A few nights ago, I was deciding on a topic to talk about for our recent paper. I wanted to discuss something not well-known so I asked my mom if she'd heard any recent, debatable stories in the news. Her first idea was about a law that is recently being introduced in Mississippi:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/04/ap/strange/main3788922.shtml
As this is recent, not much has been reported on it. However, it is addressing a growing problem in the United States. The obese population is growing and our country isn't doing much to stop it. I'm wondering if the government is justified in helping eliminate obesity. I think they should contribute to decreasing the obesity rate but not in the manner Mississippi is proposing. Although the ideas they are proposing sound humorous, they are in fact taking it seriously. Although these obese people don't need to be out for an unhealthy meal anyway, they shouldn't be denied the right for food. As a Kantian ethicist would say, you shouldn't deny a person their right to live. Without food, you die. Eventually. I'd just like to ask what anyone else thinks about this "interesting" law. I thought my mom was joking at first when she told me but, thinking about it, it's actually a valid question but is it the moral way to decrease obesity?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Sorry it took so long to respond. The article states, "It is too oppressive for government to require a restaurant owner to police another human being from their own indiscretions," Holland said Monday."
Is it also too oppressive for government to require a liquor store owner or a bar owner to police other human beings from their own indiscretions? What about restaurants who refuse to serve people while they smoke? What about seatbelt and motorcycle helmet laws?
I guess the difference between alcohol and food is that alcohol is an actual poison for human beings. Although too much food promotes health risks for humans, food isn't exactly a toxin. Concerning smoking I think it is the same as alcohol. Smoking is deadly. However, unlike food and alcohol, cigarette smoke affects the individual AND those nearby. If one overindulges in food, it is mainly the individual who is affected: they lose money and gain weight. However, with cigarette smoke, passive smoking is involved and the health of other people in the restaurant is being damaged and put at risk.
Seatbelt and motorcycle laws are a matter of life and death. They are there to protect the safety of individuals. Seatbelts and helmets don't harm anyone who uses them but they do help save the lives of others.
Post a Comment