Wake Up, Look Up

Hello everyone, and thanks for listening to Wake Up, Look Up, a podcast where we connect events happening in real time to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm Zach Weihrauch, and in today's episode, we're asking the question, should the government fund obesity? Now, this is prompted by an article I read in the Washington Post called the number one food stamps buy is a travesty. Now, states can say no. Food stamps, of course, is the government program that allows people below a certain income line to be able to purchase food on the government's dime. Of course, governments have a, responsibility to care for their citizens. And the idea here is, is that those who are of lower income shouldn't be allowed to starve in a wealthy country like ours. So the government issues food stamps. the argument is really not over whether food stamps are legitimate, at least not in this arc in this article. The argument instead is over whether or not states should have a say in what a person buys with their food stamps. So, for example, this is pretty surprising. One in every four dollars spent on food stamps in the United States. So, meaning a person goes to the store, they're going to use their SNAP card in. Every $4 goes to sugary drinks, snacks or candy totaling. And hear this, $25 billion annually is spent on junk on the government's dime. And what is increasingly becoming true is that states are saying, that's crazy, we don't want to pay for that. In fact, 30 states, both red and blue, I might add, Democrat and Republican, are now working to restrict junk food purchases with SNAP saying, hey, it's one thing if you're gonna buy produce or meat or bread, things that are actually good for you, we don't mind paying for those. We are not going to subsidize your sweet tooth or your bad habits. The result of this is that 18 million Americans will soon face limitations on what they can use their SNAP card for. And of course, what states are arguing is that this will be good for them. It'll reduce obesity, chronic disease, negative things that come from unhealthy diets. 78% of people on SNAP benefits, by the way, are also on Medicaid. Meaning if they eat junk food, $25 billion worth, and then have health crisis, the government is also paying for that. In fact, $60 billion, a little more than $60 billion was paid for obesity related healthcare costs in the United States for people on Medicaid. Now, some people will push back and say, hey, this is a personal freedom issue. People should have the right to Buy the food that they want to eat. Of course, the argument is not on the government's dollar. So how should we think about this? Well, I think these states are absolutely right. Because if the argument of food stamps is that governments have a responsibility to care for their citizens and even to keep them safe, and allowing them to go hungry is not keeping them safe. Well, neither is allowing them to destroy themselves through unhealthy eating habits. Look, people can eat however they want to eat if they're paying for it. But if the government is paying for it, then they have the right to say no. And I think here they're right. Listen, the writer of Proverbs, Proverbs 19:2 says this desire without knowledge is not good. And whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. The point here is this. If the desire is to help people, then what the data is telling us, the knowledge is telling us, is that we aren't doing that. In fact, what we're subsidizing is unhealthy choices to that are actually ruining their lives. Look, a simple life principle exists here. I sometimes, not often, will take my family out to eat. I have five kids, so eating at Chick Fil A is going to cost me a hundred dollars. But there's a pretty simple rule. If dad is paying, I get a veto over what you might order. I have a 17 year old son. That means only one chicken sandwich, not two. Even though he would like a second one. He can pay for a second one, but I'm not going to. Some days I feel generous. I'll let you get a milkshake. Some days I don't. You're not getting a milkshake. The choice is mine. I'm the one paying for it. And of course the choice is also their mothers. Who's the one who makes sure they're eating healthy. The principle here is pretty simple. If you're looking to me to provide, then I have to use wisdom on what provision looks like the government should not be leading people to destroy themselves. That is not compassion. It is possible to want to help someone so bad you actually hurt them. And that's what's happening here. And I'm glad that states are saying we're not doing it anymore. And I'm glad that they're saying that in a bipartisan way. Because health is not a Republican or Democrat issue. And a government caring for its citizens and not harming them is not a Republican or Democrat Democrat issue. This is the kind of thing we should be able to work together on. It's the kind of thing that reflects a biblical approach to compassion and not an enabling one. Hey, thanks for watching this episode of Wake Up, Look Up. If you enjoyed it, please help us get the word out by sharing it with someone you think might benefit from it. And while you're here, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get further content or even download the CCC app, where you'll find even more resources to help you grow in your faith and relationship with Jesus Christ.

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