Americans are fat
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Nearly twice as many U.S. adults are obese compared to European, a key factor
leading Americans to suffer more often from cancer, diabetes and other chronic
ailments, a study released on Tuesday found.The United States spends significantly more per capita than any European country on
health care, about $2 trillion annually, or 16 percent of the gross domestic product.
While the big discrepancy has been linked to higher U.S. prices for medical treatment,
the report said a sicker population may also be a factor.So assuming a nationalized health care system displaced the convoluted system we have now, how would that address our relatively unhealthy population? What would be the incentive, short of government mandate, to not be so darned fat? Perhaps if medical bills were actually paid for by individuals, such that if they put down that twinky they might have lower costs...They might actually do so?
If liberals are not traitors, their only fallback argument at this point is that they're really stupid. -Ann Coulter
Red Stateler wrote:
The United States spends significantly more per capita than any European country onhealth care
France spends more per capita than anywhere else in the world on food. And have one of the lowest incidences of heart disease, strokes, and cancer. Roll on the Skate au Beurre Noir! (and a 7 year old Chateau Neuf du Pape). Hmmmmmmmm.....lekker.
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
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I disagree. If you are made responsible for your own actions, you'll be more likely to act responsibly and the umbrella that covers most Americans' health care does not emphasize personal responsibility as far as health is concerned.. Sure that doesn't apply to teenagers and rebels without a cause, but I think it does apply to most people in real situtions. Take skiing, for example. I love to ski, but I'm not very good. If I had to pay for a broken leg out of pocket, I think I would be more likely to reconsider a black diamond than if I had no vested financial responsibility.
If liberals are not traitors, their only fallback argument at this point is that they're really stupid. -Ann Coulter
Red Stateler wrote:
If you are made responsible for your own actions
I'm guessing this is another way of saying, "suffer the consequences of your own actions". Which, face it, we do. Having to pay for the treatment of expensive illnesses isn't exactly the only downside of being fat - you also have to, you know, be sick a lot. And buy fat people clothes. That can't be fun. Especially the "being sick" part. Personally, i hate being sick even more than i hate paying Dr. bills. The real question is, does that thought cross my mind when i'm laying strips of bacon down on the griddle? Hmm...
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...the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more...
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Red Stateler wrote:
If you are made responsible for your own actions
I'm guessing this is another way of saying, "suffer the consequences of your own actions". Which, face it, we do. Having to pay for the treatment of expensive illnesses isn't exactly the only downside of being fat - you also have to, you know, be sick a lot. And buy fat people clothes. That can't be fun. Especially the "being sick" part. Personally, i hate being sick even more than i hate paying Dr. bills. The real question is, does that thought cross my mind when i'm laying strips of bacon down on the griddle? Hmm...
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...the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more...
Having recognized the consequences of being fat, can I ask you...Are you fat?
If liberals are not traitors, their only fallback argument at this point is that they're really stupid. -Ann Coulter
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Red Stateler wrote:
The United States spends significantly more per capita than any European country onhealth care
France spends more per capita than anywhere else in the world on food. And have one of the lowest incidences of heart disease, strokes, and cancer. Roll on the Skate au Beurre Noir! (and a 7 year old Chateau Neuf du Pape). Hmmmmmmmm.....lekker.
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
fat_boy wrote:
France spends more per capita than anywhere else in the world on food. And have one of the lowest incidences of heart disease, strokes, and cancer.
That doesn't surprise me as the poor in the US, who spend far less on food, also suffer higher rates of obesity.
If liberals are not traitors, their only fallback argument at this point is that they're really stupid. -Ann Coulter
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Red Stateler wrote:
The United States spends significantly more per capita than any European country onhealth care
France spends more per capita than anywhere else in the world on food. And have one of the lowest incidences of heart disease, strokes, and cancer. Roll on the Skate au Beurre Noir! (and a 7 year old Chateau Neuf du Pape). Hmmmmmmmm.....lekker.
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
fat_boy wrote:
and a 7 year old Chateau Neuf du Pape
How unoriginal. I just got my hands on a case of Chateau Angelus 1998 Premier Grand Cru Classé B. I was going to invite you to Bourgogne to try a bottle, but like you just said - that ain't going to happen...
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fat_boy wrote:
France spends more per capita than anywhere else in the world on food. And have one of the lowest incidences of heart disease, strokes, and cancer.
That doesn't surprise me as the poor in the US, who spend far less on food, also suffer higher rates of obesity.
If liberals are not traitors, their only fallback argument at this point is that they're really stupid. -Ann Coulter
Someone needs to invent food thats good tasting, filling, inexpensive, and low calorie. Currently you can't get the 1st 3 without it being fattening junk. :(( And don't be suggesting salads. X| That's what food eats before it's processed into a nice thick rare steak. :cool:
-- If you view money as inherently evil, I view it as my duty to assist in making you more virtuous.
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fat_boy wrote:
and a 7 year old Chateau Neuf du Pape
How unoriginal. I just got my hands on a case of Chateau Angelus 1998 Premier Grand Cru Classé B. I was going to invite you to Bourgogne to try a bottle, but like you just said - that ain't going to happen...
73Zeppelin wrote:
I just got my hands on a case of Chateau Angelus 1998 Premier Grand Cru Classé B. I was going to invite you to Bourgogne to try a bottle, but like you just said - that ain't going to happen...
Not buying Burgundies eh? Dont blame you, I always find them thin, claret is better. What did you pay for it, about 45 euros?
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
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Someone needs to invent food thats good tasting, filling, inexpensive, and low calorie. Currently you can't get the 1st 3 without it being fattening junk. :(( And don't be suggesting salads. X| That's what food eats before it's processed into a nice thick rare steak. :cool:
-- If you view money as inherently evil, I view it as my duty to assist in making you more virtuous.
dan neely wrote:
Someone needs to invent food thats good tasting, filling, inexpensive, and low calorie.
Someone already did, but soylent green was plagued with controversy.
If liberals are not traitors, their only fallback argument at this point is that they're really stupid. -Ann Coulter
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Red Stateler wrote:
If you are made responsible for your own actions
I'm guessing this is another way of saying, "suffer the consequences of your own actions". Which, face it, we do. Having to pay for the treatment of expensive illnesses isn't exactly the only downside of being fat - you also have to, you know, be sick a lot. And buy fat people clothes. That can't be fun. Especially the "being sick" part. Personally, i hate being sick even more than i hate paying Dr. bills. The real question is, does that thought cross my mind when i'm laying strips of bacon down on the griddle? Hmm...
----
...the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more...
Shog9 wrote:
Having to pay for the treatment of expensive illnesses isn't exactly the only downside of being fat - you also have to, you know, be sick a lot.
The wife and I were walking around a local festival a few weeks ago and she pointed out a few in-"duh"-viduals who must have weighed 400+ lbs. They were barely able to walk and looked quite pained to be doing so. Each was clutching a big bag of greasy, high calorie, high fat food. To me, it's quite obvious that most of the truly obese just don't give a damn.
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Shog9 wrote:
Having to pay for the treatment of expensive illnesses isn't exactly the only downside of being fat - you also have to, you know, be sick a lot.
The wife and I were walking around a local festival a few weeks ago and she pointed out a few in-"duh"-viduals who must have weighed 400+ lbs. They were barely able to walk and looked quite pained to be doing so. Each was clutching a big bag of greasy, high calorie, high fat food. To me, it's quite obvious that most of the truly obese just don't give a damn.
Mike Mullikin wrote:
To me, it's quite obvious that most of the truly obese just don't give a damn.
Which raises a two-part question: 1. If they don't mind being fat, would they mind if they were penalized financially by paying for health care out of pocket? 2. If they really don't care, is it at all sensible that their health care costs be distributed evenly across a group at no extra cost to them (which is generally how group health care works)?
If liberals are not traitors, their only fallback argument at this point is that they're really stupid. -Ann Coulter
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73Zeppelin wrote:
I just got my hands on a case of Chateau Angelus 1998 Premier Grand Cru Classé B. I was going to invite you to Bourgogne to try a bottle, but like you just said - that ain't going to happen...
Not buying Burgundies eh? Dont blame you, I always find them thin, claret is better. What did you pay for it, about 45 euros?
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
fat_boy wrote:
Not buying Burgundies eh? Dont blame you, I always find them thin, claret is better. What did you pay for it, about 45 euros?
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Mike Mullikin wrote:
To me, it's quite obvious that most of the truly obese just don't give a damn.
Which raises a two-part question: 1. If they don't mind being fat, would they mind if they were penalized financially by paying for health care out of pocket? 2. If they really don't care, is it at all sensible that their health care costs be distributed evenly across a group at no extra cost to them (which is generally how group health care works)?
If liberals are not traitors, their only fallback argument at this point is that they're really stupid. -Ann Coulter
Red Stateler wrote:
would they mind if they were penalized financially by paying for health care out of pocket?
I suspect they (and the left) would cry discrimination. "They're not overweight - they're undertall."
Red Stateler wrote:
is it at all sensible that their health care costs be distributed evenly across a group at no extra cost to them (which is generally how group health care works)?
Nope, IMO health insurance should work like life insurance to some degree. If you lead a poor lifestyle you should be prepared to pay for it.
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fat_boy wrote:
Not buying Burgundies eh? Dont blame you, I always find them thin, claret is better. What did you pay for it, about 45 euros?
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Hmm, indeed not quite! I'll bet it tastes damn nice though. Did you try it or are you going to lay it down a little longer?
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
I actually got a better price than that. Got it through a friend who knows the family that operates the winery. Haven't tried a bottle yet. I'm waiting for the 10 year mark before I open one of them. I'll keep at least 6 aside and age them until they hit 20 years. Who knows - I may let a couple of them sit for a looooong time. This is really a long-term investment. I normally don't buy wine like that, but it was a good offer from a friend.
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Shog9 wrote:
Having to pay for the treatment of expensive illnesses isn't exactly the only downside of being fat - you also have to, you know, be sick a lot.
The wife and I were walking around a local festival a few weeks ago and she pointed out a few in-"duh"-viduals who must have weighed 400+ lbs. They were barely able to walk and looked quite pained to be doing so. Each was clutching a big bag of greasy, high calorie, high fat food. To me, it's quite obvious that most of the truly obese just don't give a damn.
Mike Mullikin wrote:
The wife and I were walking around a local festival a few weeks ago and she pointed out a few in-"duh"-viduals who must have weighed 400+ lbs. They were barely able to walk and looked quite pained to be doing so. Each was clutching a big bag of greasy, high calorie, high fat food. To me, it's quite obvious that most of the truly obese just don't give a damn.
I'm sure they give a damn, but they have various personality problems that stop them doing anything effective about it.
John Carson
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Nearly twice as many U.S. adults are obese compared to European, a key factor
leading Americans to suffer more often from cancer, diabetes and other chronic
ailments, a study released on Tuesday found.The United States spends significantly more per capita than any European country on
health care, about $2 trillion annually, or 16 percent of the gross domestic product.
While the big discrepancy has been linked to higher U.S. prices for medical treatment,
the report said a sicker population may also be a factor.So assuming a nationalized health care system displaced the convoluted system we have now, how would that address our relatively unhealthy population? What would be the incentive, short of government mandate, to not be so darned fat? Perhaps if medical bills were actually paid for by individuals, such that if they put down that twinky they might have lower costs...They might actually do so?
If liberals are not traitors, their only fallback argument at this point is that they're really stupid. -Ann Coulter
Actually it sounds like socialism keeps you slim while capitalism makes you fat. Some take it to the waist while others take it to the wallet.
This statement was never false.
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Mike Mullikin wrote:
The wife and I were walking around a local festival a few weeks ago and she pointed out a few in-"duh"-viduals who must have weighed 400+ lbs. They were barely able to walk and looked quite pained to be doing so. Each was clutching a big bag of greasy, high calorie, high fat food. To me, it's quite obvious that most of the truly obese just don't give a damn.
I'm sure they give a damn, but they have various personality problems that stop them doing anything effective about it.
John Carson
John Carson wrote:
they have various personality problems that stop them doing anything effective about it.
So do serial killers.
If liberals are not traitors, their only fallback argument at this point is that they're really stupid. -Ann Coulter
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Actually it sounds like socialism keeps you slim while capitalism makes you fat. Some take it to the waist while others take it to the wallet.
This statement was never false.
Chris-Kaiser wrote:
Actually it sounds like socialism keeps you slim while capitalism makes you fat. Some take it to the waist while others take it to the wallet.
European foods are not socialized, and the economic dynamics of their socialized health system mimics our own (i.e. the individual does not pay directly).
If liberals are not traitors, their only fallback argument at this point is that they're really stupid. -Ann Coulter
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Mike Mullikin wrote:
To me, it's quite obvious that most of the truly obese just don't give a damn.
Which raises a two-part question: 1. If they don't mind being fat, would they mind if they were penalized financially by paying for health care out of pocket? 2. If they really don't care, is it at all sensible that their health care costs be distributed evenly across a group at no extra cost to them (which is generally how group health care works)?
If liberals are not traitors, their only fallback argument at this point is that they're really stupid. -Ann Coulter
Red Stateler wrote:
2. If they really don't care, is it at all sensible that their health care costs be distributed evenly across a group at no extra cost to them (which is generally how group health care works)?
that is how health insurance works, period. in the case of group the costs are distributed across members of the group. in the case of individual health insurance, the group is comprised of all the others who buy insurance under the same policy form (plan). group is cheaper because the rates are sort of negotiated between the carier and the group.
Mike The NYT - my leftist brochure. Calling an illegal alien an “undocumented immigrant” is like calling a drug dealer an “unlicensed pharmacist”. God doesn't believe in atheists, therefore they don't exist.
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Chris-Kaiser wrote:
Actually it sounds like socialism keeps you slim while capitalism makes you fat. Some take it to the waist while others take it to the wallet.
European foods are not socialized, and the economic dynamics of their socialized health system mimics our own (i.e. the individual does not pay directly).
If liberals are not traitors, their only fallback argument at this point is that they're really stupid. -Ann Coulter
Red Stateler wrote:
European foods are not socialized, and the economic dynamics of their socialized health system mimics our own (i.e. the individual does not pay directly).
The European socialized health system is only socialized for citizens of their respective EU countries. In France, for example, I have to pay for my own health insurance (as a foreigner). Under such an insurance system, I am reimbursed a percentage of the state-mandated "typical" cost. So, the French government has something like a "fixed price" to treat, say, a broken arm. Let's say 100 Euros. I may go to a hospital and pay, say 120 Euros. The government price is like a "suggested retail price" and the actual price may vary. Depending on the level of private insurance I subscribe to I can be reimbursed 75% of the price, 100% of the price or up to 150% of the price (i.e. if the hospital charged me 200 Euros to treat my arm, I would be reimbursed up to 150 Euros). However, if I make too many claims, the insurance company reserves the right to cancel my contract with them...