OBAMACARE ARCHITECT WANTS “FAT TAX”
|| By FITSNEWS || Need some additional motivation to get yourself to the gym? Or watch those calories? U.S. president Barack Obama‘s socialized medicine architect – the one who called you “stupid” – has got you covered.
In April 2010, Gruber – having just helped pass Obama’s socialized medicine monstrosity – wrote a paper urging that Americans be taxed according to their body weight. Gruber’s treatise – entitled “Taxing Sin To Modify Behavior and Raise Revenue” – included a recommendation to impose the “weighty” new levies.
“What may be needed to address the obesity problem are direct taxes on body weight,” he wrote.
Wow …
Wait … wasn’t the whole idea behind Obamacare to get young, healthy people to pay for sick, old people (which isn’t happening)? Not get fatties to pay more?
Anyway, it turns out Obamacare is indirectly taxing obese people by allowing employers to charge them higher health insurance premiums. Prior to the passage of the law, employers could impose a 20 percent premium on employees who failed to attain a healthy BMI (body mass index). As of last year, that premium hiked to 30 percent – with future increases likely.
Two years ago, S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley declared a “war on fat” in the Palmetto State – which suffers from disproportionately high levels of obesity.
What did that war consist of? Nothing … which is fine with us.
Markets, not government mandates are what’s needed to restore sanity to the health care debate in America …
71 comments
This is just awful, awful! Next thing you know they’ll be charging extra for smokers! I bet they’ll even justify it by saying smokers are more likely to have health problems or some other bullshit like that! Everyone else needs to pay for my bad choices in life!
Stupid science and its stupid little facts!
State employees now pay a $30 smoking surcharge every pay period–$60/month
As they should.
should be more.
This is about the market, not about taxes. Insurance premies are higher for smokers already. The thinking is, they are a bigger draw on the insurance money and so they should be higher contributors. The obesity premiums are the exact same thing, not a tax.
I think idiot bloggers who post things that get people un-neccesarily “riled up” should pay a higher insurance premium for contributing the overall stress level of society.
Origin of HIV & AIDS | AVERT
http://www.avert.org/origin-hiv-aids.htm
AVERT
Where did AIDS come from and how was HIV spread? … A number of gay men in New York and California suddenly began to develop rare … (and indeed some remain so today), there is now clear evidence to prove that HIV causes AIDS.
gay men have a higher risk of contracting AIDS. Why don’t they pay more for health insurance?
Checks out, I got @^%!&^ *#@%&!*& HIV from Flip.
You can’t catch fat.
what do you mean, it’s harder to miss fat people
No, he means that if you are chasing one on it’s way to a buffet table, you’ll never catch it.
Safe sex = 99% no HIV. Pretty darn preventable
Watch food intake, exercise = no obesity. Pretty darn preventable
You CAN catch stupid, at least have it piled higher and deeper (MS and Ph.D.)
Black women make up 64% of new AIDS cases in SC.
The Liberal mindset:
Private Business discriminating against Fatso’s= “Shame on those bad, evil corporations!”
Government discriminating against Fatso’s= “Those fat fuckers deserve it!”
In a nut shell. It’s laughable.
Aye there’s the rub. It’s discrimination depending on who it suits. Government discriminating against gay couples = because it’s an abomination.
A cake baker discriminating against gays = he’s an American hero.
“It’s discrimination depending on who it suits.”
I see it a bit differently. Everyone knows it’s discrimination in my mind, they just disagree on who should be able to do it and under what circumstances.
The free market approach would say that insurers (not gov’t…despite whatever equal protections may apply) should be allowed to charge fatties more to cover the cost of their care instead of healthy people subsidizing it. The problem with that approach is that given enough time, the free market would effectively price out fatties from coverage and would fall back onto the gov’t to pay for their care.
In the context of a fat tax I speak of, we are not taxing the fatties themselves but rather the foods they eat. It’s a bit of a complex formula on how to tax individual food items but the basic gist of it is that the more % of fat per serving a food contains, the higher the tax. So that way there is no discrimination.
“The problem with that approach is that given enough time, the free
market would effectively price out fatties from coverage and would fall
back onto the gov’t to pay for their care.”
This post seems to contradict your other one:
“It’s a conservative, free market approach and I don’t see why Fits won’t get behind it.”
So is Obamacare free market or not?
Fair question.
I DO NOT endorse a discriminatory levy on fat people vis a vis the insurance industry.
I DO endorse a tax on the fat % in food items.
“Fair question.”
I’m glad you thought so. You didn’t answer it though, is the ACA free market?
Let me state for the record I am not a fan of ACA. It was dreamed up in GOP think tanks after all, well before Obama ever got hold of it.
The ACA’s glaring problem is that it relies on private enterprise to conduct a public function, so in that respect it’s not free market but it’s not fully gubmint either as the idea behind it was to get enough people in it to share the expenses and drive down costs (a free market concept).
I would have much preferred to see a single payer option similar to the UK’s NHS or Australia’s Medicare…where the privatization of health care occurs in a limited capacity. Sure the Dems would have been relegated to the dust bin of political power for a bit, but once people saw the benefits of universal coverage and the near elimination of greed through the private insurance sector…it would have caught on and eventually they would have returned to power. However, they pussed out and passed this frankenstein law…which is still better than the GOP’s just hurry up and die policy.
Premiums should be higher for gays as well.
Why is that?
If we are discussing behavior that is higher risk for diseases, it certainly is right there with obesity.
Cause they caused aids or something. What are you talking about? Wouldn’t everybody be at equal risk? I would think sexual active heterosexual couples would have more issues because of the nature of intercourse. Time to do some research on the subject.
premiums should die, as should the whole stupid abstraction called money. barter has naturl limits on greed. money? nope. (not that I read the actual thread, mind you. I come here rarely….till now. suddenly, channels! just exploring…)
Well said, when you actually study how a fat tax would work it makes sense. It’s a conservative, free market approach and I don’t see why Fits won’t get behind it. Just like alcohol and tobacco, the tax would still allow you to be as fat as you want and eat what you want…you just have to pay more for the privilege.
Why should free market consumers be forced to pay more in premiums to cover people who don’t give a shit and drain health care dollars?
The Governor of SC us a psychopath though. This article just made me more made at the women. “War of Fat” after she cuts peoples food stamps because they are “LAZY” and “FAT” so you don’t deserve food stamps. If you need food stamps and you are working the allotted amount(at least for me) I am told I need to work more and go to a work program, when I already work more than 40 hours a week making a measly 7.85 an hour, no overtime pay.
Ookie Dookie, seems reasonable to me, but when then mention of people on the Government’s dime is brought up the Left goes off the rails. I know, I know the stereo type is ALL Conservatives and libertarians are doughy, flabby, rich, white, people so this is why this is pushed.
I agree.Don’t dare try and take chips and cookies out of that cart that is being paid for with an EBT Card (food stamps).
Be called a racist if they can’t buy those Sugar Smacks or Fruit Loops.
Drug testing for any form of welfare is a good idea as well. I was subject to random drug testing all my employed life. Why should it not be required for those we the taxpayers are supporting ? I guess that makes me a racist white pig. Oink Oink LOL
Didn’t Florida spend more on testing welfare recipients than it saved cutting drug users off of welfare programs? If you want to catch drug users then test the politicians.
We need to drug test those on Medicare.
yeah, those guys get the good shit
How about drug testing for anyone who gets a check from the Government, Federal or State. That sounds fair to me. Politicians, Staff, government employees, social security recipients, SSI recipients, members of the military, etc. etc.
Because we only want a reasonable standard of substance for “deserving” people and you get to decide who is deserving? I’ll go along with this–as long as you apply the same standard to anyone receiving or connected to gov’t support–to include farmers, people on disability, the elderly, people on Medicaid, which is 90% people with children in household and the elderly, etc. Want to keep going? Good. Multiple studies have shown that the cost of testing the benefit recipients FAR outweighs any real or potential benefit to the taxpayer. So, crusade on, hero
That’s cause doughy, flabby, rich, white are the majority of the people on the gov’t dime.
Finally something that will get FITS drunk and Fat@$$ followers to turn on Obamacare…
Of course if you get Medicaid, Medicare, Welfare, Section 8 housing, Food Stamps, Obama-phone and Gore-Internet….
Do they really CARE…???
From reading the comments, a lot of them will praise Obolacare even as they are being marched into the euthanasia wards for “the good of society”.
404 Twilight Zone Not Found
Statements so stupid.
You really have to stand back and laugh at this kind of crap. Used to be these guys would be limited to shouting at cars with a sign saying the end is near, but now thanks to the power of the internet you can get your daily dose of retard conspiracy in the comfort of your own home.
Sadly you are correct. They are the most Lemming in history…
Are you the president of the Palin for President fan club? Believe me, your insurance company is and has been marching you off in to the last year of your life for a lot longer than your insurance (under ACA or Romneycare) ) has been around–and are much more skilled.. You probably think they are your friend
You are fat and on Medicare. Why do you hate yourself so much? I don’t mind my tax dollars helping you out.
I know you are….but what are you…Dumb@$$…
You get gov’t assistance for your healthcare, right? You’re welcome, Fucking idiot.
Liberal myth much?
It’s true. We all know it. You’re welcome.
Yes I do. It’s called Tricare. Fucking POS
Was not typing to you, but you’re welcome none the less.
I really do appreciate your supporting me with healthcare, a pension, disability. But really, if it’s that much of a problem for you, I will refund your contribution. Here’s your $1 back
You keep it, buddy. Glad to help.
Rakkasan? Is that you Flip or another GT handle? lol ;-)
Good comeback Pee Wee
Hey good to see Grandasshatliarcoward finally gets his pic on this site.
I love you!
Does this mean that people who intentionally engage in high risk, self-destructive practices such as promiscuity and alcohol/ tobacco use deserve to pay a higher tax? How many billions are spent on HIV research? Time to pay up!
Ugh, fat people. How disgusting.
Great! Extra charges will surely be on the way soon for those with a genetic predisposition toward having high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, vision problems, and orther health issues. In some cases, thiz may indict you because of your racial heritage/background. That’s okay though. Nanny government knows what is best for you and your peers in society.
… and the sheep all went “baaaa”…
Maybe I would feel bad if it was a risk tied to something they couldn’t change, but I think not making a fourth trip to the buffet line is pretty easy to fix.
Fat people should be banned from restaurants offering buffets.
Your name is Logical Error. “Slippery Slope”(not and Asian slur) fallacy fell out of fashion a while back. Well, I guess maybe not so much on positions based in fear, paranoia, and a sense of persecution
Anyone else catch that Obama is indirectly taxing people by letting their employers charge fat people a little more than they could before? Optional charges that your employer decides whether or not to charge you that doesn’t go into the government coffers are taxes now, hurray!
If government stepped out of the way completely it would allow employers to charge fat employees whatever they want, not just 30 percent.
I can see why this proposal would frightening to South Carolinians. Can you guys at least try to be less of a burden on the rest of us?
Someone has to be the dumbest state in the union, might as well take volunteers.
SC is a magnet for stupidity. Can we ship our less motivated morons to you guys?
I love a man with a big butt,and can take it deep.Am I gonna have to go back to fucking cows?
odd bit of pandering by Fits. he figures most of his readership are wearing mu-mus and will side with him, but remember, evil doesn’t know its evil, rich people think they are middle class, and fat people probably don’t consider themselves fat.
I have Hypothyroidism. I do not have the option of any form of health care(SC has no Medicaid). My food stamps is unreliable, and I am constantly forced to ingest only my work food(which isn’t too bad, but it isn’t great. The only vegetables are lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and pickles). The only healthy item would be the low carb platter with grilled chicken. How am I suppose to have a proper diet, and loose weight when I can’t even eat food regularly? I can only afford one half priced meal at work a day when I have no food stamps that I put on my time card. If I do not eat at work I will not get through my double shifts. I constantly have low blood sugar, and wish I could get medication to balance my weight and stabilize my thyroid. Unfortunately, I cannot. I am not huge and need a handicap chair in Walmart, but I am not my ideal weight. I am way over my healthy weight of 180. I have a higher muscle mass than most women due to my body type.