Health care and our food system

This just in: the master (p) of writing for eyes of the elite of the food system movement, M. Pollan himself, published a little rhyme in the NY Times in response to President Obama's speech last night:

"But so far, food system reform has not figured in the national conversation about health care reform. And so the government is poised to go on encouraging America’s fast-food diet with its farm policies even as it takes on added responsibilities for covering the medical costs of that diet. To put it more bluntly, the government is putting itself in the uncomfortable position of subsidizing both the costs of treating Type 2 diabetes and the consumption of high-fructose corn syrup.

Why the disconnect? Probably because reforming the food system is politically even more difficult than reforming the health care system. At least in the health care battle, the administration can count some powerful corporate interests on its side — like the large segment of the Fortune 500 that has concluded the current system is unsustainable." Full article online here.

Good work! So after we figure out how to get fresh food into underserved communities, we'll work on national food system change legislation. Or can we do that at the same time? I'll add it to our list.