Insurance charges for smokers but not fatties

[Cracker]

Why do smokers have to pay extra premiums on their insurance but obese people don't? It just amazes me. My one friend has to pay about $60 extra per month because her husband smokes, but my fat friend and her fat husband (BOTH diabetic) don't have to pay extra.

I don't see the difference as far as health outcomes are concerned. I think smokers are getting ripped off by the chubs.

[Maggot]

Why do you hate fat people? Babies are fat why do you hate babies?

[Cracker]

Hahahaha. I don't hate obese people. I don't think this is a fair policy. Plus, somebody compared our current war (complete with dead people) to the "war" on obesity. Put the fucking donut down and run a lap. How fucking hard is that? It is crazy as hell to me that someone can weigh twice what they should, or more. How the hell does that happen? It isn't glandular unless someone has some big ass glands. It is laziness and gorging. That isn't war, it is sin: Gluttony and Sloth.

[Cracker]

I like a good back rack as much as the next person.

[Cracker]

The Obese
Obesity affects an estimated 34% of adults in the United States. Those who are obese have increased instances of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease and many more health concerns. One study reports that in 2008, the costs to treat obesity hit $147 billion. To look at all of the statistics that go with obesity, it's easy to see why those who are overweight get a bad rap.

The dramatic rise in obesity can be traced to various factors, but one of those is our bad eating habits - and that is one of places where these unhealthy habits are helping our economy. In 1970, Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food. By 2000, that figure had grown to $110 billion. The nation is also spending a record amount trying to lose weight. Health club and gym revenues topped $19.1 billion in 2008, and the amount spent on weight loss products and services hit an estimated $40 billion. (For more, see 5 Ways To Get Healthy And Save Thousands A Year.)

Smokers
It's getting increasingly difficult to smoke anywhere these days. Americans are loudly protesting secondhand smoke, but 23% of men and 20% of women still light up on a regular basis. Smoking leads to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke as well as lung cancer. The amount of money spent on medical care for smokers has reached an estimated $75 billion. Is it really as bad as it appears?

Maybe not; cigarette smokers pay a hefty tax. In the Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, Obama raised federal cigarette tax from $0.39 to $1.01 per pack. Next, if you believe the cigarette manufacturers, smokers actually don't cost the economy any money at all. In fact, there's a net gain. A study commissioned by Philip Morris found that because smokers die earlier than non-smokers, they are saving the economy money by requiring less medical care, less pension benefits and less retirement care.

Source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...a48513.DTL

We all pay for obesity. Maybe Aknow is right. Maybe we are using the military for the wrong enemy...

[Maggot]

Smoking will never be outlawed, there is so much money being made off smokers that if it was outlawed it would cripple the economy. I quit smoking last February and I can see the injustice. As more people quit the taxes will go up. When the money is not found from this addiction the government will go after something else like gambling, drinking or sex. Any vice is not exempt. Government rather than shrinking its bloated bellies will not go on a diet, it will just tax more to justify its needs. As I read the paper I see austerity hitting a wall. It is easy to grow and very hard to shrink departments that cater to the lazy, inept and plain ole stupid.

[Duchess]

Fat people should be held accountable for their fat. Tax them, if they want to eat crap, make 'em pay more for it, make them pay more for their insurance. Charge them with abuse when they have a fourth grader that weighs more than adult females.

I'd make a great dictator.

[sally]

How can the insurance companies tell if you smoke or not? Why not just lie and say you don't smoke?

[BlueTiki]

Fat people should be held accountable for their fat. Tax them, if they want to eat crap, make 'em pay more for it, make them pay more for their insurance. Charge them with abuse when they have a fourth grader that weighs more than adult females.

I'd make a great dictator.

McDonald's Must Pay Obese Worker $17.5K

Former Manager Gained 65 Pounds While Working At Chain

SAO PAULO -- A Brazilian court ruled this week that McDonald's must pay a former franchise manager $17,500 because he gained 65 pounds while working there for a dozen years. The 32-year-old man said he felt forced to sample the food each day to ensure quality standards remained high, because McDonald's hired "mystery clients" to randomly visit restaurants and report on the food, service and cleanliness.

The man also said the company offered free lunches to employees, adding to his caloric intake while on the job. His identity was not released.

The ruling was signed Tuesday by Judge Joao Ghisleni Filho in Porto Alegre.

Ghisleni said McDonald's could appeal the case, and the Brazilian headquarters of the chain said in an e-mailed statement Thursday it was weighing its legal options.

McDonald's also noted that it offers healthier food choices.

"The chain offers a large variety of options and balanced menus to cater (to) the daily dietary needs of its employees," the company said in the statement.

McDonald's headquarters is in Oak Brook, Illinois.

[Duchess]

Jesus Christ. That's incredible! What the hell ever happened to people being held accountable for their own actions?

I'm starting to loathe stupid people above all else. Seriously. I just told a group of people that Hitler was my hero and that he had a great idea, that I wanted to take his plan & apply it to stupid people. I'm probably being banned even as I type this.

[Duchess]

I should say that of course Hitler isn't my hero but, I know that statement will work some of those bitches into a frenzy & I like doing that.

[aknow]

Hahahaha. I don't hate obese people. I don't think this is a fair policy. Plus, somebody compared our current war (complete with dead people) to the "war" on obesity. Put the fucking donut down and run a lap. How fucking hard is that? It is crazy as hell to me that someone can weigh twice what they should, or more. How the hell does that happen? It isn't glandular unless someone has some big ass glands. It is laziness and gorging. That isn't war, it is sin: Gluttony and Sloth.

I TOTALLY agree with you. Every day I see the unbelievable damage that poor food, lack of exercise, and other lazy and bad habits do to decimate otherwise good people. The war(s) we're wasting our time on make no sense, nor do any of us know why and who we're fighting. Many of us voted for the president because he promised to stop this nonsense about policing the entire world. I ask you as a seemingly intelligent human: If this war is necessary, why isn't the rest of the free world joining in on the fun? So Mr. Obama's and Ms. Clinton's geniuses are sending billions of our $ to Pakistan, so they can hide "insurgents". Insanity, and that is exactly why Obama will be a short-termer.

[BlueTiki]

Obama will be a short-termer.

But . . . but . . . what about Michelle? Isn't she the Commander-in-Chief for the War on Obesity?

Who will rally the troops?

[Still Waters]

I can for-see the day when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stars requiring Prescriptions from Nutritionist before a citizen is allowed to buy food. Of course it will be a class 1 felony to provide Twinkies and Donuts to a obese person. I can for-see Junk Food Cartels dealing illegal snacks to the Junk Food Addicts; Oh The Horror! The Horror! There won't be enough prisons to hold all the junk food dealers! How will we protect the poor children? The term "Hey Kid, Ya Want Some Candy." will have a whole new meaning.

[Maggot]

Nobody gets my pastrami..........n o b o d y!!!!!

[Cracker]

Hahahaha. I don't hate obese people. I don't think this is a fair policy. Plus, somebody compared our current war (complete with dead people) to the "war" on obesity. Put the fucking donut down and run a lap. How fucking hard is that? It is crazy as hell to me that someone can weigh twice what they should, or more. How the hell does that happen? It isn't glandular unless someone has some big ass glands. It is laziness and gorging. That isn't war, it is sin: Gluttony and Sloth.

I TOTALLY agree with you. Every day I see the unbelievable damage that poor food, lack of exercise, and other lazy and bad habits do to decimate otherwise good people. The war(s) we're wasting our time on make no sense, nor do any of us know why and who we're fighting. Many of us voted for the president because he promised to stop this nonsense about policing the entire world. I ask you as a seemingly intelligent human: If this war is necessary, why isn't the rest of the free world joining in on the fun? So Mr. Obama's and Ms. Clinton's geniuses are sending billions of our $ to Pakistan, so they can hide "insurgents". Insanity, and that is exactly why Obama will be a short-termer.

Because they are cheap bastards. haha We are a new nation, the American Experiment, based on principles like freedom from religion and representational government. We get involved. Even when it hurts.

I understand why we entered the war. People can debate it back and forth all they want, but ⁹⁄₁₁ was horrible. We didn't start the war. Those folks have been fighting and killing each over there for thousands of years. Why are we still there? I don't have the one good answer. I'm not even sure there is one good answer. I support the effort because I know too many who gave all they had towards that effort. Do I want it to continue? Honestly, not so much. I would rather keep my boy home. He can tell you why he is going, though, if you were to ask him. That is good enough for me. Many countries are willing to give lip service to stop atrocities. We are willing to give real service. Of that I have to be proud.

How, OTOH, people can overeat even though their doctors have explained what diabetes and heart disease will do to them, is just beyond me. I have a few chubby family members on one half of my family, so I realize I could go that way if I don't watch it. Watching one of them trying to tie their shoes is enough for me to avoid too many sweets.