"Helping Farmers Grow More Food"

by: Jill Richardson

Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 19:23:28 PM PST

This is just a part of how we are shaping a world that favors peace and prosperity. With our European allies, we revitalized NATO, and increased our cooperation on everything from counter-terrorism to missile defense. We have reset our relationship with Russia, strengthened Asian alliances, and built new partnerships with nations like India. This March, I will travel to Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador to forge new alliances for progress in the Americas. Around the globe, we are standing with those who take responsibility - helping farmers grow more food; supporting doctors who care for the sick; and combating the corruption that can rot a society and rob people of opportunity.

He said it so fast that I missed it while listening and had to check the transcript to get the actual quote. Clearly, he's referring to the Feed the Future program, a program that I've had a rather hard time getting information about. But I will keep trying.

State of the Union's School Lunch: Nutrition as National Defense and Fiscal Health

by: Jill Richardson

Thu Jan 28, 2010 at 16:36:11 PM PST

State of the Union's School Lunch: Nutrition as National Defense and Fiscal Health

by Debra Eschmeyer

Don't make us tighten our belts on child nutrition programs while the girth of the nation grows. The government spends $1 million per soldier in Afghanistan, yet barely spends $1 on the food in a school lunch.

More below...

Breakdown of the State of the Union

by: Jill Richardson

Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 22:42:45 PM PST

And by the way, I want to acknowledge our First Lady, Michelle Obama, who this year is creating a national movement to tackle the epidemic of childhood obesity and make kids healthier. (Applause.) Thank you. She gets embarrassed. (Laughter.)

However, he did talk about several things that affect the issues we discuss on this site. Here are my opinions about what he said in his speech.

Obama to Mention Food in SOTU

by: Jill Richardson

Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 14:52:47 PM PST

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?