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J. Clarke J. Clarke is offline
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Default Germany considers tax on the obese.

On 7/25/2010 12:24 PM, jmcquown wrote:
> "Dave Smith" > wrote in message
> . ..
>> walt tonne wrote:
>>> On Jul 25, 6:07 am, walt tonne > wrote:
>>>> http://www.aolnews.com/world/article...tax-on-the-obe...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> About time somebody made the move.
>>>
>>> I see people 30 - 60 years old using mobility carts in the
>>> supermarket.
>>> Nothing wrong with them except overeating.
>>>

>>
>> How do you know there is nothing wrong with them except overeating?
>> Perhaps they have a condition that makes it very painful to get
>> exercise. It can cause a downward spiral. They can't exercise because
>> of pain, they gain weight and it gets increasingly painful.

>
> (crossposting snipped)
>
> A few years ago after my brother had surgery he wanted to go to the
> grocery store. He wasn't *obviously* impaired but the doctor told him to
> stay off his feet for a few days. He wanted to stock up on food on the
> way home from the hospital. He used one of those motarized carts because
> the doctor told him not to walk. I'm sure lots of people would have
> looked at him and assumed "lazy" rather than "doctor's orders". Not
> everyone who needs those carts is old (or fat).


In any case, the "fat tax" is exactly the sort of micromanagement that
opponents of government-controlled medicine fear and that its advocates
say will never happen.