Some food statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says in 1919 American families spent 36 percent of their budgets on food. That percentage remained the same in 1947.

“As Americans became wealthier that portion fell to 29 percent in 1966; 23 percent in 1979, and 18 percent in 1998. Most recently, Americans average just 12 percent of their budgets on food both consumed at home and out at restaurants.”

http://reason.com/blog/2012/08/23/why-do-americans-waste-so-much-food

Link at maggiesfarm; reason.com commenting on a story from the National Resources Defense Council recommending national food wastage reduction targets, said targets to be established by your friend and mine, the Federal Government.

A couple of things: In 1919, food delivery system was what we would consider Third World. Railroads and horse-drawn wagons delivered all food that was not grown at home. Roads were dirt. Almost all families outside large cities had a garden in which to grow a goodly percentage of their food. In many towns, people kept a cow for milk, and a hog and/or calf to be butchered for meat.

As a whole, Americans eat too much and do not make healthy choices. The key there is “choices.” Those who want the government deciding what and how much you will eat often toss out numbers of billions of dollars that will be spent nationally on health problems caused by obesity bad eating habits. Those people will try and make you believe your money will be spent caring for fat people. With a national hospital insurance, that might be accurate.

Here’s the thing. Freedom has a price. Always has, always will. Freedom to choose one’s food means some people will die earlier than they should. But they made a choice as free people.