On the lookout for parents

Thursday’s evening TV news reported on obesity in America, specifically on overweight children and teenagers. The root causes: fast-food restaurants, high-fructose corn syrup, “healthy” foods too costly, reduced physical activities at schools and children’s eating habits out of control.

Solutions included elimination of fast-food, drive-through windows, public education so children make better nutrition choices and become more physically active, and taxation of “fast foods” to reduce consumption.

Schools always get blamed for poor student achievement, and “society” is blamed for producing criminal offenders. Now the food industry and schools are blamed for being responsible for this “growing” problem.

Where are the parents in this equation? Show me the typical poor-performing student, and I will show you a parent(s) who have abdicated their role as the primary educator and trainer of their child. The same may be said for many parents of these obese children. Parents buy the food, provide daily meals and snacks and drive to fast-food restaurants.

Place the responsibility and accountability squarely where it belongs: parents. Don’t tax us any more, and don’t tell us how to eat. We’re adults, in charge of our lives and our own kids.

Richard M. Silva

Spokane