Food pyramid power

Apparently the food pyramid is coming in for some criticism from within the government for failing to accomplish its goals, which it clearly has, and may be replaced, which is fine.

However, I just couldn't help laughing at this:

Most Americans are familiar with the federal Food Guide Pyramid - but a lot of people don't understand how to use it.

Too many are confused by the recommendations and can't figure out how to implement them. The proof, Agriculture Department officials say, is that two out of three Americans are fat.

Um, no, actually. The fact that we're fat almost certainly has more to do with the fact that we don't really care what the government has to say about our eating habits. I know this may be difficult for certain people to believe, but even with perfect knowledge, people will continue to engage in activities that are causally implicated in less than ideal health, such as eating cheeseburgers, say, or drinking alcohol, or fucking. Why? Because they're fun and people enjoy them and think they're worth the inherent health risk. The problem, if you consider this to be a problem, isn't lack of knowledge or understanding, it's that people have different priorities than certain authorities think they should have. And we are fortunate enough to live in a nation where the government can (so far) only recommend dietary strictures to us, not enforce them. So, enjoy your freedom! Have a cheeseburger, or a margarita, or some really good oral sex. You may not postpone the grave quite as long as you might have, but it'll be a heck of a lot more fun getting there.