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pdxwriter's comments:
on As We Are: Obese People
I have lived in Europe, and every time I fly back here I'm blown away when I leave the plane and airport and see how fat everyone is. I get that there are complex metabolic processes involved, and that not everyone can control their weight due to those things. But let's face it. People in Europe presumably have the same biology, and their population is much less fat. We do make choices. MOST people who are fat are fat due to their choices. So I would favor higher fees/deductibles for medical insurance for them (but not if they have relevant biological issues that prevent them from losing weight), and YES, also for those who smoke, don't wear helmets, etc. We charge people more for risky driving habits and for choosing homes on flood plains. Charging more for risky health choices just makes sense. And yes, I would favor coverage for classes and medical care to encourage weight loss, smoking cessation, etc. Some will argue that this is heartless, but right now we have all kinds of things that aren't covered (I once saw a show about kids' prosthetic devices not being covered because they grow so fast and there's a limit) because the system has to pay for medical problems that are preventable with reasonable life habits. We need to have compassion for them, too.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on As We Are: Obese People
I have lived in Europe, and every time I fly back here I'm blown away when I leave the plane and airport and see how fat everyone is. I get that there are complex metabolic processes involved, and that not everyone can control their weight due to those things. But let's face it. People in Europe presumably have the same biology, and their population is much less fat. We do make choices. MOST people who are fat are fat due to their choices. So I would favor higher fees/deductibles for medical insurance for them (but not if they have relevant biological issues that prevent them from losing weight), and YES, also for those who smoke, don't wear helmets, etc. We charge people more for risky driving habits and for choosing homes on flood plains. Charging more for risky health choices just makes sense. And yes, I would favor coverage for classes and medical care to encourage weight loss, smoking cessation, etc. Some will argue that this is heartless, but right now we have all kinds of things that aren't covered (I once saw a show about kids' prosthetic devices not being covered because they grow so fast and there's a limit) because the system has to pay for medical problems that are preventable with reasonable life habits. We need to have compassion for them, too.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Saving Your Pennies?
I have always been a saver. Wish I had been MORE rigorous at it at certain points in my life, but I've always lived within my means and saved. I used to take grief from colleagues for being frugal (go ahead! you deserve it!), but not anymore. My job will disappear in about a year, and I'm very glad I've saved all these years. Hopefully, I will have lined up another one by then, but it's so reassuring to know that I do have that financial cushion if needed.
Also, I didn't buy a house during this bubble because I thought it was unwise. Now, when I do have a stable job again, if I don't end up draining down savings, I will have a nice downpayment. The only way the housing market can rebound is for NEW buyers to get in, and the only people who can do that are those who saved. So this whole idea that people like me are a drain on the economy is nuts. If no one has any money to spend, how do you think anything is going to budge?
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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