Gee Don, your opening salvo takes a broad swipe at Republicans, - then you go on to blast all Americans?

Who are your APPROVED people?

The great disconnect in your 'logic' is that you want people to eat 'better' – so they'll live longer.

But that means they'll be on Social Security and Medicare longer – and both funds are wicked close to being bankrupt. With China exercising their first aircraft carrier, and building more, - they may be in no mood to lend us more money to keep elderly Americans alive...

Taxing the rich was the campaign theme of 2012, but it will only fund the government for about 16 days. You have a monetary solution, or just a gluten-free one?

The obesity % is a total farce and doesn't take into account any other health KPI other than weight, which is ridiculous. There are many other factors involved in life span besides what you eat.

Also it has shown that nutritionally speaking "organic" foods are no more healthy for you than traditional foods you may buy. Last time I checked man kind had eaten all manner of foods over the past 10 or 12 millennia. Should you eat Yodels all day? No, should you deprive yourself of meats, no. What people need to do is just be sensible with their own metabolism and portion control.

Anyone can be considered obese depending on how you want to massage the numbers.

On a personal level Don you can do what you like in your kitchen. However, to wrap your own food choices into some kind of "progressive" social engineering project and paint those that disagree with you as backwards or (gasp! Republicans, those dastardly people who fight against the kind of collectivist programs which I bet you would support) is both foolish, wrong and a little dangerous.

Well, what can I say? I am not obese, I eat meat (love, love, love it), I eat Pizza, not a junk food as most think by the way, but a well-rounded meal containing grain, veggies and dairy. I admire vegetarians and vegans, but I do not subscribe to those who think they have the answer to a healthier and happier life. I am healthy, I am happy, I like veggies (greens especially), but I love meat and guess what ... I am not a republican, not a democrat, not a liberatarian, just an every-day good ol' girl who likes to chomp and chew just about anything put in front of me. Do as you wish Mr. Brown and enjoy yourself as I will tonight as I down a delicious shank of lamb braised in tomatoes with a side of broccoli rappi, a side of rice pilaf and a fantastic glass (or 2) of Zinfandel, completely ignoring your lecture. Leave me alone!

And PS Mr. Brown ... How'd you get so smart?

I did not ask "why", I asked "how" ... good blog, but just a blog. Informative, yes, but it is still up to the individual to decide his/her preference. To be sure, I strongly consider that moderation in all things is key to a satisfactory life. A little of this, a bit of that, not too much of anything, keeping an open mind and never forcing opinions on others while actually respecting others' choices. It is good to be informed but I do not let information alone form my decisions, I go by how I feel and what I truly enjoy. While I chided you, I hope you realize that I genuinely do respect your choices and hope you can afford those of us who do not totally agree with you the same, and not label us.

You're probably right Mike. Michele's cause has never inspired me ... there are just so many more important challenges that could have inspired a First Lady ... but who am I to judge, just a stubborn girl from the Bronx with a big mouth.

I can see you have posted this nonsense on the Nashua Patch as well.. Seriously-- is this a joke? We have real issues in this area-- and if you don't live in Chelmsford-- don't post on our Patch.. We don't care.

Andrew- With all due respect, you are wrong. Let' save the Patch for serious hyper local issues. This seems like rantings from a militant vegan that has nothing to do with Chelmsford at all. Its just silly and I can't believe this is what our Patch is turning into..

I agree with you Iron Mike, there are a lot of folks like that around, which is scary.
I am disappointed in the way the Patch is being handled since the switch in editors- just my opinion. The attitude and news judgement has changed. So I will move on to another news source. However, your posts have always been on the money in my book, Iron Mike!

While not a comment on this particular editorial, I do need to agree with Jules. The Chelmsford Patch does seem to have become much less "local" over the past few months. It wouldn't be an issue if these items from other towns were in addition to the same level of local coverage, but I feel like we're seeing more from other towns replacing what was previously coverage of items from Chelmsford.

Andrew, I just moved here from Tewksbury and now also follow the Chelmsford patch. I agree that it wouldn't make sense to censor non-Chelmsford centric materials from The Patch particularly with regard to editorial contributors. There are many external topics and subjects which do affect Chelmsford. Things that happen around the town or around the nation/world do impact the local community.

To have a Patch that wrote exclusively about hyper local issues like pot hole filling would be in the long run a disservice.

Christian

I have asked two editors for guidelines regarding who can be a local voice, but I have not yet received a reply. They do tend to be very busy people. There is no Patch in my hometown, so at first I just posted to the closest one. Then I saw that a few other bloggers were posted across the state, so my guess is that it has been left up to each editor to decide what they would like to do. Each editor might be looking for a good mix of issues, so that there was not too much about the presidential election, and not too much about pot holes.
I do not want to destroy the town flavor that each Patch has, but I do like to be posted at multiple Patches. Hopefully I will be able to save someone from a heart attack, or at least provide some entertainment as the person that you love to hate.

Andrew - In no way need I intend to offend you. I was very careful not to use your name or your position, but rather stated a fact regarding what has happened. It is not meant to be a reflection on your work or your effort. I don't believe we need to be hyper-local and actually enjoy seeing information from the surrounding area as well. Maybe it is the decision makers at the Patch that need to see this string and understand that they've done a disservice not only to their readers but to their team members who are being asked to take on that much more.

Question for Tyler Jozefowicz:

Why do Democrats [you in this case] always feel they can tell other people what they can and can't say? Who appointed you to the Word Police?

There are a LOT of Americans who hold very negative feelings toward BOTH the Obamas - and who feel Michelle is the most vile and un-American First Lady in history. I'm one of them. Her 'work on behalf of military families' is STRICTLY political show business. I'm old enough to see through it.

Tyler ... FYI, my family is military and I can tell you that I personally tried to get assistance from our first lady and have never received an answer. The matter I needed help with was of a grave nature and neither she or Tsongas extended help and were it not for Scott Brown, who lead me in the correct direction and followed through, I'd never have seen the light of day, thank you very much. I receive military spouse newsletters and the first I heard of Michele's involvement with the military was one in which she met with wives of men being deployed to boost their morale, which is certainly a very nice gesture. I can tell you that morale boosting is a very big objective of the military already so while I appreciate that effort on her part, it seemed superfluous to me. Please do not attack me or accuse me of rudeness or imply that I have nothing nice to say ... that is untrue. I simply stated that there are many worthwhile causes to work on and that although I see a need for educating the young on proper nutrition I feel it is the responsibility of parents and care givers to determine what is best for their children and that this was a very easy project for Michele to undertake. I make no apologies for my beliefs as I am entitled to them, as are you and I will vocalize them wherever and whenever my voice carries ... same as you. We cannot all agree all the time, and I never intend rudeness or insult, as you have to me in the past and in this present comment.

Tyler, the article was about what we shouldn't EAT. Princess Michelle has just spent four (4) years telling Americans what they shouldn't EAT. I'm sorry that connection was lost on you.

I assumed your party affiliation because like most Democrats - you tried to tell another free American what to say, - even how to say it.

Then you told Don 'Forward!'... What other conclusion might I draw? Socialist Party? Workers Party? You're out there on the left fringe somewhere...

Cool it Tyler ... I don't call names and I certainly did take your comment as an assault upon my character. Knock off the nastiness, it's very unnecessary, and be gracious enough to accept that we all have diverse opinions. Also, Tyler, I do clearly remember unsavory remarks from you in the past and you continue to seek battle. I don't ... I just state things as I see them. You are perfectly within your right to disagree without attacking. (I prefer Merry Christmas, but thank you for your wishes, if they are truly meant.)

OK ... Promise?

Tyler,
A re-cap of your comments
Anna: Michelle also champions military families. Any issue with that? Like your tactic: insult people,then semi-apologize. Advice- keep it positive. You know the saying:"if you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything at all."
...Don: appreciate you posting. keep in mind that you have entered a right wing nest here in Chelmsford, an abnormality for the State, Although Obama took Chelmsford with 9606 votes. Foward!
It seems to me you also jumped at the chance to insult people who may disagree with Mr. Brown and then insult someone who with good reason connected the first lady with the position. I have no idea what your party affliliation is, nor do I care, but please do not lecture others for the same thing you do as well.

...

The Mass regional editor for Patch only wants people to post here that live close by, but I will still post all over New Hampshire.
I was blown away by the NSA whistleblower. You should see this at the Nashua Patch, http://nashua.patch.com/blog_posts/the-governments-file-on-you and from now on please look for me at the New Hampshire Patches or at my website.
Thank you, Don Brown (TheGreaterReality.com)