So the latest uproar I’ve heard today involves this:
Yup, that’s right, THAT is an automated mashed potatoes & gravy dispenser that can be found in 7-Elevens around the world (for whatever reason they are particularly popular in Singapore).
Here’s what it looks like in action:
As you know, I am a huge proponent of living a healthful lifestyle – I believe in daily exercise, eating right and getting plenty of sleep. Those three things are the legs of the stool that I believe you can place your goals for a happy life upon. You would expect that I would find this mashed potato dispenser to be an abomination, a crime against humanity waiting to happen. Many of the 7-Elevens that offer this product, bundle it with a soda that is bigger than your head, all for the low, low price of about $2. After your tub of instant mashed potatoes & gravy and your barrel of colored sugar water, I am sure you will have taken in the recommended intake of sodium and sugar to last you a week.
If this comes to America, the fat will simply get fatter…and fatter…and fatter.
I should be outraged.
I should be angry.
I should be writing to my Congressman.
But you know what?
I say bring ’em. Bring ’em here by the thousands. Put them in every single 7-Eleven in this country. Place them in a prominent place in the store so that those who “need” their mashed potatoes and big gulp don’t have to walk as far or burn any more precious calories. I say decorate them with flashing lights and even give it out for free for the first month to get people hooked on the sodium/sugar delivery package. Hell, even offer curbside service so that people don’t have to actually exert themselves to get this over-sized package of empty calories.
Why do I want this?
Because I believe in Natural Selection. Do you?
I am cracking up here. When people say I must be able to eat whatever I want it drives me crazy. They don’t know all the hard work I put in at the gym and on the road and the fact that I so rarely eat crap food.
I think people should be free to eat what they want, rather than the government telling them what they can and can’t eat.
I think folks should be free to make their own choices. The government telling people what they can and can’t eat is a slippery slope.
Matt –
Once upon a time I would have completely disagreed with you, however, as I get a little older, I find that in the end, people need to make their own choices – decisions made internally are much more meaningful than ones forced upon you. I would however like to see companies fully disclose what is in their product (whether it be food or furniture or building material…) so that people could make informed decisions. People are lazy and that being the case they are not going to go looking for what is in every little thing they consume. Part of the government’s job, in my opinion, is to protect its people from unnecessary harm. Telling people what they can and cannot eat is a slippery slope – however, doing the dirty work of researching and labeling products I believe would go a long way to making our nation a healthier one. Once people know WHAT they are consuming, if they then decide to continue to do harm to themselves, well, that is their right…and in most cases, they will leave this planet before I do.
The one caveat I would throw in there is that there has to be a way to compensate so that you and I don’t have to pay extra health costs because someone refused to see the light. I don’t know what the answer is there, except maybe attach their lips permanently to the Mashed Potato Spigot and turn it on full blast (with extra gravy and butter).
Mmm mash potatoes. Just kiddin’
Where’s the Double-Down vending machine?
exactly.
that was misplaced. sorry.
I agree. Bring ’em on. But I think that they should be HEAVILY TAXED, as I don’t want to have to pay for their 5th bypass surgery…
Hi luau, great post! I’ve never thought of it that way before. 🙂 you make a very good point. In the UK here we don’t pay health insurance, however we do pay taxes for the health service and usually get whatever treatment we need free. So I’m sensible and intelligent enough to be fit and healthy and I’m paying for millions of people who smoke drink and eat to excess. Makes me feel very glad I’m who I am and I do what I do but I do wonder why people, smoke, drink and eat to excess, and why I’m paying for it! Keep on posting great content x
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We have Maggi in India, but I haven’t seen the potato dispenser anywhere! Genius. I love how in Edinburgh I could pretty much find a baked potato on any corner (being gluten-free it was very helpful). But it was a real potato and we were walking all day, every day, so I indulged.
I agree that part of the problem with the health issues is the lack of consumer information. The ingredients of everything (maybe even the source country of each ingredient) should be clearly posted so eaters can make informed choices. The health insurance for a company I used to work for would offer cash bonuses for things like quitting smoking and losing weight. That’s great for those people, but what do I get for being a fit non-smoker to begin with? I still got stuck with ridiculous co-pays for emergencies and routine checkups.