Lifestyle Obsessions and Socialism

It would seem to me there is a growing trend of more and more people pushing others into the way they should or shouldn't live. I have watched America go from a carefree country where everyone had the individual liberty (as stated in the pledge of allegiance and that constitution) to do whatever they wanted to do. To now being scrutinized by not just the government but our fellow man as well. Is smoking bad for you? Sure it can be bad for you but so can the exhaust coming from the cars that the same critics of smokers drive on average less then 2 miles to work, stores, and even friends on a day to day basis. Yet smokers are the only ones being hit on for the carcinogenic properties of there cigarettes. It's easy to force someone in a corner for something people don't like, but not so easy when it comes to ones own luxuries they don't want to give up.

Now there are several new trends starting that I have noticed. Obsessions on the things like High Fructose Corn Syrup, Trans fats, Glucose, and other chemicals and additives that have been in our food for ages. A study comes out says it's bad for you and can kill your or cause health issues, and suddenly the band wagon jumps on and this study becomes the gospel and nothing more. How many times have studies shown things like power lines cause cancer yet we still have power lines, or exposure to chemicals in paints and other items used on a day to day basis for production and creation of many of our day to day needs and wants. We still continue to use these items and don't scream for there ban etc.

The point I am getting at is we have come a trend in our civilization where everyone seems to think that know what is best for you and I. People have stopped thinking and deciding for themselves, and just jumping onto whatever the most popular trend of the day is. 2-4yrs from now they could come out with a study saying that tv and reading is bad for your eyes and I would be curious how many people gave that up just because they said it was bad for you. I have no problems with people wanting to live a healthier life. Great do it and make the best of it and I give you 100% support and backing in that endeavor. What I have a problem with is you telling me and others how they should live there lives. Why because the cost of your health insurance goes up because of my lifestyle choices? It has nothing to do with the price hikes of hospitals, pharmacy companies, and the health insurance industry. No they are victims of our bad lifestyles yet they are raking in billions every year. Hospitals buy the most expensive crap they can find to stock the shelves and charge and arm and a leg for the stuff you use, but yet it's the health of those with bad lifestyles that has increased prices. So I suppose my smoking habits have made the price of an aspirin jump to 10.00 a pill.

We as Americans should be proud of the fact that we each have the choice to make our own decisions in the way we live our lives yet we are rushing ourselves into a Socialist style life straight out of a Orwellian story line. The government is pushing for socialized medicine yet instead of resisting it we are embracing it. Americans are becoming more and more involved in deciding what is best for other Americans. Somehow it is now bad to punish our children, what kind of morals our neighbor has, whether or not someone has a homosexual lifestyle, and for hat matter whether or not someone cares if you have a homosexual lifestyle.

Does anyone over 30 remember when we were younger and had not a care in the world? Sure maybe we cracked a joke or two about someone's sexual preference, but did we really care? I know I surely didn't. It wasn't my life and I don't care what they chose to do with it. There is absolutely nothing that there sexual preferences did to me, but now it's an issue for some reason in some parts of our society. Just because we are one big community does not mean we have the right to influence the decisions of our neighbors.

Do I care if you live in a dark house with no electricity because you are against the practices of the electric company? No more power to you enjoy it. Do I care if you think hurting animals is bad and you choose to eat vegetables? No not one bit great for you and I am glad you are happy in your lifestyle. Do I care if you prefer men or women? Not one bit I could care less unless you take that really hot girl that I had a thing for (just kidding). The main thing I am trying to get across is that most people do not care what you choose to do with your life and that is the way it should be. Do I care that I am barred from smoking in restaurants and bars? No, not really it's a bit of a pain especially the bars, but I don't really care that much. For some reason though the living choices of myself and others like me seem to be like the proverbial thorn in the sides of those that choose other lifestyles. Is this really the way things should be?

I am reminded of books like 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm, and other books and movies of similar story lines. Where my neighbors are ratting me out to the powers that be because I am doing something that is not socially acceptable. I am just waiting for the day that I am doing what Denis Leary once joked about. Locking myself in my apt with a cigarette machine yelling you'll never take me alive out the window my apt to the cops below.

Things have seriously gotten out of hand and its high time someone said something, so why not me right? I would appreciate input, but I would rather not have inflammatory remarks if you can't debate logically then no need to troll. Though I thoroughly expect to hear from people that think I am completely wrong and they should be able to influence the things I choose to do. I am more then sure I will hear arguments like. "You are the reason my health insurance is so high, why should I have to pay more for your choices" This was said to me by a friend who smokes pot on a regular basis. Yea that's not bad for you at all.........

Do I care if you live in a dark house with no electricity because you are against the practices of the electric company?

No more power to you.

enjoy it.

Did you intend to make this pun? I laughed.



I think you have a clear vision of one major problem we are dealing with.

Ugh double post sorry.

reply to post by MasterGemini


lol no I didn't actually even notice that till you said it

It just seems there is a very big push into a socialized society and this is just the beginnings of it. The sad thing is all these people think they are doing the best thing, but they are really just feeding the machine that is creating this shift in the way our world is run.


Isn't it amazing how posts like this go ignored, but people obsess on the latest natural disaster was man made or not. Funny thing to me is if it was man-made then it is doing a great job of diverting people from looking at what is going on closer to home.

The problem is the large amounts of half-wits walking about. They are most concerned about saying the "politically correct" response rather than thinking about the issues a bit deeper.

I just read in my local paper that 78% of people agree with banning smoking in my city, in pubic parks. Really? To what end? I don't smoke, but unless you are right beside someone,who cares? This is a 'feel good" poll that is being rigged by a loser politician who can't think of anything useful to suggest.

This is the problem. Uniformed,stupid people, who are lead along by greasy politicians.

reply to post by Ultraman2011


It is no different then the masses following the masses. People basically want to be on the side of popularity and because it's popular to worry about things that serve no purpose in life. Its the same as in High School when everyone hates that one kid. You don't know why they all hate that one kid, but if you make friends with the kid you are doomed to be outcast by the school as he is. So instead you choose to join with the majority and hate the kid even if you don't know why or have no reason too. Same concept.

The best part of this is that I always thought that going to school was supposed to teach you about life and the way things should be. In fact school is what opened my eyes to this and I began treating everyone the same during and after high school. So while school should teach us social lessons it would seem that some never grew up literally.

I agree. I saw a show awhile back where a reporter walked around NY and ask people if they were "outraged by the misdeeds of Senator Smith" or something.

People went on and on about how they were disgusted and offended. Problem was, there was no Senator Smith. People just gave the answer they thought was the correct response. Tools my friend, walk with us.

I find it ironic that your post boils down to you wanting to control how other people act. You can't force people to care and think how you do, and that is essentially what you are saying. If people want to follow orders, so be it. If people want to be apathetic, so be it. But you can't force people to care.

It is you who are against freedom; oh you may say you're defending freedom. But, you really want people to behave how you think they should behave...not how they want to.
You can't force the majority to like the smell of cigarettes, but that is what you want, is it not?

reply to post by Ghost375


Actually no I am not trying to force anyone that is the difference. I could care less what you like or don't like. That is your individual right. What I have an issue with is how do you have the right to impose changes on me and people like me? Because that is what you are trying to do isn't it?

The difference between myself and those I am aiming this at is that I do not attempt to impose my will on you. I don't walk up to you and blow smoke in your face. I don't tell you that non-smokers are banned from my property or parties. What gives them the right to impose there wants and desires on me?

Barring smoking in a public venue is not a big deal. I can live with that, but trying to bar me from smoking period, or eating a twinkie if I want, drink what I want, use as much electricity as I want, or just live my life the way I want. That is the problem I have. I give them the freedom to live there lives the way they want, but they do not give me the same freedom. That is my point.

reply to post by Phantom28804

Now there are several new trends starting that I have noticed. Obsessions on the things like High Fructose Corn Syrup, Trans fats, Glucose, and other chemicals and additives that have been in our food for ages.

These things haven't been in our food for ages, at least I remember when they were non existent but then convenience and prepared foods were not common place. I don't think you have liberty and freedom unless food without these things is readily available and, if I were being steered into learning to digest these foreign substances, I would think it was a conspiracy, at best to bring cheap food to market, at worst to deliberately kill me.

To all but PUSH these things on me, without advisory warning or choice and to make me pay extra for "natural" foods to enable food corporations to accommodate great masses of people quickly, with a substandard product, to increase corporate profits, without consumer health being paramount at all times, is the worst kind of corporate socialism there is.

It is using your citizenry as guinea pigs and simply a herd of consumers. Study longevity and health of those not exposed to a modern American diet and you will see our food is our leading cause of death. We are not getting hit by cars, it is what we ingest. Instead of restoring health with proper food itemsas nature intended we are ingesting pills and hoping they will take the place of a healthy natural diet.

I don't care about the health care costs other people do when they shun these ingredients. For me is is one of those inalienable rights to eat food the way nature intended and God wanted me to.

To use the synthetic ingredients should be OPTIONAL.
Natural, unadulterated and "un-tampered with" food should be the NORM and available everywhere.

We should have to go to the SYNTHETIC FOOD ISLE
and not the HEALTH FOOD isle.

I thought things were going in the right direction in the 60's but it took an unfortunate materialistic and impersonal turn. The science, the proof and subsequent cry for natural food was met with mega food corps to go folksy and put uncles and grandma on the products boxes. Old fashioned natural goodness.
Poor people have no vote and they will eat anything you produce so to produce as much as quickly with the longest shelf life. That which began as an experiment has become the norm

I use food as medicine and believe it is true "We are what we eat."
I never want to be corn syrup trans fat or glucose. My brain uses glucose as fuel I know but God wanted me to get that from grapes. To chemically spray the grapes or alter them so it is more convenient from a supply side WITHOUT REGARD TO a subtle and important long term synergistic symbiotic relationship between mankind and the food provided over the earth for man to eat is irresponsible and may be the cause for much modern illness and disease.

reply to post by newcovenant


High Fructose Corn Syrup was invented in 1957

motherjones.com...

Looks like Transfats were used back in the early 1900's

www.news-medical.net...

Glucose can't find when it began it's use as an additive but it was first discovered around 1747

www.ch.ic.ac.uk...

Tobacco has been used since before the dawn of modern man or science, so yea most of this stuff was being used for ages.

I am all for your holistic journey, my beef is with that journey being forced on others.

Originally posted by Phantom28804
reply to post by newcovenant

 

High Fructose Corn Syrup was invented in 1957

motherjones.com...

Looks like Transfats were used back in the early 1900's

www.news-medical.net...

Glucose can't find when it began it's use as an additive but it was first discovered around 1747

www.ch.ic.ac.uk...

Tobacco has been used since before the dawn of modern man or science, so yea most of this stuff was being used for ages.

I am all for your holistic journey, my beef is with that journey being forced on others.

but what about the other agenda being forced on us? The trans fat experiment didn't work out. I think we know that now. Maybe true these things were in use but not widely used, certainly not widely consumed in relation to the other ingredients in the diet. People still opted for home made up until I would say the 70's...late 70's.

reply to post by Phantom28804


it isn't just a growing trend. it's always been this way, there is always somebody who wants to piss on someone else's parade.

the further we go back in history we'll see the earliest victims being forced, coerced or shunned by some arse that isn't wired right.

long long ago when there was less people, extended families lived together, little hamlets or villages or many teepees, whatever. they worked together. some got firewood, some fetched water, tended animals, saw after the elderly or the very young, etcetera.

even then, someone just had to be top dog, the leader of the pack. it's nature's way.

as mankind progressed and learned they reaped the benefits of their new-found wisdom, practices and labors. there was more to be had. there was more at stake.

so instead of one yelling louder than another to prove dominance, or a good wrestling match to choose who leads the clan, they've got some basic tools or weapons. one kills another and takes the reins.

'the strongest survive' is a old saying i've grown to hate. because it's not the person who is wisest, or most fair, or most well equipped to lead the others. it's the one who is willing to smash the others head in with a rock that takes dominance through bloodshed and becomes leader by fear and intimidation.

one day one of the clans has a person in it that is today's equivalent of a psychopath or has some other intense mental illness. no sympathy, no empathy, no interior realization of right and wrong. he takes what he wants, when he wants it. he has younger brothers who are a little off as well, let's say for example.

the oldest nutter explains to the others that working the fields is not as much fun as just taking what you want. imposing your will on others. next thing you know they make slaves out of another clan family living across the valley. they claim those peoples goods for their own, take their women, make the men toil in the field.

it's quick, it's easy. and that's the earliest steps toward building an empire. by not giving a damn about other peoples wants, needs, rights or feelings, making them unpaid laborers, those with twisted minds and aggressive tendencies take their spot at the top of the pack.

and so it goes.

fast forward many years, you've got a planet full of this, at different levels. way too many people, way too many twisted types who want to lord over others, to bend them to their will, to make them do what they feel should be done.

--- on the big picture, it's mankind's survival that placed us where we are today. worry not: as sure as the planet is dotted with incredible mysteries of past civilizations long gone, we too shall perish. hopefully the next group will be a little more kind and gentle to each other than we were.

reply to post by newcovenant


I agree that they shouldn't be experimenting on us with foods, drugs, chemical compounds etc. I do not disagree with that at all. I guess what I am saying is for one I can't afford to eat organic nor can I afford to search out all the products with no additives, and frankly I haven't died yet from it and I'm not overly concerned about dying later from it. I have been eating it since I was a kid and well I guess I am just not as concerned as others over it. I like the taste whatever I don't know. I am just sick and tired of having it shoved down my throat that my lifestyle is causing the woes of the world because frankly it's not true.

There is a difference between suggesting a better diet to someone or informing them about additives that may or may not be in the foods they eat, and going around condemning and smiting them for it. That is all I am getting at. It seems that we are on a trend of forcing our thoughts and beliefs on others.

The food side is actually the least of my concerns out of this. I am more concerned with things like the way we raise our kids, what books are good and what aren't. I mean if I decide to let my daughter read Catcher in the Rye, the Scarlett Letter or any of the other books that have been deemed bad by the school system. That one still kills me how does a educational facility deem a piece of literary history as unworthy lol. Anyway, I would much prefer my daughter get into reading and learning then say Twittering and Face booking. It's like that commercial I saw the other day I think it was Ford, but anyway the teen daughter is talking about how her parents are finally getting social with the internet and facebook. How they are up to 81 friends and she has hundreds. How she is trying to teach them to be more socially active. The parents are out on bikes getting ready to go mountain biking with friends, and the daughter is Facebooking. Though somehow the biggest problems in our society are the cigarettes I smoke or the ingredients of my diet..