NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

[itsme12i]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

However, this is ridiculous and I'm wondering how they purpose to enforce it. Will people be fined if served? Will they fine restaurants? Will they have the 'fat police" stationed at Mcdonald's, Hardee's, and Wendy"s?

"fat police"...lol!

[Chicklady]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

the "fat police"....those are the cops that stop in every day for their free donuts and coffee

[Bluebelt2007]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

the "fat police"....those are the cops that stop in every day for their free donuts and coffee

Be nice about the Police Chicklady

[Chicklady]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

Be nice about the Police Chicklady

Make me

[Mirya]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

I think that is against their personal rights if I am not mistaken. At least I THINK it is.

[4myself4mykids]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

Reminds me of a news clip I saw not too long ago about a buffet that was refusing certain groups of people to eat there. They were plus size regulars who ate a lot and the management figured out that they were losing money serving certain parties. I think it ended up that the party won their argument and are allowed to eat there, but the restaurant now charges per piece for the shrimp/lobster/crab legs instead of it being a part of the buffet.

I wish they could pass a law against stupidity and force parenting classes on idiots who have no business procreating!!!!!!!!

[Alexa]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

Wow, what an interesting thread! I hadn't heard of this, but I am not surprised. This strikes me as a misguided attempt to deal with a real problem that does need addressing.

When I say misguided I mean - as lots of you have said weight is not a way to judge health (a lot of the time); also it will just mean people will eat at home, or get their relatives to order for them and that is just not going to work.

However, I think most of us here would say people need encouraging to be healthier and lose weight. This just isn't the way to do it. Actually a thread on what we think is the best way to do it would be interesting.

Also, I'm sorry to sound preachy and make myself massively unpopular about this, but I feel duty bound to say that this kind of bill or indeed the 'nanny state' trend that lots of people worry about is not 'socialism'. Socialism is an broad ideology which is about redistribution of resources and control of government by the people. Laws about the government controlling people (such as this kind of thing) are nearer to authoritarianism. Indeed, in a situation of socialism, or something nearer to it, we would be less likely to have the situation whereby big givernments are too scared to legislate to stop companies advertising all their crappy junk food 24/7, or where government feel that to back things like the oh so unaccurate food pyramid is necessary economically.

I'm not intending to re-open the 'you are responsible for what goes in your mouth' vs 'big food giants don't have your best interests at heart' debate - I think both of these statements are true.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

Wow, what an interesting thread! I hadn't heard of this, but I am not surprised. This strikes me as a misguided attempt to deal with a real problem that does need addressing.

When I say misguided I mean - as lots of you have said weight is not a way to judge health (a lot of the time); also it will just mean people will eat at home, or get their relatives to order for them and that is just not going to work.

However, I think most of us here would say people need encouraging to be healthier and lose weight. This just isn't the way to do it. Actually a thread on what we think is the best way to do it would be interesting.

Also, I'm sorry to sound preachy and make myself massively unpopular about this, but I feel duty bound to say that this kind of bill or indeed the 'nanny state' trend that lots of people worry about is not 'socialism'. Socialism is an broad ideology which is about redistribution of resources and control of government by the people. Laws about the government controlling people (such as this kind of thing) are nearer to authoritarianism. Indeed, in a situation of socialism, or something nearer to it, we would be less likely to have the situation whereby big givernments are too scared to legislate to stop companies advertising all their crappy junk food 24/7, or where government feel that to back things like the oh so unaccurate food pyramid is necessary economically.

I'm not intending to re-open the 'you are responsible for what goes in your mouth' vs 'big food giants don't have your best interests at heart' debate - I think both of these statements are true.

You could never become unpopular! You sound well-informed, thoughtful and logical.

Sunny!

[APanthesilia]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

However, I think most of us here would say people need encouraging to be healthier and lose weight. This just isn't the way to do it. Actually a thread on what we think is the best way to do it would be interesting.

That would be an interesting thread! I'd like to hear opinions!

Also, I'm sorry to sound preachy and make myself massively unpopular about this, but I feel duty bound to say that this kind of bill or indeed the 'nanny state' trend that lots of people worry about is not 'socialism'. Socialism is an broad ideology which is about redistribution of resources and control of government by the people. Laws about the government controlling people (such as this kind of thing) are nearer to authoritarianism. Indeed, in a situation of socialism, or something nearer to it, we would be less likely to have the situation whereby big givernments are too scared to legislate to stop companies advertising all their crappy junk food 24/7, or where government feel that to back things like the oh so unaccurate food pyramid is necessary economically.

I'm really glad you said this. I wanted to say the same thing but have to admit that I was worried about being "massively unpopular" myself. I wonder if perceptions on the concept are just different in our different countries. Socialists run this country and the UK seems to be doing ok! I don't want a war on the board over the merits of socialism but maybe just an understanding that different systems of government are not necessarily bad. Sorry if that offends anybody!

[Alexa]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

Yep, I think you're right - culturally there are a lot of differences in how people hear and interpret the word 'socialism' and other terms like that.

No offence, but I'd be loathe to call Labour 'socialist' anymore, but that's a topic for another time

I got a thread going in chit chat about what people would like to see if terms of obesity action.

[APanthesilia]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

No offence, but I'd be loathe to call Labour 'socialist' anymore, but that's a topic for another time

Ha ha, it certainly is! I thought about it before writing that but decided to include it!

[albs75]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

This bill is totally offensive on so many levels. It is amazing that people who propose these laws delude themselves into believing that they are helping people. The pain and humiliation that would be caused if this were inacted makes me truely believe that those who authored it are, infact, vicious and creul and actually get pleasure out of the pain of others.

As for the discussion about the "nanny state" I must weigh in. I have to say that I am very much in favor letting the market decide. The smoking laws are a very good example. Let the restaurants decide if they want to be smoking or nonsmoking. Those of us who are non smokers don't have to go to the non smoking restaurants. Smokers can go to the smoking restaurants. If more people don't like smoking the non smolking places will prosper and the smoking ones will fail. If, on the other and, it turns out that most people don't care, then the non smokers who want to dictate behavior to everyone else will just have to accept that they cannot control everyone else.

We all have our ideals and beliefs about what is the right, good and healthy way to live our lives. There are many things upon which we can all agree. The problems start when we vehemently oppose the government getting involved in an aspect of our private lives that we believe is our personal choice, while at the same time arguing just as vehemently that the government should get involved in another persons private life. In my opinion this is what has led to so much of the contention in our country right now.

Just some monday morning thoughts...

How 'bout those Giants!

[bivium6]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

I think its telling that such a bill would even be put on the floor (as we all know it can't pass) They are trying to draw media attention, but to do it in this way is scary. They are trying to make overweight people afraid. They have to lose weight 'or else bad stuff will start to happen.' Maybe not this bill, but something like it. Just the thought that something like this could happen is only about making people afraid.

Wow, and then to think the goverment can't even decide what 'healthy food' is. We are doomed.

[cdh]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

Obviously MS legislators have WAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much time on their hands.



That is TOTALLY different. Whether you want to discuss second-hand smoke and its dangers or not, IT DOES POSE A HEALTH RISK TO EVERYONE AROUND IT, and personally, I HAVE A RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR WHEN I EAT. Smokers have a right to smoke, but not in MY face. Obesity is a personal thing .. and doesn't pose any risk to anyone else.

Betty

I agree that this is a ridiculous, useless bill. However, the statement that obesity does not affect others is not entirely true. The reason for the bill coming up in the first place is that obesity related issues are costing the state millions of dollars in health care costs, which directly effects everyone paying taxes there.

[Chicklady]

Re: NEW LAW IN MISSISSIPPI. You can't eat here. You're too fat.

And will affect people even more if we get a national health care system in place. you'll be hearing a lot more of "I don't want to pay for fat people, smokers, sky divers".....whatever is considered risky or unhealthy.