Thin policy

This incoherent babble shows why the Tories should stick to not bothering with policies and keep to slamming Labour.

The shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley, will use a speech to the thinktank Reform, entitled No Excuses, No Nannying, to set out proposals on how the government and business can work together to address problems caused by poor diet, alcohol abuse and lack of exercise.

So the government's new "no nannying" policy will not just let you get fat on your own accord and suffer the consequences but it will work with business to, erm, nanny you.

"Tell people that biology and the environment cause obesity and they are offered the one thing we have to avoid: an excuse," he will say.

Well, what does cause it?

If it's not the changing environment, what is it? Why are there more fatties today than there were yesterday? Hmm.

As it is, people who see more fat people around them may themselves be more likely to gain weight.

Oh.

So what we're saying is that people see fatties and go "hmmmm, I'd like to be like that" and immediately start gorging themselves?

Of course, what this clown actually means is that people see fatties and because they are not being chased by howling mobs yelling "you fat bastid", they think "hmmm, must be okay to be fat" and immediately start gorging themselves. But wait a minute. If it's okay to be fat, why are there so many fucking diet plans on the market? Why are supermodels so thin?

But there are many ads saying that it's okay to indulge yourself, aren't there? Yes, there are. So what is the message we are actually receiving? It's shit to be a fatty but don't worry, this particular ice-cream is just an indulgence, a sidestep into fantasy, not something that has any real effect in your life.

Why is this guy urging a clampdown on food advertising if it's your own fault that you get fat, not advertisers for pushing fatty, sugary food on you? (They don't take that approach to drug dealers, do they?) And why is he urging the food industry to reduce portion sizes if it's your own fault you are a pig?

And how the fuck is setting portion sizes not "nannying"?

Indeed, all of his proposals look like the kind of New Labour micromeddling that infuriates Tories:

supporting EU-wide proposals for mandatory front-of-pack food labelling
· asking the food industry to reduce portion sizes
· a clampdown on food advertising
· using role models and positive peer pressure to promote healthy living
· local campaigns to promote sport, exercise and healthy lifestyles.

He explains:

"Tackling the environment should not be a licence to lecture people, because they have no excuse not to exercise, or eat their fruit and vegetables. Nannying - at least among adults - is likely to be counterproductive. Providing information is empowering, lecturing people is not. So, no excuses, no nannying."

What?

Well okay, this is just:
He is bullying, you are nannying, I am providing information
because each party is proposing to do the same thing.

The Tory spin is that it will be positive about it:

"We must not constantly talk about tackling obesity and warning people about the negative consequences of obesity. Instead we must be positive - positive about the fun and benefits to be had from healthy living, trying to get rid of people's excuses for being obese by tackling the issue in a positive way."

Fuckwit. If carrots were more "fun" than burgers, we wouldn't need to be nannied into eating the fucking things.

posted by Dr Zen @ 1:26 pm