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I was reading an interesting article in Newsweek the other day. It discussed the possibility that it isn't cancer or heart disease, or smoking or even overeating that is the leading cause of death in America - it's our inability to make smart choices that leads us down the path of engaging in self-destructive behaviors. In other words, it isn't obesity that kills us, it's the decision we make to eat poorly and in excess that kills us. Agreed!
According to Duke University's Ralph Keeney, "Each year more than a million people needlessly die because of their own personal decisions." Ummmm ... yeah! We call that survival of the fittest and it's what keeps us evolving into "better" people! Fewer stupid deposits in the gene pool is never a bad thing, is it?
The real question this article explores is, do we just need a stronger governmental hand prodding us to make better choices? Keeney thinks more governmental guidance might be the answer. I think Keeney has his head up his ass.
I've got to say, none of the governmental “nudges” mentioned in this article make me feel warm and fuzzy. Ideas include putting fruit at eye level (by governmental mandate) and encouraging people to go for regular preventive screenings and checkups by establishing a medical deposit system: the only way to get your, say $100 deposit back, is by showing up for your annual check-up. I've said it before, I'll say it again – this is a slippery slope.
Any time the government says, “You're welfare is our concern” I want to run away screaming. What starts as “We will tell you what to eat because you aren't making the right choices” can quickly change into “We will tell you what level of education you deserve, we will tell you what medical care you can and cannot have, and we will tell you what job you must do … because you aren't making the right choices” effectively taking our choices away, or, at the very least, reducing them significantly.
Yes, we need laws and consequences for illegal activities (as defined by our society through the political process). What we don't need is our government dipping their hand in every facet of our life. We learn by making mistakes. If there's always a net to catch us, we might forget to pay attention to where our feet are on the tightrope. And that in no way makes anyone a better person.
Where are you on the slope?
I was reading an interesting article in Newsweek the other day. It discussed the possibility that it isn't cancer or heart disease, or smoking or even overeating that is the leading cause of death in America - it's our inability to make smart choices that leads us down the path of engaging in self-destructive behaviors. In other words, it isn't obesity that kills us, it's the decision we make to eat poorly and in excess that kills us. Agreed!According to Duke University's Ralph Keeney, "Each year more than a million people needlessly die because of their own personal decisions." Ummmm ... yeah! We call that survival of the fittest and it's what keeps us evolving into "better" people! Fewer stupid deposits in the gene pool is never a bad thing, is it?
The real question this article explores is, do we just need a stronger governmental hand prodding us to make better choices? Keeney thinks more governmental guidance might be the answer. I think Keeney has his head up his ass.
I've got to say, none of the governmental “nudges” mentioned in this article make me feel warm and fuzzy. Ideas include putting fruit at eye level (by governmental mandate) and encouraging people to go for regular preventive screenings and checkups by establishing a medical deposit system: the only way to get your, say $100 deposit back, is by showing up for your annual check-up. I've said it before, I'll say it again – this is a slippery slope.
Any time the government says, “You're welfare is our concern” I want to run away screaming. What starts as “We will tell you what to eat because you aren't making the right choices” can quickly change into “We will tell you what level of education you deserve, we will tell you what medical care you can and cannot have, and we will tell you what job you must do … because you aren't making the right choices” effectively taking our choices away, or, at the very least, reducing them significantly.
Yes, we need laws and consequences for illegal activities (as defined by our society through the political process). What we don't need is our government dipping their hand in every facet of our life. We learn by making mistakes. If there's always a net to catch us, we might forget to pay attention to where our feet are on the tightrope. And that in no way makes anyone a better person.
Where are you on the slope?
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