Li The ironic thing about your comments is that being overweight IS a huge problem for families, for communities and states, for the country. It DOES destory lives (end them, even), and it's costs the government and your fellow citizens tons of money in terms of dealing with the medical repercussions, and their cost to insurence premiums and health care. My wife, a nurse, has seen the same people come in for multiple knee replacements because they are too fat and they ruin them, at great cost to insurence companies and the people they service. She's seen all kinds of results to being overweight. Further, many of the makers of certain types of food are EXACTLY getting rich off of products that destroy bodies...junk foods, fast food, etc., are famous for the controversy, poor health, etc., that they bring. You are completely missing the point!

Redpenguin You have made some assumptions about drug use that are not entirely accurate.  First of all, drugs themselves do not destroy people's lives or the community, it's the irresponsible and excessive use of drugs that do.  Just because a few people are alcoholics doesn't mean that everyone is (or that it can't be used responsibly for that matter).  Those who need help should get it in a medical facility rather than wasting money on jail.  Physicians have long considered addiction to be a medical, not a legal, problem.  Second, those who sell drugs are not responsible for deteriorating a community.  They are in fact the bi-product of a bad domestic policy called "The War on Drugs."  Think about it this way, in the 1970's the Controlled Substance Act was established.  By the truth is there is nothing 'controlled' about it, especially when considering sales.  The criminalization of drugs enabled massive profit gains to individuals which in turn created a black market which is NOT taxed or REGULATED.  In high schools, it is easier to pick up a bag of weed than it is to get some alcohol because in contrast, alcohol and tobacco sales are really the only one's that have regulated sales.  Finally, you say all these comparisons to food are not plausible.. well come to America and see what eating disorders really are.  Drug addiction and food addiction can be just as deadly as the other.  It's just like the Taoist philosophy preaches, we must seek balance in the natural world.  "Too much of a good thing, is never a good thing." We will never completely stop drug use.  But we can stop criminalizing the patients physicians consider to be ill.  I personally think that we could be way more effective letting addicts pay for their own treatment (rather than using tax-payer dollars for prison) and in turn use the extra money for properly educating the youth. 

Kaaskop Edited by MvdG: lets not insult people here. What's more, it has been put in context. We're all aware of it. That doesn't mean you can't debate about - is being overweight comparable to being a drug addict? Some, as you can see in this thread, agree, others disagree.

Dan Drugs are more destructive than bad eating habits. agreed. but that is not really the issue at hand.  The author assumes the Feds can have a positive impact and as the drug war has been going on for 20 years with virtually no impact, I conclude that the author's assumption is mistaken.

Mick Russom If you want the standard of living you are used to to exist, and you to be paid in real money, vote for Ron Paul. If you do not, well, the 1900's are filled with examples on what a faltering currency and war does to countries.