Submitted by Jenny (not verified) on 10 February, 2009 - 04:36.
President Obama needs to focus on bringing back small, localized, and self-sustainable communities. Providing incentives for local, organic farmers. Stop giving incentives to farmers to mass-produce row crops (corn, wheat, soy) by weight rather than nutrition. Outlaw fertilizers and herbicides that have links to Cancer - the E.U. and Wisconsin have. No more trucking produce thousands of miles to a huge grocery store. No more huge businesses and banks that have salary ranges from 50,000-50,000,000. We can make sustainable communities, but not if our towns are sprawled across the whole landscape. Support local farmers in cities and towns, support local producers, craftspersons, small businesses, family owned shops.
No more big-box, 1-stop shopping, where are we going to draw the line for convenience? If one purchased all of the things typically bought on a trip to Wal-Mart or Target, K-Mart, etc. at locally owned stores so many more people would benefit from those dollars spent. Spread the wealth to those who need it - not those who just want more of it.
Overhaul (or start from scratch) with the FDA. Don't let these "good-for-you, bad-for-you" fads continue. Everyone has seen the billboards from hundreds restaurants that scream they don't use trans-fat anymore - not too long ago the FDA told us trans-fat is great for us. Science can only tell us what we know now. Do you really think that nature (our bodies, the earth, the food that grows in the earth that we put in our bodies) only needs nutrients, sunlight, and water to sustain itself?! There's more to it than that. Our Earth is a system. Our bodies are systems. My gut sure as hell doesn't know what to do with hydrogenated vegetable oil - that doesn't exist in nature! Pop-tarts WHAT ARE THOSE?! Why can't we use real sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup? Or worse Splenda?!
Obama can create so many jobs by changing the way we produce, sell, and consume food. The environment would be protected in so many ways if our agriculture/food market/dietary system was reorganized and refocused on facts, nature, and common sense. CO2 emissions would be down from less transporting. Stores would have smaller footprints (carbon and physical). Our water would be less polluted if toxic chemicals (poisons) were eliminated - which would also protect both human and wildlife health. Not too mention we would all eat a lot better if we ate organically with a wide variety. If I could keep going... raise (and enforce) standards on fast food (help the obesity/type II diabetes rate and significantly bring down the amount we spend on healthcare), educate in schools more on health foods (not fat-free, lab created, weight-watchers bull-shit *sorry*) REAL health foods. Demand better food for schools.
As Americans it is undeniable that our lives revolve around food. Why don't we treat ourselves to things that are good for us?! Take care of our bodies, environment, and businesses. Localize and naturalize. That's what Obama needs to do to help the environment, our quality of life, and healthcare.
President Obama needs to
President Obama needs to focus on bringing back small, localized, and self-sustainable communities. Providing incentives for local, organic farmers. Stop giving incentives to farmers to mass-produce row crops (corn, wheat, soy) by weight rather than nutrition. Outlaw fertilizers and herbicides that have links to Cancer - the E.U. and Wisconsin have. No more trucking produce thousands of miles to a huge grocery store. No more huge businesses and banks that have salary ranges from 50,000-50,000,000. We can make sustainable communities, but not if our towns are sprawled across the whole landscape. Support local farmers in cities and towns, support local producers, craftspersons, small businesses, family owned shops.
No more big-box, 1-stop shopping, where are we going to draw the line for convenience? If one purchased all of the things typically bought on a trip to Wal-Mart or Target, K-Mart, etc. at locally owned stores so many more people would benefit from those dollars spent. Spread the wealth to those who need it - not those who just want more of it.
Overhaul (or start from scratch) with the FDA. Don't let these "good-for-you, bad-for-you" fads continue. Everyone has seen the billboards from hundreds restaurants that scream they don't use trans-fat anymore - not too long ago the FDA told us trans-fat is great for us. Science can only tell us what we know now. Do you really think that nature (our bodies, the earth, the food that grows in the earth that we put in our bodies) only needs nutrients, sunlight, and water to sustain itself?! There's more to it than that. Our Earth is a system. Our bodies are systems. My gut sure as hell doesn't know what to do with hydrogenated vegetable oil - that doesn't exist in nature! Pop-tarts WHAT ARE THOSE?! Why can't we use real sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup? Or worse Splenda?!
Obama can create so many jobs by changing the way we produce, sell, and consume food. The environment would be protected in so many ways if our agriculture/food market/dietary system was reorganized and refocused on facts, nature, and common sense. CO2 emissions would be down from less transporting. Stores would have smaller footprints (carbon and physical). Our water would be less polluted if toxic chemicals (poisons) were eliminated - which would also protect both human and wildlife health. Not too mention we would all eat a lot better if we ate organically with a wide variety. If I could keep going... raise (and enforce) standards on fast food (help the obesity/type II diabetes rate and significantly bring down the amount we spend on healthcare), educate in schools more on health foods (not fat-free, lab created, weight-watchers bull-shit *sorry*) REAL health foods. Demand better food for schools.
As Americans it is undeniable that our lives revolve around food. Why don't we treat ourselves to things that are good for us?! Take care of our bodies, environment, and businesses. Localize and naturalize. That's what Obama needs to do to help the environment, our quality of life, and healthcare.