In 1978 F. Paul Wilson wrote a short story titled, “Lipidleggin'” that at the time surely was considered crazy.
Over 30 years later Wilson’s story is closer to reality than I’m sure the author ever thought would be possible. “Lipidleggin'” tells the story of a small town grocer who deals in the real thing; butter and eggs. Wilson looked into the future and saw a day when the government would control what we eat; he saw the Food Police.
In Wilson’s future-view real butter and eggs are illegal and selling the good stuff – not the garbage produced as a result of the “Lipid Laws” – will get you put in jail. As Wilson’s story goes, “The National Health Insurance program found out that they were spending too much time taking care of people with diseases nobody was likely to cure for some time.”
Since it was a “crisis” the president declared a state of emergency, Congress passed legislation because people clearly didn’t know how to take care of themselves and, as a result, were too much of a strain on the health care system. For the “national interest,” and “for people’s own good,” the government rationed, then banned, foods that were high in cholesterol and saturated fats, then did away with tobacco and hard booze.
Wilson also talks about the coming campaign against being overweight – bad health risk, you know – and a ban on clothing over a certain size. Sound familiar? Wilson’s “Lipidleggin'” reminds me of Hemmingway’s, “The Killers.” Simple dialog, simple story and a believable bad guy; in this case, the government.
I don’t want to tell you any more, read the story for yourself. If you don’t think this wind is blowing across the plains you haven’t been paying attention. Read “Lipidleggin’.“
That would take care of the fun of living. Good write-up. But more fiction than fiction.