Is it fair to fine fat people for not dieting?

reply to post by bluemirage5


I'm pretty sure he meant lack of education in terms of how to cook, not academically

Originally posted by Erongaricuaro

Originally posted by FanarFanar
People on welfare can't afford to eat healthy. They can either eat cheap processed food that makes people overweight or they can starve.

Sounds like we are heading toward a "Twinkie Tax" for the portly like the smokers have on their cigs. People eat unhealthy foods because they are more affordable? Then the people that consume them will have to start paying high taxes on them. Let's then see if those taxes get back to the systems that are overburdened by the problem that the tax money should be subsidizing.

That would not make healthy food any more affordable but it should eliminate the need to eat poorly because one cannot afford to eat otherwise. And those who do not eat do not gain weight. Win-win.

edit on 17-5-2011 by Erongaricuaro because: (no reason given)

That has got to be the most retarded thing I've read on ATS.

You're suggesting food prices be increased so high that people who are already struggling to feed themselves and their families are forced to starve as a dietary option?

Wow man... *snip* . I don't have enough splenetic juices to put the utter loathing and contempt that I feel towards you right now into words....

reply to post by neformore


Also remember that being extremely underweight can be even more gross in the nude than having a few extra pounds on your otherwise healthy bones.

This is absurd and a direct encroachment on personal rights and freedoms.

Why dictate how people should look when it is truly the inside that counts?

Granted it can be offensive to see people chowing down on a big mac when they are obese, but what about people who are severely burnt or maimed from an accident or other? Are they any less offensive to the superficial material controlling mindset?

So ok, every body type is unique, some are fatter and some thinner, usually people who are thin have not aged yet, have not had babies, or tragedy which required years of comfort foods to over come...

Whatever the reason be it genetics or lack of self control over ones diet, it is not anyones business to invade someones private life in this manner.

If we could only look into the soul of the ones responsible for this cruel act against the obese and know who they really are we would see that by creating this farce they are themselves hiding something far larger than the biggest person.

Originally posted by bluemirage5
reply to post by JakiusFogg

 

Lack of education? But alot of fat and overweight people are not stupid and many are reasonably educated. Nope, I say their too bloody lazy to cook a decent well balanced meal because it means more than 5 mins in the kitchen!

Or maybe because there are people that are pre-disposed to having or gaining extra weight? Or perhaps there are people whose bodies react to food additives or find irresistible those foods that are designed by their manufacturers to be irresistible so they are compelled to consume more??

That problem certainly cannot be passed off to the junk-food and snacky-cake makers whose motives are only to sell more of their fat and sugar-laden, chem-food product foods. Never. That's free-enterprise and a consumer hazard that all by now should be well aware of and avoid. Not the fault of the manufacturers.

No, any human being should be able to have free will, we dont, but we should, if they want to be obese let them, but one question, how will the doctor know they are not dieting?

reply to post by bluemirage5


By that (I should have been specific) I mean, food education. not academically. Life skills. In my school it was the stupid no hopers that got the life skills class, and learned how to prepare and make food correctly. I got advanced English!

Yeah Shakespeare is really helping me now I am 220 lbs

Originally posted by FanarFanar

Originally posted by Erongaricuaro

Originally posted by FanarFanar
People on welfare can't afford to eat healthy. They can either eat cheap processed food that makes people overweight or they can starve.

Sounds like we are heading toward a "Twinkie Tax" for the portly like the smokers have on their cigs. People eat unhealthy foods because they are more affordable? Then the people that consume them will have to start paying high taxes on them. Let's then see if those taxes get back to the systems that are overburdened by the problem that the tax money should be subsidizing.

That would not make healthy food any more affordable but it should eliminate the need to eat poorly because one cannot afford to eat otherwise. And those who do not eat do not gain weight. Win-win.

edit on 17-5-2011 by Erongaricuaro because: (no reason given)

That has got to be the most retarded thing I've read on ATS.

You're suggesting food prices be increased so high that people who are already struggling to feed themselves and their families are forced to starve as a dietary option?

Wow man... Sh!t... I don't have enough splenetic juices to put the utter loathing and contempt that I feel towards you right now into words....

edit on 17-5-2011 by FanarFanar because: (no reason given)

Tax your Twinkies and you get a bit cranky, eh? Like the smokers who have to pay high taxes on their vices, you'll get over it.

For decades I have been buying wholesome foods that I have to cook from scratch and they really cost no more than processed prepared food, they just take longer to prepare.

Go ahead and tax the Twinkies. No reason people have to eat crap foods just because they are quicker and cheaper.

I see the tired arguments are starting to come forth. The same arguments smokers used when the "mob" was after them.





I have been waiting for this day. The day when the "mob" turns on their own, and it is arriving! I am beside myself with giddyness, just waiting for one of the heavies to tell me "It is my body, these are my rights."

Just like smoking is my right, being fat is theirs. And, just like they are taking away my right, they are taking away theirs.

Just remember, once the fatties are gone they will move to some new moral to push. Just like they left us smokers, since our wallets are empty.

Welcome to America, land of the moral pusher.

Originally posted by Arbitrageur
I don't see $50 as much of an incentive, or much of a threat, but it's enough to get the issue on some people's radar screens where it needs to be, but currently it's not.

A family of three with a monthly income of $1000 would feel a $50 hit. At that level these people are living month to month and are probably having to choose between food or medicine. To us $50 seems like a insignificant amount but if that hit came to a poverty stricken family one month a year, during that month they wouldn't eat or would maybe need to sacrifice their medication.

Anyway I'm sure there are many things to consider but punishing someone for some physical attribute who is barely making ends meet seems to be a bit harsh.

What are the 4 tastes?

Bitter
Sweet
Savory
Sour

Oooohhh there is a 5th

UMAMI

Is the tast of MSG, and it is addictive.

Brilliant!

Originally posted by kinglizard
To us $50 seems like a insignificant amount but if that hit came to a poverty stricken family one month a year, during that month they wouldn't eat or would maybe need to sacrifice their medication.

$50 worth of Medication that in many cases, they wouldn't need in the first place if they weren't obese:

abcnews.go.com...

The biggest driver of these excess costs are prescription drugs, Finkelstein said. Among the normal-weight population, prescription drug costs average about $700 a year, but among those who are obese the cost rises to about $1,300 a year, an 80 percent increase, he said.

If they actually reduce their weight, they'd reduce their needs for medicine and save far more than $50.

Originally posted by JakiusFogg
What are the 4 tastes?

Bitter
Sweet
Savory
Sour

Oooohhh there is a 5th

UMAMI

Is the tast of MSG, and it is addictive.

Brilliant!

Who's Umami? www.abovetopsecret.com...

Fat daddy tells you when you've had enough, so he had to be taken out of the equation. Let umami sing you lullabies, she tells you what comforts you. Should we trust her?

KLF14 gene

Yesterday a study was published that confirmed obesity, diabetes and cholesterol are controlled by the KLF14 gene....which means obesity has much to do with genetics. It would be like punishing those that don't meet some idealistic standard...think 1935-1940's Germany.

www.kcl.ac.uk...

reply to post by Arbitrageur


Who will make that determination tho'?

Sorry you had a stroke but we're not going to treat you because you are fat, and most likely it was caused by your fatness!

Errr how about you do you job that my taxes paid for, as my job is a sedentary one, so maybe I have DVT and it is that which caused the stroke / heamatoma / whatever

if you could talk after a stroke, but that is what I would be thinking loudly!

reply to post by Erongaricuaro


There you go, I will most likely read your post when less drunk and more able to focus!

How about we fine all people?
We fine fat people for being fat
We fine thin people for being fine
We fine vegetarians and vegans for not eating meat
We fine normal eating people for eating animals
We fine people for drinking alcohol
We fine people for not drinking alcohol
Because...why just stop at obese people? Look at the money that could be made and it would be unfair and i bet political uncorrect, to fine only one group

In all seriousness: Stupid idea
Let people be like they want to be. I think a lot of people and most of the groupes up there (especially vegans/vegetarians) need to learn that they should accept other people's lifestyle just as they want to be accept. It's not that hard.
A lot of people that get called 'fat' are perfectly fine, healthy even and they enjoy their life, they have fun. There's a reason why so many comedians are fat - because they don't care about 'is that healthy? can i eat that? oh my good i need to exercise, oh my god i'm gonna die' but rather just enjoy their life to the max.
At least that's my experience, while i'm not fat, the funniest people i met where and then i just think about great famous people like John Candy or Alfred Hitchcock

Everyone has the right to eat what they want, and live the life they want, as long as it doesn't negatively affect others. If someone wants to eat pizza 5 night a week, and wash it down with a 2-liter of coke, and not exercise, well, more power to you. You have that right. However, I have the right not to pay a higher healthcare premium because of your lifestyle.

One solution would be a lower premium, or some financial reward, for being healthy. It's either do that, or penalize the people who don't live a healthy life. The majority of time being overweight is a choice. Yes there are health problems, but they aren't anywhere as frequent as most would like you to believe. Ever notice have many unhealthy, overweight people, have multiple health problems, which affect one another, and are on mutiple types of medications? It's a product of lifestyle. Yes some medications cause weight gain. So what? Look at why you're on that medication in the first place.

Cholesteral and blood pressure meds usually cause weight gain. Well, weight gain, and an unhealthy diet usually cause some to need blood pressure or cholesteral meds. It's the unhealthy lifestyle which leads someone to being on meds in the first place, most of the time. There are a record number of americans on meds right now, and the obesity levels are at a record high. That's not a coincidence. Now some healthcare plans cover lapband surgery. Why the hell should I pay a higher premium so some lazy person who eats crap every day can have lapband surgey instead of eating a salad and walking around the local highschool track?

Some people have 101 excuses for why they're not fit. The reality is, humankind as a whole, is far less active than it used to be, and eats far more unhealthier than it used to. For people with legit reasons for being overweight, your doctor will provide evidence, so no need to worry. If you have a thyroid problem, you've already seen your doctor about it. If you are physically handicapped, and are prevented from being active, you've already seen your doctor, and have a valid excuse. But that's not an excuse for the other 95% of the population, and don't use it as one.

It amazes me how so many people on here don't hesitate to point the finger at someone else when they do something wrong, and are quick to point out others not fulfilling their responsibilities, yet they always have an excuse for not taking care of their own body and health, which they have control over. I guess it's easier to tell someone else what to do then to go to work yourself and take responsibility over what you have control over. But it's a lot easier to sit at a computer and criticize a politician halfway around the world, than it is to jump on a treadmill for 30 minutes and eat a salad.

Originally posted by Erongaricuaro

Tax your Twinkies and you get a bit cranky, eh? Like the smokers who have to pay high taxes on their vices, you'll get over it.

No... I'm cranky because of muppets like you, that think the obesity is somehow a lifestyle choice. Do you really think that people who are obese wake up one day and say, "Hey... You know what? I want to be fat... I want health problems... I want to be mocked and ridiculed on a daily basis". The majority of people who are overnight, are overweight because of socio-economic reasons. Not because they chose to be.

It's not coincidence that the rise in obesity levels correlates with the rise in the food price index. Just google the term correlations between food prices and obesity. There are a ton of papers and articles about it.

FTR (Not that it matters): I'm 5'11 and about 170lbs. So I'm not just another one of those "fatties" whining about expensive Twinkies.

reply to post by neformore


only if it's also fair to starve greedy people for taxing too much

Originally posted by ShadowAngel85
How about we fine all people?
We fine fat people for being fat
We fine thin people for being fine
We fine vegetarians and vegans for not eating meat
We fine normal eating people for eating animals
We fine people for drinking alcohol
We fine people for not drinking alcohol
Because...why just stop at obese people? Look at the money that could be made and it would be unfair and i bet political uncorrect, to fine only one group

I think it's hightime the Gov't and all its Minions were Taxed for being raving lunatics and unforgivably stupid By the People (The ones who hire these guys and hand their paycheques out each month).