EQUALIZATION

David Brooks, of the New York Times, has a piece in this mornings paper, (October 10, 2014) making the point that when Citizens United was passed by the supreme court there were Democrats who felt the end of their party was at hand. Now several years later, according to Brooks, the monies spent by the Democrats are equal to, or even greater than, those being spent by the Republicans. In fact, according to his research, many of the candidates that lost elections actually had more money spent on their campaign than their opponents. So in Brook’s opinion the court’s ruling has not negatively impacted the election process in the way it was predicted to.

 I disagree. The truth is money has done more damage to the entire electoral process, and by implication, more to the detriment of our country, even if it has not resulted in getting people elected.

The fallacy in Brook’s argument goes to a concept I call equalization. That is if everyone spends the same amount of money on something it is the same as no one spending anything on it. Think about it, I spend one million to get my candidate elected and you spend half of that on your candidate, I have an advantage. But if you spend the same million as I do then we are equal and it will not be the amount of monies spent on the candidates but rather the message brought forth by each of them.

The real problem with Citizens United is it falsely gives the impression that the most money spent on one candidate versus another will actually win elections.  This theory has resulted in far too many people, with too much money to waste, coupled with their own personal agendas, spending foolish amounts of money on candidates that have no better chance at winning, if the other side spends the same amount on their candidate.

I often think of performance enhancing drugs, (PED’s), in sports. The athlete thinks taking drugs helps his/her cause by enhancing their performance.  But what happens if ALL athletes take the same drugs? Are we not back to square one? What the athlete using drugs is really saying is “I will take PED’s on the condition you don’t.  That way I do have an advantage”. In the end if everyone takes them it will be the same as if no one took them. It is cheating by looking for an artificial advantage not related to talent but requires secrecy so no one else does the same thing. Otherwise it makes no sense.

What Citizens United has done is to vastly increase the amount of money spent on elections under the false impression that the more spent will result in more winners, while it has taken out of the process the qualifications, ideas, strategies and plans of the candidates and replaced them with an addiction to raising money.

If the premise that more money breeds more winners was dropped by all candidates, they would spend less money, need less time to raise more and could focus on sharing their positive message with voters rather than overwhelming the voter with negative advertising focused on the other candidate’s shortcomings. 

 No, my argument with David Brooks is that money really has corrupted the election process. It has forced all elected officials and candidates into the delusion that the object of politics is raising money rather than solving problems. And, that is a disservice to all Americans.      

OBESITY

If you want to know how I feel don’t ask me just look at me and see if I have gained weight.

For me, as I am sure for many others, when I don’t feel good, for any number of reasons I gain weight. I am not speaking about having a cold, or a runny nose or even something a bit more serious. What I am referring to is how do I feel emotionally, maybe a little stressed.  When I am in turmoil it is easier to gain weight, as the discipline to diet does not seem as important when compared to the other challenges I face. When back on track losing the weight is so much simpler.

As much as we read about the obesity problem in the country, if not the world, the answers given often reside in a form of surgery or a pill or a specific diet of more, or less, protein, fat, carbs etc. The advice is endless and the books for the newest fad diets keep coming yet all the remedies, for the most part, over time, fall on deaf ears.

The real culprit for the obesity in this country resides right smack in the middle of the essence of what ails the country in the first place.  People are unhappy.

Yes, it is true. People are unhappy. Far too many of us are uneducated, poor, in debt, hungry, divorced, homeless, addicted to a variety of substances and live with a very low level of hope.

Add to the social dilemmas facing people the lack of available healthy food, the cost of it, an overwhelming number of television ads pushing unhealthy foods, the fact that going on a successful diet takes herculean discipline, unnatural patience and the energy to focus on your diet in the face of every other obstacle in your life and it is easy to understand why people would rather eat than diet.

Losing weight is literally not doable given what many of the obese face every day.  The fact of denial alone, a must in a diet, will kill it for many. Faced with so many unresolved issues why deny the smallest of pleasures through a cheeseburger, fries and a shake? McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Pollo Loco and so many other high calorie, low quality franchises are located with walking distance of most of the troubled neighborhoods. The food is comfort: high calorie, high fat, high carbs, high sodium and plenty of sugar. What is not to like? Everything bad about it tastes good. When finished everything bad about it is packed on the body and when it finally shows the motivation to take it off is very low.

Much is discussed about the differences between the 1% and the rest of the country but it is true the 1% can afford to enjoy many of life’s pleasures, good food, in fine restaurants, travel, physical activities and a warm, hospitable roof over their heads.  Those facing the hardships of the above cannot afford to do most of these things and their only recourse, other than resentment, frustration and anger is to eat all the wrong foods and way too many of them. 

If we really want to solve the problem of obesity we must look much deeper into the real causes for it, hopelessness.

As long as people feel they have no chance of getting a job, a better job, getting out of debt, putting their kids in a good school, securing a mortgage, having a home, proper health care coverage, a chance to get above it all and not have to live from one pay check to another they will just remain unhappy. 

For them one easy answer is poor choices in what to eat. Low quality food choices are affordable, available and why not, they taste good and that feels good. 

Does anyone wonder why heroin use is up, alcohol consumption is up, drugs of all types are up, and use of painkillers is up? What do you think they are trying to get away from?  Could it be they don’t like their lives, don’t feel there is much chance for them or that maybe they feel they have been left behind? These are insidious feelings and when push comes to shove people will more easily give into feelings than they will ever give in to an intellectual argument that requires sacrifice, discipline and willpower. Dig down into individual substance abuse and there will be a story, a story of a life being led that offers little to no sense of satisfaction.

We can solve the problem of obesity and reduce what it costs us simply by focusing our energies on solving the real problems that make people unhappy.  We know what they are so why not get down to business and solve them?