sure, we can give kids healthier choices for school lunches, where they can only pick from a certain selection, but what about before and after school, and summertime? It all comes down to a personal desire to eat healthy and be fit. 

Implementing this program will make small changes in lifestyle but big changes in extending government control. They can place as many health foods in as many places as they want and circulate infinite propaganda to fight the problem of obesity for our children, but as long as junk food is still available, people will still buy it. Although this message is inspirational and hopeful, government action is outside its realm of power on this issue. We are, and will continue to be, a free nation of independent thinkers who make their own life choices. Spending our tax money to promote change to a well-established health problem will do.