2024 Trump Transition

[Mr. Deez]

And a common sense centrist says make the agency truly independent and antagonistic, rather than obsequious and incestuous.

If you were to ask AOC or Bernie what they would do about food safety, they would basically give that exact answer.

 

[Mr. Deez]

Knowing what we know about the long term effects of certain additives that are still be added to foods eaten primarily by children
And knowing companies like Kellogs stated in 2015 they would discontinue those additives but have not
Who should have the role of enforcing consequences?

What did the founding fathers create to deal with this sort of thing? Did they create a big federal agency with broad rulemaking authority that came in and regulated what could be in food sold in the United States? No. Why fight a war and leave King George III and the British Empire only to do that? Instead, they relied upon the free market to produce decent food and empowered state governments to create common law court systems that were capable of compensating people who actually are harmed by wrongdoings of all kinds (including products liability).

Does that system make all bad food go away? No, but it allows economic freedom to both producers and consumers, while maintaining the responsibility of the producer not to fill people with toxins. As Ben Franklin said, "those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

Of course, I'm a realist. I know that nobody is getting rid of the FDA, and for political reasons, I don't advocate doing that. However, one of my biggest frustrations of the Trump era is the willingness of many on the Right to echo the talking points of the populist Left rather than relying upon traditional conservative principles.

 

[mchammer]

I want the FDA to ensure consumers are properly informed of the nutritional value and health risks of things, but I'm a grown-*** man. I don't need a nanny to tell me what I can and cannot eat.

RFK jr has said his focus is the process to which industry leans on the FDA to approve foods, etc. Not sure why you are focused on bans. Or maybe I misunderstood what RFK wants to do.

 

[Chop]

People knock RFK as some kind of kook. But if he can get us, as a nation, to decrease our fast food consumption by 50%, he'll be one of the best to ever hold that position.

 

[Chop]

People knock RFK as some kind of kook. But if he can get us, as a nation, to decrease our fast food consumption by 50%, he'll be one of the best to ever hold that position.

I don't want them to ration bad food or ban it. Just massive education and clever propaganda for healthier eating. Enlist popular culture leaders/musicians/celebrities.

Trump's not exactly the poster child on this front. He's another Bill Clinton when it comes to fast food. But if Trump can cut his fast food intake by 1/2, that would be a great example.

 

[Chop]

Does anyone know if Trump walks the golf course, or takes a cart? He has played some competitively.

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

If you were to ask AOC or Bernie what they would do about food safety, they would basically give that exact answer.

OK, so this discussion begs the question of pure, unadulterated freedom, vs government control of everything, and where on that spectrum we want our society to align.

You said earlier, (paraphrasing) I'm a grown-*** man and I can select my own food. I agree, and so can I. But what I can't do is be an expert in the cost/benefit analysis of every food additive out there. I can't be expert or take the time to learn about all the slowly accumulating health effects of petrochemical derivatives that make foods yellow, or yellower than the dyes in Europe (to use but one example).

At some point, I have to recognize that in our highly complex society, I will have to trust large, faceless organizations with some decisions that will affect my life. Those organizations can be either governmental, or private.

I tend to trust private organizations more, because I understand their motive: profit. And, I can choose or not choose to support them in their profit-seeking activities. I tend to trust bureaucratic institutions far less because their motivation almost always turns into self preservation, and their mission statements are almost always corrupted beyond recognition by what they actually do. They aren't accountable back to me, typically.

However, I also recognize that private organizations can damned well go off the rails while chasing profits, and the bigger the organization, the worse it can get. Also, the bigger the organization, the easier it is for them to hide any nefarious shenanigans from their customers.

So, there has to be some tension, some mechanism to keep private orgs in line. There also has to be some mechanisms, and even stronger ones, to keep governmental oversight orgs in line.

Right now, we have a gawdawful mess at places like the FDA because neither the FDA nor the orgs they are supposed to regulate on behalf of the people are being controlled.

So yes, I'm all for RFK Jr stepping in to try and clean up the mess. If it appears his solutions are nothing more than additional power for the FDA without also cleaning house at the FDA, then I'll be pretty damned mad at Trump and RFK Jr about it.

 

[horninchicago]

The founders were definitely angry about the state of Froot Loops in the mid 1700s.

Prove me wrong.

 

[militaryhorn]

The founders were definitely angry about the state of Froot Loops in the mid 1700s.

 

[horninchicago]

Yes. That proves it. Congrats.

 

[mchammer]

Yes. That proves it. Congrats.

No food supplementation without representation!

 

[Mr. Deez]

RFK jr has said his focus is the process to which industry leans on the FDA to approve foods, etc. Not sure why you are focused on bans. Or maybe I misunderstood what RFK wants to do.

In part, I'm focused on bans, because I've looked at the guy's work for the last 30 years. He's not a freedom-loving guy.

 

[Mr. Deez]

OK, so this discussion begs the question of pure, unadulterated freedom, vs government control of everything, and where on that spectrum we want our society to align.

You said earlier, (paraphrasing) I'm a grown-*** man and I can select my own food. I agree, and so can I. But what I can't do is be an expert in the cost/benefit analysis of every food additive out there. I can't be expert or take the time to learn about all the slowly accumulating health effects of petrochemical derivatives that make foods yellow, or yellower than the dyes in Europe (to use but one example).

At some point, I have to recognize that in our highly complex society, I will have to trust large, faceless organizations with some decisions that will affect my life. Those organizations can be either governmental, or private.

I tend to trust private organizations more, because I understand their motive: profit. And, I can choose or not choose to support them in their profit-seeking activities. I tend to trust bureaucratic institutions far less because their motivation almost always turns into self preservation, and their mission statements are almost always corrupted beyond recognition by what they actually do. They aren't accountable back to me, typically.

However, I also recognize that private organizations can damned well go off the rails while chasing profits, and the bigger the organization, the worse it can get. Also, the bigger the organization, the easier it is for them to hide any nefarious shenanigans from their customers.

So, there has to be some tension, some mechanism to keep private orgs in line. There also has to be some mechanisms, and even stronger ones, to keep governmental oversight orgs in line.

Right now, we have a gawdawful mess at places like the FDA because neither the FDA nor the orgs they are supposed to regulate on behalf of the people are being controlled.

So yes, I'm all for RFK Jr stepping in to try and clean up the mess. If it appears his solutions are nothing more than additional power for the FDA without also cleaning house at the FDA, then I'll be pretty damned mad at Trump and RFK Jr about it.

I understand, but you're walking in Bernie Sanders territory. He'd agree with everything you're saying.

 

[Mr. Deez]

Question for you guys who are cool with having a nanny at HHS, are you cool with having a Labor Secretary whose nomination is praised by Patty Murray and Randi F*ckin' Weingarten? Not just union friendly, but teacher union friendly.