During tonight's State of the Union address, Obama is expected to mention food and health. The big clue is that two food and health visionaries were invited to sit with Michelle Obama during the speech. Obama Foodorama says:
Mrs. Obama has two notable guests from the food and health world. The foodie is Jeffrey Brown, a New Jersey grocer who has done significant work to combat what are known as food deserts, places where fresh and healthy food is unavailable, or too expensive for families on limited incomes. The health honcho is Mayor Mick Cornett, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who has started an anti-obesity campaign and put his entire city on a diet; the campaign focuses on both healthier eating and fitness.
According to a White House source, the President is expected to actually mention the importance of building more supermarkets in urban areas, both as a way of reducing food deserts, and making healthier food more affordable for families. And yes, as a way of boosting local economies, fostering better communities, and creating jobs. Even if the President doesn't work supermarkets and food access into his speech, a grocer and healthy eating advocate being honored with seats in the First Lady's box during the President's much-anticipated speech speaks volumes about the seriousness with which the White House is approaching the need for improving America's national foodscape. It also speaks to the importance of Mrs. Obama's healthier food and fitness initiatives for the success of many of the President's programs, from health care reform through education, and even defense. And of course, both Brown and Mayor Cornett's presence are due to Mrs. Obama's own role as the administration lead on child obesity initiatives.
Of course, Obama's efforts for improving food are kind of lame considering that:
a) He's calling for a spending freeze (a McCain-like tactic that runs 100% contrary to Keynesian economics);
b) The Supreme Court just decided that corporations can spend as much as they want on political races; and
c) Instead of getting rid of the filibuster or passing things through reconciliation (which takes 51 votes), the wimpy Democrats have to make every single bill conservative enough to gain the votes of 60 Senators, including people like Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Mary Landrieu, and occasionally Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe.
I appreciate the nice foodie mentions in the SOTU, but really... why bother? |
