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Apr 24, 2015

Junk food Prohibition for the poor only? Good or bad?

"Two lawmakers in Augusta want to curb the junk going into Mainer's mouths through legislation."
That is a misstatement. They do not want to limit the junk food going into Mainers' mouths, but poor Mainers' mouths, and not just poor Mainers' mouths, but poor Mainers on food stamps. Since when did Prohibition comeback? I never noticed that we had made sugar illegal. If they are going to limit food selection for the poor folks on food stamps, then Maine should make all such foods illegal for all Mainers to make the impetus behind the bills apply to all Mainers equally. Prohibit all so called "junk food" for all Mainers, or for none. And, if your going to do it for Mainers, then it needs to apply for all Americans, or none. So, do we really want to try to convince the entire country to Prohibit junk food? The war on drugs and alcohol have shown that making such items illegal only makes them more desirable and easier to get. Prohibition did not stop alcohol consumption. The war on drugs has not stopped drug consumption. Big government is wrong on this thought. Going through educational programs that show the benefits of avoiding the supposedly undesired substance is a possibly good way to bring in reducing consumption. Another process that can help is to make the substance legal but add so many taxes to its purchase that it is highly expensive, so that the healthy substances are more profitable for the average person. Another process is to give the healthy options subsidies through the grocery stores such that healthy choices are less expensive and yet not hurtful to the stores for selling them.
Also, if that particular store owner is really that upset and judgmental about folks using food stamps for what she perceives as unhealthy choices, then she should stop selling the unhealthy choices so she doesn't have to see what she doesn't want to see.

Quote taken from, "Proposals encourage better nutrition for Maine food stamp users: Two bills would change eating habits, EBT use," by David Charns, at http://www.wmtw.com/news/should-food-stamps-cover-junk-food/32554818

Apr 22, 2015

My submission to the Meredith Vieira Show, Digital Make a Wish Booth

I was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis in 2011.  Since then, my number one hero has been Karen Forbes.  She saved my life by insisting that I go to the hospital when I was so sick I could barely make sense of the world.  She has helped me recover, supporting me when the world fell away leaving us alone.  She was there when oil had to be ordered in 50 gallon amounts because we couldn't afford full orders since I was unable to work.  She does the dishes even though it is my responsibility when I can't keep up because of constant migraines, which is my after effect from the bacterial meningitis.  She has done this while maintaining at least one and sometimes two jobs.  I am just amazed at how strong, powerful, and supportive she is.  I admire her stamina, and ability to maintain a positive affect through tough times.  I have had to reorder my life from a useful and happy worker bee, to one of a disabled person and relearning my new normal.  To say that this has been a simple easy road is a laugh.  Karen has been my rock through that process and continues to be so when the road gets really rough.  We also have a puppy that she insisted we get.  At first, I was angry about him and his unpredictableness, but he has grown into a great therapy dog.  He knows when the migraines are hard.  Karen's best idea. Thank you.