should our government discriminate fat/obese people and smokers alike considering health care cost?

Question

If I'm not mistaken the big push agianist smokers was started as a health care cost issue. considering all the health care cost associated with over weight / obese people, which from what i'm reading is easily equallying health care cost assoicated with smoking. Now when you factor in all the cost of obese childeren, as young as a year old. As a smoker I think it only fair our govrement be fair in there discrimation. Ie... scales at the entrances of resturants if tipped at/to obese those persons would be refused service. This could be defened by saying it'sjust another attempt to controll the rising cost of health care. i'm tired of being singled out because of something I choose to do. Which by the way is still leagle by the way. If our local state and federal goverment have anything to do with it, it soon won't be. Just think ciggaretts could very soon be in the same category as pot or any other illegal drug.

Answer 1

NO.

1. Secondhand smoke is DANGEROUS and the SMOKE does not know to stay out of the "non-smoking" section.

2. An addictive narcotic is not added to fast food.

3. Smoking does more damage than poor eating habits.

4. The fast food makers did not LIE about what is in their products.

Answer 2

I had an alcohol related accident in 1994,prior to that I had been a single workaholic who also traveled the world like GrannyG (only to countries that spoke English or the company supplied interpreters)I lived an expensive lifestyle and payed a lot in taxes. I was in a coma for two weeks after the crash and woke up with total amnesia. Another six months in the hospital probably cost over a million without any insurance except Medicaid and Medicare. I tell people I'm semi-disabled and semi-retired, I get a small SSI check that pays my utilities, thankfully I own my home and live "small". I can't hold a steady job so I volunteer. I'm currently building a garden at Bushy Banks site of the last great buffalo hunt, serve on the board of directors of a 501 3c called Cross Roads for the Arts and was just elected to a position to the Parks and Recreation Board. All this from a beat up old drunk, seems the system works sometimes. I've been clean and sober without AA for 6 years. RScott

Answer 3

There is nothing that says you can't smoke, as you state. And some states do have increased taxes on candy and crap like that due to the negative health impact. However, it is difficult to single out why some people are obese, and you can't just tax someone when they renew their license or something when they weigh in over a certain amount, because that would be discriminatory, because there are many reasons people become obese. However, it is a known fact that tobacco causes harm to the body and the figures are quantifiable. So, the tax on tobacco is very understandable.

Answer 4

They already discriminate against obese people but that's the least of our concerns. Soon they will be analyzing DNA and telling you that though your child is only days old he will not be eligible for health insurance because he is genetically predisposed to cancer, alcoholism, or bad breath. They will also have determined your child's IQ and tell you what schools he CAN'T get into and what career or occupation he will be required to do. They will then determine that you and your spouse do not meet adequate standards (you are a smoking after all) and you will both be required to undergo mandatory sterilization.

Answer 5

(1) Here's your statement: "i'm tired of being singled out because of something I choose to do"
Some people are obese by their lifestyle choices; some people are obese because of genetics. You can't blob them (no pun intended) into the same camp.
And people are "singled out" for things they choose to do all the time -- that's called crime. Could you imagine apot smoker saying "Hey, I chose to do it--I shouldn't be fined" or a burglar saying "Hey, I shouldn't be singled out for the way I choose to make my money--breaking into people's homes?" That's a bad argument.

(2) Although obesity is a leading cause of health related problems, particularly heart disease and diabetes, the act of eating itself is essential for living. This is different from smoking, which is not essential.

(3) Smoking affects the health of EVERYONE ELSE around you who doesn't smoke. Waitresses get lung cancer from working in the smoking section. Infants develop asthma from second hand smoke. Overeating does not affect people around you.

(4) Cigarettes (and other forms of tobacco) are the only legal substance that, when used as directed, will kill you. So maybe it should be an illegal drug. However, our history and culture make that impossible. Thus, we can do the next best thing: Seriously encourage people to stop smoking, never start smoking, and make the burdens on smokers very high to discourage the behavior.

Answer 6

I posted a similar question on a Fat Tax recently. Have a look. Many were quite rude to me!

The difficulty with your idea is that it is quite hard to administer.

It would probably be easier to tax food at source, though this would affect the poor especially badly, fat or thin.

And I can't imagine the restaurant trade accepting scales at theor entrances. After all, they want people to eat more, not less!

Answer 7

This is how it starts,if you have more than one child you pay more,if you or a member of your family has a chronic ailment,the doctor must report it,if you or any one in your family drinks to much,the list can go on and on.All this talk about smoking,not a word about car emissions,factory smoke stacks,air pollution up the ying Yang,to stop all pollution would put over 100 million out of work.

Answer 8

Smoking is self-administered and can be cured with will power. Some people are obese because they are compulsive eaters which can also be cured with will power. But, I think the government is focusing on people who have metabolism disorders, forced to take steriods or other non-choice fates that make people obese.

They are finding more and more evidence of second-hand smoke being dangerous to non-smokers. It is someone's right to breath clean air and be healthy. Obese people do not infringe on other's rights.

Answer 9

I don't believe they should. But, I do think eventually it will come to that. I'm all for tobacco becoming illegal nationwide. I agree with you in that I am tired of being treated like a second class citizen because I smoke. I

Answer 10

Fat people did not choose to have the Fat Gene ! Fat runs in family genes and if you don't know what you are talking about you should research first!!!!