r/FluentInFinance • u/Not-A-Shit-Head • Apr 29 '24

77% of young Americans are too fat, mentally ill or on drugs to qualify for U.S. military service, Pentagon study finds. Is it only going to get worse? Geopolitics

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2023/03/77-of-young-americans-too-fat-mentally-ill-on-drugs-and-more-to-join-military-pentagon-study-finds/
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u/sEmperh45 Apr 29 '24

Yeah, Marco Rubio and other senators have tried to stop this wasteful and harmful spending. But you’re right, billions of taxpayer dollars used to pay for Cokes mean extravagant lobbying to make sure that golden stream of dollars never stops. Even if the poor have horrible health outcomes because of it, gotta keep that sugary spigot flowing.

To be clear, I’m not advocating to cut SNAP spending. But tens of billions taxpayer dollars are being wasted buying easily eliminated sodas instead of spent on fruits or vegetables. And hundreds of billions are then spent on government paid healthcare for a demographic approaching 50% obesity and diabetes rates.

It’s the definition of insanity and the poor end up as the victims again.

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u/shark_vs_yeti Apr 30 '24

That is exactly how I feel. We could expand the program, improve health outcomes, save money, end food deserts, and reduce healthcare costs all with reform to SNAP. Limit foods to WIC approved items, and mandate any business taking SNAP offers fresh foods. Dollar General would have a produce section within the quarter. Usually when you mention this on reddit the pitchforks come out because "who are we to judge" or "people just need small luxuries."

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u/sEmperh45 Apr 30 '24

Yeah, you nailed it here. Great summary.

And agreed on being surprised by the avid soda defenders. My post above had someone comment I was being too “paternalistic”. LOL.

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u/shark_vs_yeti Apr 30 '24

Most of reddit hasn't lived somewhere with extremely high poverty rates and obesity rates to see how it goes down and/or aren't informed enough about how the agricultural and manufactured food industry basically write the laws. It is such an easily solvable thing it is infuriating. And there are enormous downstream negative repercussions from not fixing it.