Is the Federal Government becoming too involved?

[Sir Suomi]

As my title says, do you think that the Federal Government has become way to involved in our every day lives? For example, revising the calorie limit in school lunches to 800, and making Cafeteria's to serve healthier food.

Personally, I think the government has become a little too involved. I mean, I support the idea of making kids eat healthier is a great idea, but making the food become so "healthy" that it begins to taste horrible, and is making kids not eat their food, is not the answer. Offer more fresh fruit that is a litttle bit more common, like bananna's, apples, peaches, and grapes, that are RIPE, is better than trying to serve things like asparagess or other fruits/vegetables that arn't very tasty. Also, adding a little bit more protein to meals would be helpful for all the athletes out there, because in my opinion, our school lunches arn't cutting it. But keep the bans on sugary drinks, even Gatorade! I love Gatorade, but unless you are seriously working hard, Gatorade does little good.

Well, that's my opinion on that. Now what's your's? By the way, I do not support either presidential candidate.

[WaffleSingSong]

I do agree with this. Now, do not get me wrong, the Government has to be involved a lot, but sometimes I think how they do get involved needs to be tweaked to where they can not take away anyone's personal freedom unless someone takes someone else's freedom like murder, robbery or eavesdropping. And only really get involved in that kind of things when it is at a federal level.

[ArsenicCatNip]

Do you think that School lunches are made in the school or something? They aren't. Public Schools get lunches from the NLSP(National School Lunch Program) they provide to the whole country, so you're right, the Federal government is involved in providing school lunches but this isn't anything new. Considering they spent 8.7 billion dollars I'm sure they do with what they have.

You could always just pack your own lunch.

[FreeFall]

Don't like school lunches? Pack. The last school lunch I ever ate was in the 7th grade, 6 years ago.

They're too involved, but I honestly fear what the hell could/will happen if they were to retract their power from our personal lives. The state governments may step up and insert themselves further, or they'll follow the federal lead and we'll just have confusion or people going willy nilly. Wheee~

On a side note: I miss the MyPyrimaid. What the hell is My Plate? I do not eat fruit with my dinner on a daily occurance, My Plate, why is that a section? And I cannot stand how everything is targeted to weight loss, become slim/trim/skinny/beanpole fast! It's shoving those of us who hate being skin and bones in the back. If all I have available to me is stuff that'll make me lose weight, how am I supposed to gain without emptying my pocket? They're phasing out my weight gain drink, because people are gaining weight from it. Really?

[Hypers]

I think the government is getting too involved. We all know what is healthy, we don't need the government to tell us. We all know when we should drink water and put on sunscreen, we don't need heat wave warnings.

[donk]

Which Federal Government? If you mean England - well yeah, David Cameron (our prime minister) (read A-hole) is making our country seem like a Federal Republic with all of the Cuts and people being put out of work. They hide the jobless figures by not paying anyone dole until they've spent all of the wages they earned as a Civil Servant before they were dismissed because of the Job cuts. You see if you get made redundant, you get a cash sum (up to £89,000) plus redundancy money, plus two months wages - so you get no dole or can't sign on as unemployed until the money is spent. - Its called massaging the figures in the Treasury... Read Hansard (our magazine on our government...Bunch of a-holes.

[Nathaniel]

The federal government has an explicit responsibility when it comes to the well-being of minors. I'm surprised that the biggest worry you have about the government's involvement is school lunches as opposed to unconstitutional marriage restrictions, or even underfunded NCLB requirements. The majority of issues I find in government stem from a bunch of Ayn Rand worshipers with deeply rooted religious sentiment that has no place in governmental regulation.

[Φρανκομβριτ]

I don't think this is a question of how involved they should be, but if they're making the right choices. The government has full, 100% say over everything, and can override municipal and provincial laws.

We, as a society, have become complacent and allowed our government to make our decisions even if they aren't what we believe. I would say if anything, our society has become too uninvolved with the government and a s aresult given them free range to do what they please.

[TheBigUnit]

i kinda support what the gov is doing in school lunches, i dont mind they are involved its just scary thinking what they do with security, hopefully compromises can be made

[Jean Poutine]

The government has full, 100% say over everything, and can override municipal and provincial laws.

Not true, Rudi. At least not in Canada and even less in the US where the federation is even more decentralized.

What do you mean, the federal government, OP? Give a state/province the same competency and they'll immisce themselves the exact same way.

[Sir Suomi]

The Federal Government, as in in D.C

[Jean Poutine]

You haven't answered my question. Give a state the exact same competency and they will infiltrate the daily lives of people the exact same way. Your example is completely out of left field if you want to discuss federative centralization mechanics.

If you mean the government, period, then that government has a very real interest in protecting its citizens (more revenue), nor to mention people are usually much dumber than we think they are on their own. The government can afford to be paternalistic. There is such a thing as too much intervention, but making sure things that are part of its competency are as good as possible can hardly be called "too involved". Would you rather they give kids bags of instant noodles?

[Human]

Yes let's all shoot down the American government for trying to cut down on obesity. Sickos.

[Φρανκομβριτ]

Not true, Rudi. At least not in Canada and even less in the US where the federation is even more decentralized.

What do you mean, the federal government, OP? Give a state/province the same competency and they'll immisce themselves the exact same way.

may have been an overstatement, but I still stand strong on my point. Just look at the recent case with Bell Canada. I am glad the government stepped in, but the point remains that they are able to control pretty much everything.

My knowledge of the U.S. government remains at the bare minimum I must know to get through in this society, because frankly when ever I think of it my head hurts much

[Jean Poutine]

may have been an overstatement, but I still stand strong on my point. Just look at the recent case with Bell Canada. I am glad the government stepped in, but the point remains that they are able to control pretty much everything.

Telecommunications are a federal competence though. They were in their bounds to intervene, just like they did with bank mergers (banking also being a federal competence).

My knowledge of the U.S. government remains at the bare minimum I must know to get through in this society, because frankly when ever I think of it my head hurts much

Can't blame you! My girlfriend is American and I spend around a weekend out of two in the States. One time she had to go to the doctor and the clerk there started asking her about insurance and she had to call her insurer and they were asking for the doctor's registation number and talking about sliding fee scales for students and shit. I was very glad that I can just give in my carte soleil and have a free pass to the wards back home.

[Φρανκομβριτ]

Telecommunications are a federal competence though. They were in their bounds to intervene, just like they did with bank mergers (banking also being a federal competence).



Can't blame you! My girlfriend is American and I spend around a weekend out of two in the States. One time she had to go to the doctor and the clerk there started asking her about insurance and she had to call her insurer and they were asking for the doctor's registation number and talking about sliding fee scales for students and shit. I was very glad that I can just give in my carte soleil and have a free pass to the wards back home.

What about the big Potash deal a couple years ago?

I hear you on that one! My ex is an American, though luckily I never had to deal with anything like that!

I have my carte soleil out here in the North, and is about as much use to me as it would be in America. I have a big hate on for the Régie de l'assurance maladie for some personal reasons, but that's just because health care in my region is a joke

[Jean Poutine]

What about the big Potash deal a couple years ago?

That was through the Investment Canada Act. The Constitution provides power to the federal government to regulate commerce, including international commerce.

Foreign takeovers have to provide a "net benefit to Canada", else the government can block the bid using the law.

[Gigablue]

I don't think there's too much government involvement. If anything, there isn't enough. The government needs to make better decisions, but should remain heavily involved. Many people would, if left to their own devices, make very ban decisions, and need laws and other policies to keep them from this. Government is a very valuable tool if used properly, but a horrific disaster if misused.

[Φρανκομβριτ]

That was through the Investment Canada Act. The Constitution provides power to the federal government to regulate commerce, including international commerce.

Foreign takeovers have to provide a "net benefit to Canada", else the government can block the bid using the law.

Not saying I don't agree with this, I'm just trying to make a point that if something isn't for the "greater good of the country", the government can, and most likely will, intervene

[Sugaree]

As my title says, do you think that the Federal Government has become way to involved in our every day lives? For example, revising the calorie limit in school lunches to 800, and making Cafeteria's to serve healthier food.

Personally, I think the government has become a little too involved. I mean, I support the idea of making kids eat healthier is a great idea, but making the food become so "healthy" that it begins to taste horrible, and is making kids not eat their food, is not the answer. Offer more fresh fruit that is a litttle bit more common, like bananna's, apples, peaches, and grapes, that are RIPE, is better than trying to serve things like asparagess or other fruits/vegetables that arn't very tasty. Also, adding a little bit more protein to meals would be helpful for all the athletes out there, because in my opinion, our school lunches arn't cutting it. But keep the bans on sugary drinks, even Gatorade! I love Gatorade, but unless you are seriously working hard, Gatorade does little good.

Well, that's my opinion on that. Now what's your's? By the way, I do not support either presidential candidate.

Wow, you have so many options to choose from when it comes to the State being too involved in the lives of their citizens, like the TSA, and you pick the one program that does hardly anything.

[Φρανκομβριτ]

Wow, you have so many options to choose from when it comes to the State being too involved in the lives of their citizens, like the TSA, and you pick the one program that does hardly anything.

LOL don't EVEN get me started on the TSA

[Mirage]

Calorie limits? How do you even measure calories? The government seems too involved for their own good.

[Sir Suomi]

Wow, you have so many options to choose from when it comes to the State being too involved in the lives of their citizens, like the TSA, and you pick the one program that does hardly anything.

It was the first thing that came to my mind and currently affects me the most, so don't try to make me sound stupid -_-

[Twilly F. Sniper]

Went too far long LONG ago.