Groceries-LTE-Crowley

==Insights==
LTE printed in the Trib based on a column by
Dimitri Vassilaros about Philly's taxpayer-funded
supermarkets [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/
opinion/columnists/vassilaros/s_462865.html].
Dimitri's report summarized typical libertarian arguments against this kind
of state subsidy.
==Background==
The idea of "government groceries" sounds so much like
"government schools" that there have to be some parallels
between these two things. After an hour, and several
corny puns seasoned with a little ridicule, I had a first
draft.
The LTE follows below. I've been told that it is a little
too much for the casual reader, but I managed to do it
in 180 words so it was at least merciful.
===Public eatucation===
:Source, Source: July 25, 2006, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/letter/s_463220.html
With three state taxpayer-funded Fresh Grocer supermarkets
in Philadelphia ("Produce, pork & government chutzpah,"
Dimitri Vassilaros column, July 23 and PghTrib.com), it's
possible that government will soon do to groceries what it
did to education.
Imagine ...
Grocery boards, under state guidelines, regulate the makeup
and even customer requirements in each local grocery
district. They debate the shape of the food triangle by
arguing natural selection vs. intelligent selection of
foods.
Tax policies poison the economic climate for those citizens
who chose to home-feed themselves instead of stomaching
government groceries.
The feds, of course, jump on the foodwagon and plant a new
Cabinet-level Department of Groceries. This seeds an NEA
(National Eating Association), ripe with lobbyists who
cultivate an infestation of high-fat, low-yield,
improvement-resistant, government grocer unions.
Standardized menus blossom, but their delivered nutritional
contents wither. The state reacts by pruning nutritional
goals for citizens. You pay more green, yet feel more
unsatisfied.
If this future leaves you feeling empty, don't worry. The
state-mandated, lobbyist-approved, steamed vegetable medley
will fill the void. It will, no doubt, leave no flavor
behind.
Mark Crowley, Plum
==Links==
* Groceries
category:wellness