Do penalties for smokers and the obese make sense?

AP ^ | January 26, 2013 | MIKE STOBBE

[walford]

Faced with the high cost of caring for smokers and overeaters, experts say society must grapple with a blunt question: Instead of trying to penalize them and change their ways, why not just let these health sinners die prematurely from their unhealthy habits?

Annual health care costs are roughly $96 billion for smokers and $147 billion for the obese, the government says. These costs accompany sometimes heroic attempts to prolong lives, including surgery, chemotherapy and other measures.

[lentulusgracchus]

That's right, that's right! But never fear .... Here come da Judge!!

[butterdezillion]

I think there was some study that found that a disproportionate number of obese women are Black. I remember an article by a professional woman who said her husband didn’t want her to lose weight. She said Black men like their women large.

I guess nobody thought about whether it would be racist to let Black women die simply because they adhere to the “Black culture”...

[PghBaldy]

It is more expensive for people to live to 95 and not smoke, and get Alzheimer’s, than for smokers to die young. They are LYING if they say smokers cost more.

[Persevero]

Sure if we penalize the underweight, those in high risk professions, those with high risk hobbies, those who use any recreational drugs, those who drink to excess (TBD), and those who have sex outside of

MONOGAMOUS HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE.

[RC one]

how about we let gang bangers die of GSWs right in the ER too, I mean as long as we’re singling out unhealthy lifestyles and all.

[Slings and Arrows]

Of course, citizen! Must stay fit for Der Fuehrer!

[Axamari]

Better yet.. from today forward everyone will be issued a 500 square foot apartment with no windows so you won’t be able to hurt yourself by jumping out. We will provide you with government approved furniture so you don’t have to worry about product defects. Your food will be provided according to national health standards. Media will be provided for you so you don’t have to worry about seeing offensive material. A job will be provided at a set wage regardless of your skill so you don’t have to compete with co-workers. Health care will be free as long as you are able to contribute to our society. After useful age, a panel will determine your date of death so you have time to wrap everything up before you leave.
You can live in our world completely free from any choices. You are free to live without having to worry about making bad decisions that will destroy your life. We will care for you.

[Steve Newton]

Why of course!

I would expect no less from a law abiding citizen

[Steve Newton]

WOW

[Steve Newton]

Humm

Funny

Someday they will wonder where all the revenue went.

[Colorado Doug]

Wasn't there a huge lawsuit settled with the tobacco companies some years back where they paid the States billions to offset the health costs that states might incur taking care of smokers health issues? What happened to all of that money?

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

Penalties...
I say cut off the 1st family from all health care...
The Smoker in Chief, let him suffer from the effect of his cigs...
The Over Eater with the Big Butt Asst in Chief...let her die of all the things that being an obese black female will bring down upon her wigged head.

[goat granny]

We should start with all the fat ass’s in the government, federal and state like the governor of New Jersey. If you ass drunks, and sex perverts, washington would be empty...

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

“Let’s just deny medical care to anybody who’s ever done anything stupid, how about?”

Well, you ave made it easy to select...we deny medical care to all Obama voters, 2008 and 2012...and also to all conservatives who stayed home on Nov 6 ‘cause they couldn’t vote for Romney.

And then, finally we overturn the Bummer’s Health Care piece of really evil legislation that no one yet for sure knows what is in that POS.

[Steve Newton]

Humm

Nothing to see here citizen move along please

[Bellflower]

Or people that are not married, as it is has been proved that married people live longer and are healthier.

[imardmd1]

Faced with the high cost of caring for smokers and overeaters, experts say society must grapple with a blunt question: Instead of trying to penalize them and change their ways, why not just let these health sinnerscriminals die prematurely from their unhealthy habitsinfractions?

Biblical counsel:

"Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?" (Ecclesiastes 7:17)

[Bellflower]

At this rate they won’t have to worry about illegal immigration any more, as nobody will want to live here. On the other hand, they may have to close and guard the borders to keep people from escaping.

[Paleo Conservative]

But one doesn’t dare suggest that fudgepackers should be penalized.

[buffaloguy]

Add these to the list:

Sexually transmitted diseases
Aids
Football players
Softball players
motorcycle drivers
Drinkers

The list is endless. Americans do dangerous stuff for fun and that is part of our collective personality.