It’s generally accepted, including by me, that we should all be personally accountable for our actions and choices.

However, I think that at times we assume that there is actual free choice when there isn’t any. For instance, the rising obesity problem in the U.S. is estimated to cost over $100 billion dollars for taxpayers.

Many look at the problem and think it’s unfair for the taxpayer to shoulder the cost of someone else’s choice to eat poorly and not exercise enough. However, many lower-income people have little choice in the area of what to eat, most restaurants being fast food. Further, if they work long hours for low pay, they often only have the time and money to feed their family with the worst food because it’s the fastest and the cheapest. Also, we have evolved in an environment where salt and sugar is rare, so we biologically get cues to gorge, essentially, when we encounter those flavors. And, of course, fast and junk foods trigger just those taste buds.

Given the above situation, who is personally accountable – the poor trying to feed their family, or the companies flooding them with these options? Is it the government for subsidizing the basic components of these foods?

When we claim that something is “their choice” or/and therefore “their fault,” in what situations are we failing to look past the person and see other causes?

Topics: America, corporations, advertising, freedom, choice, obesity, accountability