A trip to the grocery store which would take either of us about 15 minutes, and we take it for granted. For many poor families, it could easily take an entire day. As a fun experiment, see how long it takes you to get from Strong Memorial to the nearest Wegman's using a bus or walking. A lot of the times it isn't actually a choice to eat unhealthy food, it's about access.
That said, all American families do need more information about proper nutrition.
There's a few things going on in this thread so I'll pick access first. I am sure that there are some people who have a transportation issue. That said the majority of people who frequent my establishment come by car. They have one, or know others who do and in the latter case carpool. Only a few percent come by bus. The other advantage with medicaid is free day care. If the person is unemployed then time simply isn't a factor. The real problem would be for the working poor who have little assistance and little time. I'm entirely sympathetic in that case. Notwithstanding, I suggest a little experiment. Look in your shopping cart and look at those who pay for food with public assistance and you'll note that it's more likely that a higher proportion of what's purchased is processed crap. Considering that the person has found some means to get to the store the transportation problem has already been overcome. That leaves what's selected. The caveat (not so much for you, but for the unthinking
) is that not everyone who is on welfare is the same as any other. There are exceptions and that's grand when it happens.
The reasons for poor nutrition are open to debate, however that brings us to the second and original point and that is the tie in between racially charged associations of slavery and poor nutrition.
The problem lies in what's accepted in the home, the level of education and the willingness to change dietary habits.
It's my opinion that bringing up specious matters weakens the needed message. If one is going to reference Jim Crow, then it ought to be along the lines of
"Don't let anyone bring up slavery or Jim Crow. You are responsible for yourself and your family. If you don't act you are harming them and that is solely your choice. Own up and take care of those you are responsible for now."
That leads me to mention a broader problem I see with politics and blacks. Many blacks live in awful conditions and yes there are historical reasons, but not all of them go back to slavery. Much has to do with a culture which expects handouts for themselves and for their future generations and that was because of the philosophy of the Great Society. It's well that blacks were helped, however the apparent logic is that if you give a man a fish at some point he'll go fishing. That's not human nature. He or she is most likely to come back for more fish and indeed feel "entitled" to it. Until learning to fish is not optional that does not change.
Someone I know has a relative who got pregnant (and she's perfectly healthy and on medicaid). The pregnancy failed (one she hadn't planned for) and she feels bad about it. What's she going to do? Get pregnant again for "closure". In fact her mother is encouraging her to do so because that also means an excuse to never work and increases her check.
If you live or work in the inner city you'll find that is not only common, but often actively encouraged. If someone will pay you not to take responsibility, and pay you more to bring in more lives you cannot possibly take care of on your own why not do it? After all you are kept down and the government really wants to help and will cut that check forever.
That's our medicaid system and that more than past wrongs is destroying the inner cities. You don't need to go to school. You don't need a job. You just need to sign up.
It's like heroin, and there isn't the political will to actually help people addicted to get off.
The black community and the government need to understand that no responsibility coupled with financial reward is slavery, just to DC.
As we've discussed before I realize that for a modern society to work there are times when individuals need help, and there are those who can never do so. That is not an issue for me. It's the culture of dependency that I find to be the root of many evils.
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