In one of my classmate’s articles, The Government Needs a Diet, Grace believes that the government should not be involved with Americans’ health issues. I, however, strongly disagree. The government is supposed to help protect the citizens of our nation, and because many deaths could be prevented from unhealthy diets, why not have the government pursue making America healthier?
One who consumes an unhealthy diet has a higher chance of obesity, a stroke, and high blood pressure. When having to pay for each immediate health problem, the cost begins to add up, which hurts people financially. It is stated in the HealthierAmericans for a Healthier Economy article, obesity can add up to “$4 billion for health care, $5 billion for lost productivity and absenteeism and $321 million for disability.” And if the health issues continue to rise, the nation’s workforce could also be affected because of the lack of wellness. More people will begin to fall terminally ill and may become severely affected to where they are unable to work.
Because many people die from a result of cancer, the government should not give up on supporting the cancer foundation by donating money. Even if “billions of dollars spent on research that did not succeed,” does not mean that a cure will never be found. What would our nation be like today if the government had always given up on their goals?
Eating unhealthy also affects people during their daily routine. One who does not consume healthy meals will usually have a decrease in productivity, making him or her lazier with a lack of motivation. Children that have an unhealthy diet are more likely do worse in school. In the Guidelines for School Health Programs, it is said that “Even moderate under nutrition can have lasting effects on children’s cognitive development and school performance.”
As time changes, meal plans will also continue to change in order to form a healthier, more nutritional diet. Each year, people will learn new information about which food is better to consume than other foods. So why shouldn’t the government guide the nation to a better meal plan that will help keep the citizens healthy? They are trying to help us and lead our country in the correct health direction. When it comes to saving lives and producing a stronger, healthier, more suitable nation, I believe that federal dollars are not being wasted.
It will be very hard to reasonably argue when we have a different idea of what government should be. You say "The government is supposed to help protect the citizens of our nation." However, the protection of the people has a limit. I agree that the government should protect us from international war affairs, but there is a limit to protection. We would have protection from thieves if a policeman lived in every house, but then we would have a government run by the police. Likewise, the government should not protect us from something as personal as the foods we choose to eat. Just because I don't think the government should tell us what to eat, does not mean I don't think healthy diets are advantageous. The government has spent and is spending many efforts to help with dieting, but obesity is still extremely high in America. So, some would agree that these federal dollars are wasted or at least not put to the best use. People should try to eat healthier, but the government is not the one to help them with that task. Doctors and nutritionists are the trained professionals for the job not bureaucrats in congress.
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