Sarah versus Huck

I've never been comfortable with Huckabee. Reason? I'm more a libertarian, he's more a social conservative. The No Labels Movement may chastise me for pointing this out, since labels don't serve any purpose other than to diminish the feeling of self-worth of the labeled. Labelling creates victims of the labelled class. When I feel the need to do good, I do it. When I don't, I don't. When asked to do good, there is a simple word that must be present in that request before I even consider the request. Can you guess what that one word might be?

So, Governor Mike Huckabee. Always willing to do the reasonable thing, and government is the tool of that reasonable thing. Just look at the kids in third grade! (I was the chubby cheeked kid in third grade. I mean, cheeks!) Both of my sons were "chubby" in grade school. Their mother was horrified. I told her to relax. I was 5'10" and 176 when I graduated from high school. When I graduated from college I was 6'00" and 184 pounds. The chubby was gone. How did that happen?

I don't know. And I don't know if I should have been part of a study on obesity. Which, again, begs a whole lot of questions. In a New York Daily News story, the writer refers to "studies" that show that less than half the kids are overweight, or obese. Which is pretty good, I think. But that's simply because I think of the Bell Curve and what percentage of the population lies under the first standard deviation. The Bell Curve would, under assumptions of normal distribution, tend to predict that two of three kids--or around there--would be included within the first standard deviation. That is, not so far from normal.

I've spent a lot of time with kids, coaching soccer, basketball, even chess, and the one thing I have noticed with kids, especially with the fatties, is that when they become adults it all makes sense. One of the hugest kids in my youngest's class turned out to be a great football player and trackster. Even ran the Fat Man Relays.

Earlier this year, my college roomie showed up and mocked me for my size. He bullied me. Ridiculed me. Then, after he left, I noticed something in the mirror as I walked down the hall that preceded me. It was my belly. So, I made the choice, and dropped forty pounds. I can take my shirt off when I'm working in the yard, again. (Still too white, but the previous image was unattractive,too. It was a personal step-up.) No longer Beached Whale. Liberated from my fattitude.

We must do something. We are always told so. If we don't do something, who will?

So, I have a problem with the ole Huckleberry.



I also have problems with Mitt. Massachusetts Health Care.

But there's a huge difference between Sarah and either of these guys. How do you learn what you are responsible for? Are you responsible for your choices, or not?



Huckabee had a stomach band. I mean, before the stomach band, this one one seriously large guy. Some people are cursed by their genes. You and I both know there are men and women out there who, try as they might, are not going to lose the weight you and I are able to lose. And nothing is worse than a fat man who isn't jolly. It's just ugly. One of my friends is close to 500 pounds. Hella cook. Enjoys his cooking and his eating. Do I worry for him? Yeah. He's like one stairclimb away from major infarction. I've talked with him about his weight, since I do care, and you can't help but notice. He's big and will always be. Just one of several examples of folks I know who are grossly obese.

Are there outliers then? Yes. One girl who was in my class from First Grade through high school was always a bit chubby. I met her one day on the bus as I was headed to PSU and she was headed to the Art Museum.

Beautiful? Man, oh man! What a change. From little porky-pie to goddess.

I don't buy all the "studies." What I do buy is the idea that you let people grow-up. And that, friends, is the difference between Sarah and Huck. Sarah thinks of you as adults. Huck? Not so much. Or, not so much that a little government in your life wouldn't be appreciated.