Obesity: Finding a Solution

Global Warming and Other Manmade Environmental Issues

 While humankind may contribute to pollution and other unsavory deeds to our planet, government intervention at this time is merely a waste of funding. Emily makes a good point in her article that “Our citizens do not understand the severity and significance of the horrible state our environment is currently in.” This is probably true but some researchers even doubt the existence of global warming caused by carbon emissions that we impose on our planet. If humans are truly the cause for the increase of earth’s temperature because of our carbon output then recycling and reducing our energy consumption alone will have no effect. The government would have to do a major crack down that I don’t foresee as possible. The effects of the BP oil spill and the tons of garbage we put into our earth each year are minuscule in comparison to the effects of factory farming. American’s insatiable taste for meat is really doing a number on our environment. Over half of the water consumed in the U.S goes to the production of meat. And those animals that produce the meat we consume way too much of produce 130 times the amount of excrement that humans do. All of that waste produces methane (a contributor to the green house effect) and the run off pollutes the water that we drink. Researchers at the University of Chicago concluded that switching from a standard American diet to a vegan diet is more effective in the fight against climate change than switching from a standard American car to a hybrid. Unfortunately it is unrealistic to change the American diet. We are the fattest and greediest people on this planet. While it may be in our best interest to make legislation that will help our environment the economy is in no shape to provide funding for it. I support private sectors and other interest groups in their quest for environmental justice and for now environmental help is going to have to be left to those who are most concerned. 

Food Stamps Getting the Boot

In the wake of the worst recession since the Great Depression, Congress voted to cut $11.9 billion from long-term food stamp financing to fund an emergency state-aid bill that benefits Medicaid and teacher funding. This could be the worst blow to the poorest people in the U.S since the beginning of the recession. What’s more, the bill couldn’t have come at a worse time. The number of those needing food stamps is on the rise. A record high estimate of 40 million receives benefits and that number is projected to increase substantially within the next fiscal year.  A cut of this magnitude could decrease the monthly allowance of 400 dollars for a family of four to 350 dollars. The already meager allowance of an average $4.50 a day isn’t enough to buy a single meal for some. This new cut will be a first in the food stamp program’s history. Serious scale backs have been made in the past but none have gone insofar as to cut month to month allowances. So why the cut? The bill aims to save teacher’s jobs and give funding to Medicaid. But the bill does not come without consequence. To counteract the deficit the bill will create congress decided to take the funding from the food stamp program. This cut will devastate the ever increasing poor population. Food stamps are the only income to more than 6 million that are ineligible for unemployment insurance, Social Security, disability or other programs. With these cuts just on the horizon we will see more people going from the supermarket to the soup kitchen. Congresses bill is just taking from one hand and giving to another. This is a poor solution but hardly avoidable. Although the bill will save thousands of jobs for teachers, police officers and other public servants, it’s just treating the symptoms of a bigger problem. Eventually the funding will run out and those jobs saved by the bill will be just another casualty of this recession, creating more need for food stamps.  So when the cuts take effect in 2014, the poorest of poor will have to give up food for health care and education, what a life.  

Whale Blubber Over Sensible Immigration Reform

A recent editorial in the LA TIMES gives Americans something to talk about. A new legislation named AgJOBS will provide a temporary work permit to immigrant farm workers and eventually the possibility for citizenship. The farm workers do the grueling tasks that most Americans wouldn’t even consider doing especially at the low wages these harvesters are working at. This legislation will keep produce at a low cost and prevent the U.S from importing more than it already does. Rep. Steve King (R- Iowa) thinks otherwise. According to him, Americans should stop eating produce because it is not a necessary part of our diets (the food pyramid lies?) he then went on to say, "I'm wondering how the Eskimos got along all those centuries without fruits and vegetables!" I agree that we should provide these workers with temporary work permits, with proper screening of course, but I am not so fond of the idea that these work permits will provide a path to their citizenship. I think this new piece of legislation should be edited a little bit but it is a very good alternative to the current immigration ideals. I think that the author intended for democrats and those who support illegal immigration. It appeals to those who want to do something about our immigration laws. The author argues that the problems with this type of legislation don’t originate solely from the idea that produce unnecessary part of our diet but the fact that these immigrants are taking jobs that could be occupied by Americans, at a cost. He claims that these jobs aren’t conducive to an American lifestyle. On top of the tedious work, the farmers have to migrate when seasonal crops cannot be harvested where they are located. I agree that these jobs are not the type of jobs Americans want to be doing. He goes on to argue that even if these jobs did go to Americans, the cost of local produce would be so high, it would be more expensive than readily available imports. The reality of complete outsourcing is already taking shape “At least 84,155 acres of production and 22,285 jobs that once were in the U.S. have moved to Mexico”. The fear of giving immigrants jobs is costing us more money than anything. Those opposed to this legislation should reconsider. I would love to see one of these guys, suit and all, go out into those fields and do an honest day’s work. Until that happens I will say that these illegals are doing our dirty work so that we can have the things we want. Fresh fruit, nice leafy green salads are all available at a low price in your local grocer.

IOM Backs Nurses' Push For Bigger Role In Health Care

According to a report released by NPR nurses with advanced degrees may gain a bigger scope of practice. Doctors have been opposing the increased independence nurses have been gaining over the years but the population of elderly patients needing care has this age old feud coming to an end. While some may see this as a blessing others simply think that this is just another way the health care reform will impact our country negatively. “Experts predict that more physicians, nurses and other medical professionals will be needed to care for the 32 million additional Americans who will get coverage beginning in 2014 under the sweeping health care law.” As the demand for health care providers increases, so does the ratio of physicians to patients. Experienced nurses may not have as much schooling but they are fully capable of treating patients. I myself am planning on becoming a nurse that works independently. I feel that while nurses may need some guidance from physicians, they don’t have to be under direct order.This new realization of nurses becoming primary care providers has people talking about the health care reform. This may deter voters as if there weren't enough flaws in the reform.