By Bonnie Erbe
Scripps Howard News Service

Let's see here: the United States is in the midst of its first and certainly most widespread obesity epidemic. Congress is considering a ban on junk food in public schools.

And some, particularly Republicans, are thinking about opposing the measure? Shame on them!

The Obama administration, in one of its better moves, is trying to lead the nation away from junk food and toward fitness, by law and by example.

First lady Michelle Obama, as we all know, planted an organic garden at the White House as soon as her ultra-fit family moved in. She even keeps a beehive at the mansion for fresh, local honey.

She is in the midst of launching a wider movement to educate all American families that they should be raising their children on fresh fruits and vegetables and giving up junk food. The president is following with revisions in child nutrition legislation that would bar junk food in public schools.

I am a government minimalist in the sense that I believe government should do only that which individuals cannot do for themselves.

I do believe the government must maintain a strong military as that is something individuals cannot do alone. Similarly, environmental regulation and preservation is something an individual cannot take on solo. Building roads, educating the nation, all fall into program areas I support.

I am disinclined to step in and use taxpayers' funds to provide services people can and should be able to take care of by themselves: health care insurance as a major example.

But what I cannot fathom, is opposition to a law that would train America's kids to eat healthier foods, help slow the rate of childhood obesity, and in the end, ring up a much lower tab for the nation's health care system.

As Michelle Obama said in formally announcing her anti-obesity effort, childhood obesity rates are now three times what they were in 1980.

And obesity is the most frequent factor used in disqualifying applicants to serve in the military ― that at a time when the military is falling behind in filling the requisite number of slots.

Who could oppose efforts to stem this epidemic? Are there free-market objections? There should be none for several reasons.

First, even the soda industry is softening its objection to the legislation, ``in part because the Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo now sell far more than Coke and Pepsi. So instead of having to yank vending machines from schools, the companies could replace offerings with bottled water or juice." (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/health/nutrition/08junk.html?hpw)

And quite frankly, if the so-called free market wants to make money by poisoning children and increasing this horrendous epidemic, then free market be damned!

Next, are there cost objections? Yes, it costs more money to feed fresh food than it does to feed fried foods and carbohydrate-laden meats and sweets.

According to the New York Times: ``The administration has proposed spending $1 billion more each year on the $18 billion (school lunch) meals program, but the increase may not be enough to cover the extra costs."

I would still argue, those costs are minimal when compared with the benefits and cost savings such changes would provide in terms of reduced health care costs.

According to a 2007 Centers for Disease Control survey of public high schools: In only 18 percent of high schools could students purchase fruits or vegetables.

Yet in 77 percent, students could purchase soda pop or fruit drinks that are not 100 percent juice. And in 50 percent, students could purchase chocolate candy. (http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/facts.htm)

Last, why should we be concerned with government legislation that affects the so-called free market federal school lunch program? These are taxpayer dollars going to private companies, not private dollars.

So the federal government has every right to dictate to which private companies those dollars should go and how they should be spent.

In the end, I hope anyone who opposes this program will come to her/his senses and realize there's no point in taking a stand that harms American youth.

Bonnie Erbe is a TV host and writes this column for Scripps Howard News Service (wwws.scrippsnews.com). The writer can be reached at bonnieerbe@CompuServe.com.