Why do we keep having this same stupid conversation in so many different ways? Here we go with another stupid scheme for penalizing the excess-du-jour. Government stops corn subsidies, then I might believe the government is worried about soda and junk food consumption. Safeway is worried about the health of their employees? Safeway? Isn't that a grocery store? How about they put the dairy, meat, produce and whole grains in the front of the store instead of in the back past the soda, crap cereal, condensed soup and freezer sections? Perhaps they could stop putting candy isles and soda cases at toddler-eye level in the checkout lines. Maybe they could publish coupons for fresh veggies instead of crap-in-a-box-dinners.

Corporate America is concerned about the health of the American worker? Really? Maybe they could encourage people to take lunch breaks, leave at five, not take work on vacations. Possibly, they could increase the measly maternity leave that apparently ranks what, second from dead-last in the world? Maybe they could break off a little more vacation time.

So, now the government and Corporate America are going to be the champions of healthy lifestyle. If you believe that, you'll believe anything.

Produce is in the front of most stores. It's the first thing you see when you walk in of every store in my area. Dairy and meat are in the back only because they need to be refrigerated and putting a bunch of refrigerators in the front would be more difficult and costly. I think you are just one of those people who like to complain even when they don't have a good reason to. And who said anything about corporate america?

Great post Aldenwall! And you're rigth, candies and junk food are at kiddies eye level, and corporations aggressively advertize their junk food, particularly to children.

oops typo: should have been advertise.

TruetCollins:

Produce is in the front of most stores. It's the first thing you see when you walk in of every store in my area.

Produce in stores in my area is never in the front, way off to one side at best. Well, take that back. WalMart, of all places, has the produce isle in front. Haven't been in a Safeway in years, didn't even know they still had them, but Tom Thumb, Minyards and Krogers has them in the far, back corner, past soda, candy and cereal isles.

TruetCollins:

Dairy and meat are in the back only because they need to be refrigerated and putting a bunch of refrigerators in the front would be more difficult and costly.

First thing inside the door at our WalMart Supercenter is a deli case, freezer section right behind that, soda cases at every checkout, so it dosen't seem like that's a problem. I'm pretty sure the reason is to get you to walk through the store, even though you might only need a jug of milk. It's the same reason brand names are displayed on end caps, and eye-level shelves.

TruetCollins:

And who said anything about corporate america?

Safeway's CEO has an idea for reducing the cost of ensuring employees, didn't you read the article?

TruetCollins:

I think you are just one of those people who like to complain even when they don't have a good reason to.

Agreed that I like to complain, but I think my points are valid. The government wants to penalize fat people because it will increase tax revenues. Insurance companies want to do it because it will increase their profit margins. There's nothing wrong with making a profit. But telling us this is for helping America lose weight? That's like pissing on our heads and telling us its raining.

you're probably right about the refrigeration issue, though I'm surprised about the produce thing. I live in California, and the main entrance to every grocery store is always right into the produce section. "Safeway's CEO has an idea for reducing the cost of ensuring employees, didn't you read the article?" ----> Yes, I did read the article, it's just that Safeway is not even close to representing "corporate america". It seems an awfully big stretch to claim corporate america is doing something to you just because one single company (out of tens of thousands in America) decided to pitch their idea to congress. Blame the government if you want, but don't blame corporate america because of Safeway.

Oh, you're in California...that explains that statement about the produce sections. My knee-jerk reaction to stuff like this is that what, corporations are joining up with the government to modify our behavior. I know it's just Safeway, but the idea of companies having 'wellness plans' seems to be something I've heard more often lately and it pisses me off. Seriously, go look up 'nudge psychology' if you don't think this stuff is systematic and intentional.