Dear Wealth Daily reader:
Phantom Trader here. And I have three predictions.
In the next 10 years, we’ll see:
1) Similar to how mortgage interest tax deductions influence home ownership, Americans will be enticed to lose weight through tax incentives; there will be a deduction of $1000 per year for any American with a BMI (body mass index) score less than 24;
2) To get kids away from the tube, cartoons will see their programming slots restricted to just two hours a day;
3) The federal and state government will charge a tax for Internet usage; the goal of this tax will be to penalize you if you sit in front of the PC all-day long; businesses will be able to write-off the tax as an expense.
Okay, one more prediction: In an effort to control skyrocketing rates of skin cancer, television advertising of beach resort vacation specials will be illegal. Outdoor swimming pools will also be illegal.
Physical activities indoors will be encouraged.
If skin cancer rates don’t decline from these efforts, the sun will be classified an official health risk. Daily application of sunscreen to your exposed skin will become law.
A Nation of Nurse Ratchets
I want to alert you to a dangerous development emerging in the U.S.. And I’m afraid to say that I see no way of reversing course.
America is becoming a nation of Nurse Ratchets.
That’s right, the same Nurse Ratchet from the movie "One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest."
In the movie Nurse Ratchet controls a ward in a hospital for the mentally ill.
It’s a well known fact that the movie is social commentary of the highest order.
Nurse Ratchet represents the so-called "do-gooder" culture in America, institutions, both public and private, that claim they can help you live longer and healthier, more socially responsible.
"Listen to us," they say, "we know what’s best for you."
One movie critic made an excellent point about Nurse Ratchet. He said (and I’m paraphrasing this a bit), fascism greets you with a smile, a pretty face and open arms.
Nurse Ratchet is an attractive woman. Built great for a woman her age. And she’s here to help you, to look out for your best interests.
In short, to protect you from your worst enemy: yourself.
You can understand why a man – a "mentally ill" man – could easily fall under her spell.
But do not have any doubts about this: The moment you let her in your life, Nurse Ratchet is in control. With an iron-fist.
And anybody who questions her authority gets placed on the fast-track to a lobotomy.
Life Imitating Art
Every time I open my morning paper, some Ratchet organization is trying to help me (though I didn’t ask for their help, or their opinion). And there’s no better example than the current anti-obesity movement.
The Nurse Ratchet of the anti-obesity movement is the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which last year, suggested anti-obesity lawyers "go after parents with TVs in their kid’s room."
It gets even more frightening.
I don’t know if you heard about this, but some lamebrain legislator in Hawaii wants to force teachers to get weighed for obesity.
Below is the news piece. I bolded what I consider to be the most dangerous statement to come out of a politician’s mouth this year. (My apologies to my neoconservative friends.)
Lawmaker Wants Teachers In Hawaii Weighed For Obesity
Teachers Union President Calls Resolution ‘Offensive’
UPDATED: 12:17 pm EST March 28, 2005
HONOLULU — A state lawmaker has suggested Hawaii’s public schoolteachers be forced to weigh in as part of the fight against obesity in students, KITV in Honolulu reported.
State Rep. Rida Cabanilla introduced a resolution in the house requesting that the Board of Education establish an obesity database among public schoolteachers.
"You cannot keep a kid to a certain standard that you yourself is not willing to keep," Cabanilla said.
It’s been documented that more than 20 percent of Hawaii’s children are at risk, or are already overweight, according to the station. There are no statistics on teachers.
The resolution calls for all public schoolteachers to weigh in every six months.
The measure calls for the education and health departments to formulate an obesity standard and appropriate measures for teachers who cannot meet the standard.
"As a matter of fact, we should start at home, but since the legislature has no way to regulate homes, we can at least start in school," Cabanilla said. "And teachers have a lot of impact to these students." (Editor’s Note: Notice how she says "we can at least start in school." This is just the beginning.)
The teachers union said it agrees that teachers are at the front line when it comes to the education and health of children, but it says the resolution is misguided.
"I think at this point and time, the focus really needs to be on putting highly-qualified teachers in the classroom," Hawaii State Teachers Association President Roger Takabayashi said.
The union defended its members as low users of the health fund system.
"I think it’s quite offensive. I don’t think it will lead us anywhere. It’s not going to benefit the children necessarily," Takabayashi said.
A similar resolution is being considered by the state senate.
*****
May I ask a question: Have we lost our minds?!?
An obesity database???
This will get worse before it gets better. Already there’s talk of using the BMI (Body Mass Index) in school report cards. And, even more troubling, some parents have been taken to court over their kid’s weight problem.
Of course, like the coming water and oil shortages, crisis always offers an opportunity for the financial savvy. And the current debate over obesity is no different.
I want you to take a look at a price chart of Whole Foods, the #1 organic food store in the U.S.
Whole Foods Stock Chart:
Organic and natural food is the next big trend in America. Fortunately, except for Whole Foods, there aren’t many publicly traded organic food stocks to buy. Which means the opportunity for early investors is huge.
And I’ve found one I think offers a double within the next 12 months. The company’s stock trades for just $0.50 a share, with a tiny market cap of $24 million. But it does $60 million in annual revenue. And they have a mainline straight into the heart of the natural food market.
In fact, Whole Foods sells this company’s natural food products.
In two weeks I’ll be releasing an exclusive report to my Phantom Trader members. If you want access to the report, become a member to the Phantom Trader.
Or, if you want to learn more about the Phantom Trader service, and my unique approach to the markets, read this exclusive report.
In tomorrow’s Wealth Daily, Mike Schaefer will update you on some of his positions.
Until tomorrow,
The Phantom Trader
A Nation of Nurse Ratchets
