I hate health nazis.

[Lester]

http://www.tmz.com/2008/08/20/michael-p ... al-killer/

[Big Media]

I love Frosted Flakes. I have zero love for Wheaties.

[Ace Purple]

This uproar over the Frosted Flakes promo deal strikes me as ridiculous. Is Tony the Tiger this decade's Joe Camel? Please. Authoritarian bastards.

[cgarison]

(sigh)

Frosted Flakes does have more nutrition than say the cardboard box that it is packaged in.

[Arp2]

Now, just imagine these people deciding whether you receive health care.....

....because that's exactly what they want to do.


"You will eat leaves and twigs. Your vegan diet must contain only in-season crops grown within 50 miles of your home because transporting them any farther creates too much 'polution.' You like bananas? Move to the equator. In addition to Gaia Earth, we worship animals, so you may not eat them if you wish to receive health care. You like steak, hamburger, ham, turkey, fish, and chicken? You deserve every heart attack and stroke you get and the lengthy, excruciating death you will experience. Only after 100 days in such a state of 'pennance' will we find the compassion to euthanize you. You will be able to die with the knowledge that you served as a fine example to future generations of how to best live life under and for Your Government and the healthcare we so graciously provide."

[Hoosier Daddy]

A bit over the top, Arp. As usual.

You must've eaten too many paint chips as a child.

[Jet Black]

Don't kid yourself, Hoosier. They had so much success on tobacco, people who eat unapproved food will be next IMHO.

[Rock]

Agreed, and they'll start with the fat people on government assistance. 'After all, your tax dollars are being wasted on these slobs. We're just helping them live longer, so they're not such a drain on the health care system.'

[Oldiesdude]

http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/sto ... ily39.html

Mississippi, West Virginia and Alabama led the list, all with adult obesity rates over 30 percent.

West Virginia came in 2nd. Guess we will have to try harder to make Number 1, next year.

[Arp2]

A bit over the top, Arp. As usual.

I've read how socialized countries ration their health care. I've heard 'em talk here. I've heard 'em interviewed here. One time, when the interviewer was a little stunned by the answers a woman was giving and the attitude with which she was giving them, she was given the question, "Do you have any fat friends?" The initial response was a look of surprise followed by silence. "If you have to think that hard about it, the answer must be 'no.'"

"I'm...not sure I understand the question," she replied.

"Do you have any overweight friends? Do you even personally know anyone overweight?"

More silence. "Ummm....well, sure, I imagine I..."

"You don't, do you?"

"I'm sure I do...I'd just have to think about it a little more...."

"Would you? Would you ever have a fat friend?"

"Uh...."

"You wouldn't, would you?! You wouldn't!"

"I....I...I don't currently have any overweight friends, but I wouldn't rule someone out as a friend based only on being overweight."

The woman who said that has written "And, for those of you expecting medical care associated with your obesity, you believe health insurance carriers, Medicare, and Medicaid should pay equally for self-inflicted illness?" She has created (and trademarked, interestingly) the idea of "Secondhand Obesity" for use in legislation and legal action against people and companies who "cause" people to be fat.

Other quotes and writings from her:

• "Seriously, it's time to recognize obesity as abuse."
  
  "'Loving, caring' parents are the number one perpetrator of obesity proliferation. Headline after headline warning about the dangers of obesity among children continue to be ignored as parents disregard widely available healthy alternatives and shovel high saturated fat, artificial coloring, synthetic hormones, and high fructose corn syrup-laden junk food into the eager mouths of their progeny. You know who you are."
  
  "We also could look to Big Pharma and their role in obesity. From Pfizer to Sanofi-Aventis, they're all racing to deliver an alternate cure for obesity, other than the exercise and diet, knowing Americans prefer to pop pills than break sweats. " (Yes, she's furious that a medical researcher might find a cure that doesn't necessarily require her prescription for us all.)
  
  "Success relies upon wholly re-imagining what the U.S. population considers 'normal' food consumption and 'normal' exercise....America can no longer afford to be marketers’ fool. If any reversal of the obesity crisis is to occur, it will take sweeping changes among the general population....
  
  Exercise daily and eat mostly plant-based food while minimizing your intake of animal fats. Eat generous portions of fresh veggies and whole fruits. Avoid added sugars and refined carbohydrates. Drink water, or skim milk if you drink milk. And if you want a treat, make sure it’s free of obesity- and disease-accelerators such as partially hydrogenated oil; high fructose corn syrup; synthetic hormones; and artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners; among other chemicals."
  
  (And, one more time...) "And, for those of you expecting medical care associated with your obesity, you believe health insurance carriers, Medicare, and Medicaid should pay equally for self-inflicted illness?"

That's just one person right off the top of my head and a single, quick Google search.....it's by no means a rare school of thought.....

[cgarison]

Speaking of eating "all natural", I think hemlock can be used to make tea. As well as kill great philosophers who commit tyranny by thinking.

[Ace Purple]

Here's yet more Government Knows Best thinking. Somehow this doesn't surprise me from Alabama.

-----
Alabama officials are warning state employees to shape up or pay more for health insurance.

On Friday, the State Employees' Insurance Board announced a new plan beginning next year in which state employees will be required to receive medication screenings for several conditions, including body mass index. Those considered obese or who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high glucose will have to pay $25 a month more in health insurance beginning in January 2011, if they don't take steps to address their health problems.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster ... laces.html

[ashton]

Is Tony giving Michael the ol' reacharound?

[Lester]

[quote="Ace Purple"Alabama officials are warning state employees to shape up or pay more for health insurance.[/quote]
Now this I don't have a problem with. If you're going to engage in an unhealthy lifestyle, maybe you should pay more for being a burden on the healthcare system.

When did personal responsibility go out the window? Yes, you can eat frosted flakes, and grow up to be the next Michael Phelps... if you're willing to exercise and make up for the more extreme choices you might make. You can also eat Wheaties's every day for breakfast, McDonald's for lunch, and Burger King for dinner, not do shit, run up your cholesterol and die.

It's about choices... and their consequences.

[AmpedNow]

Now this I don't have a problem with. If you're going to engage in an unhealthy lifestyle, maybe you should pay more for being a burden on the healthcare system.

When did personal responsibility go out the window? Yes, you can eat frosted flakes, and grow up to be the next Michael Phelps... if you're willing to exercise and make up for the more extreme choices you might make. You can also eat Wheaties's every day for breakfast, McDonald's for lunch, and Burger King for dinner, not do shit, run up your cholesterol and die.

It's about choices... and their consequences.

Sooner or later, all of us will be a "drain" on the health care system. Almost all of us have at least one vice, and will "cheat" from time to time. Or, we will simply get old and our bodies will wear out.

This is why a universal-type HC system in this country is inevitable. Too much of this kind of insurance discrimination is going on as it is. Nobody "deserves" to be kicked to the curb because of bad health decisions, which we all make to some extent.

As for Phelps endorsing Frosted Flakes, I can think of much worse things to eat. At least they're vitamin fortified...