My Brother's Keeper

Feh. I could tell from his opening salvo he's just another "I got mine, pal" Libertarian. Maude forbid he should ever need a knee replacement from years of running and need his insurance to cover it.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press is usually evenhanded when it comes to straight reporting, but its editorial staff seems pretty partial to poorly researched op-ed pieces that "stick it to the politically correct." Never mind that 9/10 of their logic is baloney, and the last 10th crap. Too bad.

This is one of the reasons why I hardly ever read editorials in the newspaper anymore.

ITA, Pseu, about the knee replacement thing. A lot of these workout freaks are going to have some serious sports injuries somewhere along the way and, heavens forfend, they'll actually need to use their insurance for it. (Since when did using your insurance become a crime, anyway? Are "good" people supposed to just keep paying premiums and never go to the doctor?) But why stop there? What about all the people on Atkins or South Beach who are going to need dialysis when their kidneys blow? Or cardiac bypass when their vascular systems catch up with all those bunless bacon cheeseburgers? Heck, what if this dude winds up with diabetes because of all the carrot juice he drinks? Or what if the carrots used to make the juice are nutritionally worthless because they're grown in low-grade topsoil, and he might as well have been drinking orange Kool-Aid all this time? I mean, if you're a nutrition freak you're supposed to know about this stuff, right? Your pancreas, your responsibility. Sit and spin, Craig.

Well, I came across this old but interesting editorial about "the fat police" while trying to find article on how toO much public service nagging actually causes people to tune out. I posted it in a couple other places and thought it was worth posting here too. I have to say sometimes I really agree with this guy's sentiments http://weeklywire.com/ww/01-17-00/alibi_opinion.html

Personally, I don't want Atkins dieters to be able to jack up the costs of health insurance when they all start dropping from coronaries in ten years from all the fatty meats and other foods. Where do I go to put a stop to that?

Mr. Westover sent me a reply via email. Here it is: I ran across your Weblog and Paul McAleerís comments on my opinion piece in the Pioneer Press, ìGovernment obesity is preventable.î His comments seem a bit knee-jerk to me, understandable with the abuse people receive for being perceived overweight. So let me clear up a few points. First, the column was intended to taunt people who want to use government to mange what is, in their minds a public health problem, but as your Weblog makes evident, is also an individual choice. Personally, I do work to keep weight off, but thatís my choice. I donít expect government to subsidize my choice to lose weight, and I donít believe government should subsidize someone elseís choice not to. More to the point, I donít think such government efforts work. Second, the fears of those commenting on Mr. McAleerís article that they might have to pay for adverse effects of Atkins-like diets or other misplaced efforts to be thin are made valid by government activities to prevent obesity. The writers are correct, they should not have to subsidize people who suffer because they chose fad diets. But thatís the precedent that is set when government starts deciding what is appropriate body type. Third, all people should accept the consequences of the choices they make. Insurance rates should reflect that. Thatís why health savings accounts coupled with catastrophic health insurance has such potential. With that type of arrangement, it doesnít matter if youíre fat or thin -- if you use medical care for minor items, it comes ot of your funds. If you donít the money you save remains yours. If youíre hit with a major medical expense, insurance kicks in. Although I understand the sensitivity of your readers to the ìfatî issue, I hope that at least a few can look beyond that narrow focus to the more dangerous larger issue of government coercing people into a specific body type. I think we see just that, don't you?

I don't think I was trying to make the point of "I don't want to pay for all these idiots to go on Atkins and South Beach and/or screw up their joints over-exercising," so much as I was trying to say that if we're going to get our undies in a bunch over everything someone does (or doesn't do) that could potentially cause his/her potential taxpayers and policyholders money, there's really no end to the undie-bunching potential -- including that to be found in one's very own mirror. After all, who can truly claim they've never done anything that could potentially be costly to someone else? Ever driven while inebriated or seriously sleep deprived? Tailgated? Passed someone on the left? Run a red light or stop sign? Put on makeup, eaten with a knife and fork, yakked on the phone, put cream in your coffee, screwed around with the stereo, argued with your kids, read a map, etc., etc., while driving? Doesn't matter if you only did it once; once is all it takes to kill or maim someone (including yourself). If nobody got hurt, you dodged a bullet. Have you checked the wiring in your house lately? Or on your appliances? If you haven't, and your house burns down, I guess I get to say "tough noogies," right? Put yourself down for another dodged bullet. Have you ever eaten raw or undercooked eggs, meat, poultry or fish as an adult? Ever make that stuff for yourself at home without disinfecting your countertops and cutting boards afterwards? Unless you're a lifelong vegan, you probably have. And all it takes is once to poison yourself and/or others pretty good. Bullet. And speaking of the car thing, did you buy a 4 x 4 vehicle knowing that they tip over easily? Or a Japanese car knowing that they don't crash-test well? Heck, did you buy anything that shows up high on car thieves' "most wanted" lists? Bullet, bullet, bullet. Come to think of it, why do people choose to live where there are 7.2 earthquakes and stage 4 hurricanes? Or serious air pollution? If they're going to willingly put themselves in that kind of danger, do they "deserve" whatever they get? Heck, I live near Mt. Rainier, and that could blow any second now -- that would be pretty festive for the entire Pacific Northwest. And New York City is way past overdue for a major earthquake; if they ever got one, it would make the carnage from 9/11 look like a South Park cartoon. People in New York know this, too, and yet they choose to live there, in non-retrofitted high-rises no less. Oh yeah, and all that time workout freaks and sports nuts spend exercising -- couldn't that time be better spent doing community service? If you don't, doesn't that cost your fellow humans too? I could write a whole damn book on this subject. But the bottom line is, for every dime you pay for someone else's "mistakes," someone out there will probably pay for yours one day, if they haven't already. And if it never happens, that's about dumb luck as much as it is anything else.

Excellent, excellent points ajoyce!!!!!! The list of things we do that impact others is virtually endless, yet fat is almost exclusively singled out!!! I also have trouble with his assertion that obesity is a choice. Maybe for some people as there are several causes of fatness. But many others are just mother nature's plan for diversity that helped the species survive the multiple risks we faced. And another thing that gripes me is that when counting costs of fat, they never subtract the benefits. We should take into consideration that fat women have less risk of osteoporosis, pear shaped women with hip and thigh fat have a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes than even thin women. Many people don't think they are prejudice, but their selective use of data suggests otherwise!

Of course, I did mean to say "...passed someone on the right," rather than "...left." The left IS the passing lane. I think. (See, even, I'm guilty.)

great post ajoyce. I argue the same thing with libertarians/neoconservatives all the time who say things like "I shouldn't have to pay for your kids' education."