Reuters, the news agency that doesn't like to call islamic terrorists terrorists has found a group they can rail against: Fat people.
In this latest pro-socialism piece, Michael Kahn discusses the evil things obese people do... like... eat and go places.
Citing additional requirements in terms of food and fuel for transportation (because, in a 1 ton car, an extra 40 pounds matters enough to be cranky about it), Kahn rails against the obese.
The same arguments are there as ever. Fat people suck because they're not thin so they take up more space and eat more food.
I'd like to point out where their argument breaks down. BMI
The WHO, World Health Organization (A UN group, about as useless as the rest of the UN), uses a BMI to determine one's obesity level.
About half a dozen or so years ago, they fiddled with the numbers to change what an obese or overweight person is, increasing their numbers. Then the stories started about how we're getting MORE obese!
Let's look at a few examples of these new overweight or obese people, shall we?
Jackie Chan, martial arts expert and action movie star (and all around good guy) is considered to be overweight per the WHO's new BMI standards.
Governor Arnold from CA? He's obese!
As you can guess, the BMI is a poor indicator of what overweight or obese is, but the BMI doesn't serve that purpose... the purpose it serves is to further the poltiical agenda of groups like the WHO, who wants to make policy that affects you, even though they are not a part of our government.
They aren't limiting themselves to the global warming junk either. They are also trying to institute a UN ban on firearms for its member nations.
Frankly, I predicted this long ago. They have long since demonized smokers, so now they're going after fat people. It started with calls for bans or warnings on soda.... some school districts in the US now have a ban on candy (there was even a recent story about a class president and honor student who was suspended for buying a pack of skittles.) . .. In England, there are calls for special taxes on fat people because they're fat.
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I think you're turning a 'Being overweight is a problem that we must work to fix' movement into a 'lol all fat people suck and must be put down' movement.
The fact is that people can help being fat. Yes, genetics play a large part in the formation, but a good diet and exercise (something everyone should do) can offset it. I'm not saying everyone will be a size 0 with a model-esque body, but everyone has the opportunity and the ability to lead a healthy lifestyle, and to also look healthy.
Now, you're right, the BMI index is not a perfect system of measuring people's weight. People with muscular bodies don't fit into the BMI index because muscle is denser than fat. However, I'm going to guess that an overwhelming majority of Americans (at least 90%) are not as physically fit and muscular as Jackie Chan or Arnold Schwarzeneggar. The BMI index is not perfect, but for normal people who aren't bodybuilders it is an adequate guideline.
There's also the argument that 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure'. Weight-related issues are an incredibly strain on this country's medical system. Fewer overweight people would decrease the amount of costs related to treating the plethora of problems that associate being overweight. If we help people from becoming fat in the first place, that significantly (perhaps even dramatically) reduces costs to our healthcare industries, which may help lead to things like lower premiums. Preventing people from becoming obese is far more cost-efficient than treating people who ARE obese. Even Hippocrates in ancient Greece knew that a thin person would be healthier than a fat person.
Half of the US population, even by conservative estimates, is overweight to some degree. That is a problem, and one that we should work to fix. I'm not saying everyone should be forced to walk three miles a day to ensure their thinness, but taking proactive steps is advisable, according to almost every single doctor and medical association I can think of.
I disagree with your UN stance, but I'm not going to try to talk about it here. Even if I didn't change your mind, I hope that you at least realize what I am saying.
PS -- And yes, an extra 40 pounds does affect the car. That's why people say keeping your car clean and empty of 'junk in the trunk' increases gas mileage.
The BMI did not show sufficient 'overweight' or 'obese' people for the WHO to continue its rants against obesity, so a handful of years ago they changed the levels, then came out with reports that obesity is on the rise and we're all fat. . .. that doesn't seem odd to you?
As for medical costs, that IS the issue. Right now I pay for my medical costs and I pay for my insurance. Therefore, any costs associated with being overweight are paid by me.
Here's the kicker: I have the ability and freedom to be thin or fat. You don't get a say in what kind of shape I am in, and I don't get a say in what kind of shape you are in.
Under unversal healthcare, we don't get a say in what kind of shape we are in. The government determines what kind of shape we're allowed to be in and taxes those who are not meeting that standard.
I would agree with that, but I would disagree with the assertion that based on the BMI, half of americans are a drain on the healthcare system because they do not meet the BMI's standards for 'normal weight.'
It affects it much less than you would think. Kind of like the canard that keeping your truck's tailgate down 'saves' gas by reducing drag.
You want to save fuel, petition that Al Gore doesn't fly everywhere in a private jet to be met by a train of SUVs and limos.
Talk about excess spenditures of fuel..
The fact is that people can help being fat. Yes, genetics play a large part in the formation, but a good diet and exercise (something everyone should do) can offset it.
Not in all cases. There are many cases where people are very active and are to the point of being anal retentive and are still morbidly obese. The thyroid plays a huge part for these people. This is partially why the focus has changed from being "thin" to being "fit" (the way it should be) by being active and eating good and not worrying as much about the numbers on the scale.
The BMI index is not perfect, but for normal people who aren't bodybuilders it is an adequate guideline.
No it's not. The BMI does not take into account pretty much anything. According to the BMI, my healthy weight range is 125-160. I'm 5'8", even when I was playing basketball and running 5-6 nights a week for 2-5 hours a night (not much specific weight lifting, the muscle I gained was lean and derived from the act of playing basketball), I was still 175, which put me smack in the middle of overweight and I was on the verge of skin and bones. Why? Because I have a large frame, which the BMI doesn't take into account (go figure).
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
That's ok, once we have universal healthcare, they'll tax you more for being considered overweight by the bmi, that'll make everything better.
Well, not better for YOU, but hen again, helping the people isn't the point of socialism.
And unless you're in the small-frame category, you're in the same boat as well.
Besides, healthcare had nothing to do with what I was saying. The BMI is a sham and always has been. I don't care who's using it.
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
Of course it is. It is just another avenue for people to push socialized medicine and, when it wasn't working well enough, they altered it to make the problem look bigger.
It is the same with the people who talk about the number of 'uninsured' people who can't afford insurance in this country. They tout 47 million uninsured, but when you look at their fine print, they include illegal immigrants and people who choose to not have health insurance.
All of it is false information so that the common person will support giving up their own freedoms for the sake of dependence on the government.
I knew those bastards did something funny. I remember a few years ago my sister came home from school all upset because in science class they looked at it and class and apparently she and most of the girls in her class are overweight. I never rely on BMI anyway, I have a mirror.
Black - Meke
“I hope the departure is joyful and I hope never to return.” - Frida Kahlo