No fat people allowed: Only the slim will be allowed to dine in public!

"It has actually happened. Lawmakers have proposed legislation that forbids restaurants and food establishments from serving food to anyone who is obese (as defined by the State). Under this bill, food establishments are to be monitored for compliance under the State Department of Health and violators will have their business permits revoked.

House Bill 282 was introduced in the 2008 Mississippi legislative session on Friday by Representative W.T. Mayhall, Jr., a retired pharmaceutical salesman with DuPont-Merk. Its co-authors are Bobby Shows, a businessman, and John Read, a pharmacist.

The full text reads:

HOUSE BILL NO. 282


An act to prohibit certain food establishments from serving food to any person who is obese, based on criteria prescribed by the state department of health; to direct the department to prepare written materials that describe and explain the criteria for determining whether a person is obese and to provide those materials to the food establishments; to direct the department to monitor the food establishments for compliance with the provisions of this act; and for related purposes. Be it enacted by the legislature of the state of Mississippi:


SECTION 1.

(1) The provisions of this section shall apply to any food establishment that is required to obtain a permit from the State Department of Health under Section 41-3-15(4)(f), that operates primarily in an enclosed facility and that has five (5) or more seats for customers.

(2) Any food establishment to which this section applies shall not be allowed to serve food to any person who is obese, based on criteria prescribed by the State Department of Health after consultation with the Mississippi Council on Obesity Prevention and Management established under Section 41-101-1 or its successor. The State Department of Health shall prepare written materials that describe and explain the criteria for determining whether a person is obese, and shall provide those materials to all food establishments to which this section applies. A food establishment shall be entitled to rely on the criteria for obesity in those written materials when determining whether or not it is allowed to serve food to any person.

(3) The State Department of Health shall monitor the food establishments to which this section applies for compliance with the provisions of this section, and may revoke the permit of any food establishment that repeatedly violates the provisions of this section.


SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2008.


Should this pass, scales will appear at the door of restaurants, people with BMIs of 30 or higher wonâ??t be allowed to be served. And to comply with government regulations, restaurants will have to keep records of patrons' BMIs.

Is this a tongue-in-cheek bill, meant to point out how absurd the war on obesity has become? Or do lawmakers actually believe the myths that gluttony is the cause for obesity and that it is the governmentâ??s role to force people to eat and live how it deems best?

I called lead author, Rep. Mayhall, and asked if this was serious legislation or tongue-in-cheek to make a point. He kindly took a moment to answer my question while the legislature was in session. He said that while, regrettably, he doesnâ??t believe his bill will pass, this is serious. He wrote it, he said, because of the â??urgency of the obesity crisis and need for government action.â?� He hopes it will â??call attention to the serious problem of obesity and what it is costing the Medicare system.â?�

So, yes, this is for real and these elected officials actually believe this stuff.

The time is now for all Americans who value their freedom to eat, look, breathe and live their lives how they choose to unite!"

Junkfood Science: No fat people allowed: Only the slim will be allowed to dine in public!

So what do you all think about this?

Wow... I think that's completely ridiculous; it's discrimination. What if they wanted a salad? What if they're in the process of losing weight? What the fuck?

What if they're not fat, but very muscley and dense? My friend's a body builder, he's in great shape, kind of short, but his BMI is about 28, he's that muscley. What about these people? BMI is not a very accurate measurement of someone's health! You can be on the heavy side, and be fit. What about people with hormonal disorders, like Cushings, or other cortisol-related disorders?

It'll never pass... And if it does? Just wow.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This should be under the, "where do you think America is headed" forum.

Yeah it's an infringment on your personal rights. It will never pass.

weird haha.........i bet half the people voting on it ar fat so it probly wont pass

Isn't that astonishing? I'm all for both the proper use of government and for an end to the obesity crisis, but that's stepping over into privacy and exercise of free will and beyond the bounds of where governmental power ought to go. With that proposed bill, is the lawmaker also planning to then provide those deemed-obese people with referrals and support into weight loss programs, to bariatric surgeons, jaw-wiring clinics, and to gyms? Of course not. Is he going to legislate the fat, portion size and calorie content of restaurant food? Nope. (There might be a better place to address the obesity epidemic, though.) I know for sure he's not going to do something more constructive like educating restaurant staffs in preparing foods with healthier oils, lower sodium, and more nutritious food or providing more far-reaching nutritional information, diabetes prevention, or weight loss education. And he wouldn't for an instant consider certain types of tax credits for restaurants or food suppliers that exercise restraint in what they're serving to the public. THAT would be a real way of incenting change and yet leaving personal freedoms in place.

Mississippi is one of the states with the worst obesity problem in the U.S. if I remember what I read in a recent public health article correctly. It's also one of the states with the greatest poverty problem. (Poverty and obesity are often close companions, and that problem will likely get worse. Research is increasingly finding that poor folks can't afford the most nutritious, healthy foods.) I think everyone will have to attack that problem together, from parents to teachers to schools to doctors to restaurants, but I don't think that particular legislation is the key.

Thanks for sharing that, Reb. Very interesting.

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Originally Posted by affasd

weird haha.........i bet half the people voting on it ar fat so it probly wont pass

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Very true, most political men are definately NOT in the best shape.....unless you consider round a shape. Just look at Ted Kennedy ;) .



And thanks hun

The same logic is applied with smoking bans in restaurants and bars.

It's absolute discrimination. Decisions like this should be based on market conditions.

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Originally Posted by thcbongman

The same logic is applied with smoking bans in restaurants and bars.

It's absolute discrimination. Decisions like this should be based on market conditions.

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I wouldn't say that. They stopped that from second hand smoke, I cant stand that smell when I eat food.

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Originally Posted by SFGurrilla

I wouldn't say that. They stopped that from second hand smoke, I cant stand that smell when I eat food.

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Oooh, I bet you were one of those that were glad when the smoking ban went into effect!

It's the same concept, regulating restaurants to prevent them from contributing to the damage of it's citzens. It's about regulating citizens health. Bars and restaurants should decide themselves whether smoking should be allowed or not, based on demand. It's unfair to ban smoking in a place where smokers frequent for health reasons citizens choose to inflict upon themselves.

Hey Donnie, check your email!

EDIT: I think the smoking ban is absolutely ridiculous, especially in bars where it's soo common. I don't smoke cigs, nor will I ever, but I choose to go to places with cigarette smoking because it's my choice. It should always be up to the establishment to allow smoke or to not allow smoke. People can choose to go elsewhere if they don't want to be in a smoky environment.

Well shit. That means I'm fucked. No more resteraunt food for me.lol

I feel your pain kkiller. Time to hit the gym, fuck.

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Originally Posted by Purple Banana

Hey Donnie, check your email!

EDIT: I think the smoking ban is absolutely ridiculous, especially in bars where it's soo common. I don't smoke cigs, nor will I ever, but I choose to go to places with cigarette smoking because it's my choice. It should always be up to the establishment to allow smoke or to not allow smoke. People can choose to go elsewhere if they don't want to be in a smoky environment.

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i actually see things a little different, just the other day the state smoking ban went into effect here. And not that i mind so much because i dont smoke, but i agree and disagree with you. I think that smoking should be banned from certain types of restaurants, such as ones where the bar, and smoking customers are a small percentage of the patrons, which means most restaurants. Though i believe that smoking should still be allowed in bars and clubs. It is expected that certain places will have a smokey atmosphere and it should be up to the establishment to make that decision. Though for my state atleast, i was reading the frederick post, i read an article about it and it said that businesses that feel that banning customers from smoking inside the establishment would negatively afffect their business, in the way that they go from making money to losing money due to loss of business can apply for a special permit to get a 3 year waiver from having to comply with the ban. But they have to be able to prove it. So this basically means that clubs and bars that end up losing business over it can have inside smoking sections.

Oh yeah, I definitely agree with you on that- I really only meant bars and clubs, not restaurants. I generally never went to restaurants that allowed smoking and non-smoking sections, it wasn't appetizing...

I heard those permits are extremely difficult to get, as well as very expensive, and knowing Maryland's legislative hisroty, it's gonna be difficult for those places to prove they're losing business. It's an uphill battle for 'em.

...



RON PAUL!!!

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Originally Posted by couch-potato

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RON PAUL!!!

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Amen, brother! :thumbsup:

If they ban fat people from eating in restaurants in Mississippi, of all places, every restaurant in the state will go out of business. The idea is absurd.

Although, I think the idea of scales at the door is not a bad idea. It could form the basis of a new way to charge for the all-you-can-eat buffet. Instead of a flat rate where everyone pays the same, they could weigh you on the way in and weigh you on the way out, then charge you by the pound. Whenever I go to one of those places I feel like I am paying the same as some guy who would be banned in Mississippi, and no matter how hard I try, there no way I can cram as much food down my gullet as he can.

The smoking ban is a totally different thing. Smoking is a hazard and nuisance to other patrons and to the employees. I was glad when the smoking ban went into effect here in California, and it must have been more than 10 years ago. I don't think it has affected business. We still have plenty of restaurants, and bars here! I worked at a brew pub that had a no-smoking policy in effect years before the ban, and everyone loved it --- the place actually smelled great and the food tasted better.

PWNED

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Originally Posted by dragonrider

If they ban fat people from eating in restaurants in Mississippi, of all places, every restaurant in the state will go out of business. The idea is absurd.

Although, I think the idea of scales at the door is not a bad idea. It could form the basis of a new way to charge for the all-you-can-eat buffet. Instead of a flat rate where everyone pays the same, they could weigh you on the way in and weigh you on the way out, then charge you by the pound. Whenever I go to one of those places I feel like I am paying the same as some guy who would be banned in Mississippi, and no matter how hard I try, there no way I can cram as much food down my gullet as he can.

The smoking ban is a totally different thing. Smoking is a hazard and nuisance to other patrons and to the employees. I was glad when the smoking ban went into effect here in California, and it must have been more than 10 years ago. I don't think it has affected business. We still have plenty of restaurants, and bars here! I worked at a brew pub that had a no-smoking policy in effect years before the ban, and everyone loved it --- the place actually smelled great and the food tasted better.

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LOL. The buffet line would have a lot more damn food in it, i'd open a chince buffet if the bill came into play in that aspect lol

The concept of the smoking section just doesn't work when the whole establishment shares the same air and ventilation systems. I worked at a company that had clients in Asia, so our president occaisionally flew on a 10 hour flight to Tokyo. The Asian airline he used allowed smoking, so he paid extra for a non-smoking seat. When he got on the plane, everyone around him was smoking.

He called over the flight attendant and said, "Excuse me, I am supposed to have a non-smoking seat."

She said, "Yes, that is right. YOU cannot smoke!"

I read on another site that the senator had no intention at all of proposing this bill, I guess he just made it up for the hell of it....

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Originally Posted by youngturk3389

I read on another site that the senator had no intention at all of proposing this bill, I guess he just made it up for the hell of it....

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Maybe he checked his BMI and decided to hold off until he finished his Jenny Craig program.

Does this mean Fatty Arbuckles will have to change it's name?

Haha this IS astonishing, contradictory law, ffs. Bill of rights! God damn these idiots :-(


Peace,
Denial

you crazy americans!

"I'm sorry sir you're just too fat!"

bawahahaha

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Originally Posted by denial102

"I'm sorry sir you're just too fat!"

bawahahaha

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"May I show you to the treadmill lounge while your family dines?"

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Originally Posted by McLeodGanja

Does this mean Fatty Arbuckles will have to change it's name?

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Ha ha! Skinny Arbuckle's just doesn't have the same ring.

Maybe the chubby Mississippians should just cross the river for Fat Tuesday!

What about restaurant owners?
Will they be forced to sell their business if they reach a certain weight?
Does this apply to those hot dogs that roll around at the gas station?
Are they trying to save money on school lunch programs?
Are the scale companies funding this?

personally i think this is just as justified as the smoking ban. which is to say not at all, but i said it wouldnt stop with shitty smoking bans totally stripping personal freedoms away and i guess this proves me right. personally id rather dealing with smelling smoke than looking at fat people, it doesnt bother me as much, but of course i think the law is absurd and fat people should be able to eat where ever they want.

This brings our country to a whole new level of absurdity.

It Wont pass...Restraunts would take a seriously huge loss if Fat People wern't allowed to eat in public.What about Drive throughs?

[I]This brings our country to a whole new level of absurdity.[I]

It does. And it will.

W.T. Mayhall is one of the Good Old Boys who proposed this bill. He is from Mississippi:

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Representative Mayhall is a member of Horn Lake Masonic Lodge 617, Horn Lake Chamber of Commerce, Southaven Chamber of Commerce, and the Civil War Preservation Trust. (bold mine)

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They outlawed racial segregation in the South, years ago and he probably misses it. Since they can't do that anymore, a new from of restaurant banning would probably give him and his buddies a nice, warm, nostalgic feeling of discrimination by continuing their proud tradition of keeping a segment of the population out of restaurants.

Ha!

This country is run by crackheads.


In my racist-assed (last time I got warned for saying cracker!??!?!!?) bible belt state, a senator is trying to get a bill passed

To make "sagging of pants" a crime. Pants must not be too baggy or worn below the waist.

This obesity mess doesn't surprise me either...

Birdgirl, there also seems to be a correlation with education level and obesity. Both Miss and SC are bottom of the barrel in education, and lead the way in obesity.

I laugh every time some fool jokes about freedom...

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Originally Posted by xcathix

you crazy americans!

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hahaha:thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by xcathix

you crazy americans!

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Don't laugh too hard skippy, Canada and Europe are soon to follow. If I remember correctly, the United States isn't the fattest country. It's Germany.