Nancy Reagan used her powers of persuasion in her capacity as First Lady to get us all to “just say ‘no [1]‘” to drugs. Now everyone knows that crack is whack, and only losers are users. Drug use is now the exclusive province of entertainers who take drugs purely for their value as entertainment [2] to us. Barbara Bush focused like a laser beam on literacy [3], and taught a nation to read. The fact that you’re able to read this now is proof of her success in that endeavor. Hillary Clinton delivered on her promise of providing affordable and effective healthcare [4] to every citizen, regardless of income level or pre-existing condition. Laura Bush focused like a laser beam on literacy [5], and taught a nation to read. The fact that you’re able to read this now is proof of her success in that endeavor.
We’ve been waiting for over a year to discover what weighty issue our current First Lady, Michelle Obama, would eliminate. And now we know, she is bringing her considerable persuasive heft to convince us all that we need to stop being so fat [6].
Her first weapon in this endeavor is her White House garden [7]. Mrs. Obama understands that nothing inspires Americans more than a privileged woman tending a small garden while living on a fabulous estate with servants catering to her every need. That is why Martha Stewart has so many followers on twitter [8].
Already the citizens are stirring, as small gardens are popping up on the fabulous estates of wealthy women all over the country. Also, some city parks [9]. Our average weights are starting to decline.
Mrs. Obama’s next weapon is a catchy, concise slogan. “Let’s Move [10]” is as memorable as “Just say ‘no.'” It sticks in the head because it reminds people that “moving” is essential to losing weight, and that we all have to do it. It’s easy to forget to move. The slogan has the added bonus of subliminally reminding people of Mrs. Obama’s garden, where “let’s” = “let us” = “lettuce.” Lettuce is good for you.
Lettuce move!
Her next weapon is perhaps her most powerful: her own husband. She got him to sign [11] a document in which he bravely came out against childhood obesity. This bold stand by the president gives extra weight to her “Let’s Move” endeavor. The president moved his pen, so we can move, too.
Can you feel the pounds melting away?
Perhaps just as helpful as the slogan and the garden will be the new FDA regulations. For instance, making food packaging [12] more “consumer friendly” will be helpful to those for whom the slogan “Let’s Move” might be too sophisticated. And, while many people have gotten fat because they’ve been forgetting to move, many others have gotten fat because they’ve been inadvertently eating candy bars that they mistook for celery stalks. Making food labeling easier to understand is definitely going to clear up that confusion.
Offering tax breaks [13] to convince grocery stores to open in “food deserts” is also going to help lower our collective weight. Grocery stores offer nothing but nutritious fare, which is why we need more of them. And as we all know, using the government to provide financial incentives for people to move into areas they normally wouldn’t is always a good idea.
Then there’s the gentle reminders to forgetful children that they should exercise for an hour a day [14]. For a long time, people wondered why it was that Arnold Schwarzennegger, in his capacity as the chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness during the first Bush administration, was unable [15] to convince kids to exercise. The answer, of course, was that he was never First Lady. It’s not until the spouse of a president goes after an issue that it ever really gets taken care of.
And now that Mrs. Obama has taken on this issue, I look forward to a future that is not plagued by the menace of fat kids.
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Ricky Sprague [18]
Latest posts by Ricky Sprague (Posts [22])
- Meet the start-ups that are thriving in the current economic recovery [23] - May 27, 2016
- How a Wonder Woman comic from 1942 led to the Great California Cow Exodus of 2012, maybe [24] - November 28, 2012
- A common-sense approach to restoring economic prosperity [25] - November 19, 2012
- New Philip K. Dick novel too absurd to be believed [26] - September 17, 2012
- My 90 Days, 90 Reasons submission [27] - September 12, 2012