Last night Steve Moore on ON THE RECORD at 10pm got many viewers fired up. The discussion was obesity and health care costs. As you know, obesity creates many health problems and with health problems come more costs. The question was weather those who are overweight should pay more for insurance. Our show email inbox was smoking after the segment! Yes, viewers have a viewed about this one!
I grabbed a few random ones - below - and posted them (minus email addresses and last names.) We had viewers from probably every state - including Alaska - emailing us.
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From: janice
Sent: Wed Nov 11 22:42:55 2009
Subject: HEALTH CARE
If we want to charge different premiums for those who are obese, then there should be a rate change for those who are anorexic, those who indulge in alcohol, those who use drugs, for those who are promiscuous, etc. Yes, obesity brings its own set of health problems, but so do other unhealthy indulgences. So are we going to have a premium schedule for people who have one infraction ( obesity ), a different rate for those who have two infractions ( alcohol and promiscuity ), you can see where this is going. Is that really rational?
Janice
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From: Naomi
Sent: Wed Nov 11 22:42:44 2009
Subject: HIGHER TAX FOR FATTIES
I'D LIKE TO SEE STEVE MOORE'S FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY. SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR HIS PREDISPOSED HEALTH ISSUES?
WHAT MAKES HIM THINK OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO WILL CAUSE HEALTH CARE EXPENSES?
MY FAMILY DOESN'T WEAR GLASSES, SO I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR HIS GLASSES OR ANY CHILDREN HE HAS WHO WEAR THEM. HOW ABOUT THAT!?
MARK MY WORDS, PEOPLE WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT WILL BECOME SUBJECTED TO PUBLIC RIDICULE, (OR EVEN VIOLENCE JUST AS THOSE WHO SMOKE CIGARETTES).
EXCEPT YOU CAN'T SECRETLY BE FAT, AS YOU CAN A SMOKER.
THIS IS GONNA GET UGLY.
NAOMI
ALASKA
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From: James
Sent: Wed Nov 11 22:43:19 2009
Subject: Weight and Health
I have weighed 180 lbs when a teen, and am twice the man I once was. I know painfully what struggling with weight is about. I have five children. Three have no weight issue at all, as do I. One does, and has to work very hard to avoid gaining, even though she eats very little, and well. Four are girls. The boy looked like he might have a problem, but things changed when he hit the teen years. While I agree that people who don't eat right, and who don't work out are not being responsible, I would point out that some of us overweight people DO attempt diligently to do these things, and yet still are overweight. A lot of it is genetic, and part is a result of our sedentary lifestyle coupled with bad food choices. It is dangerous to generalize and lump us all into the same group. And it is insulting to those of us who are overweight, fat, rotund, obese...who cannot seem to get control of our frame, to be judged so critically by others who have never had to face such a challenge because they were born with a tendency to remain thin no matter what they eat.
Jim
West Springfield, Massachusetts.
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----- Original Message -----
From: Bill
Sent: Wed Nov 11 22:50:12 2009
Subject: Overweight?
I am overweight because I am diabetic. I don't have
diabetes because I am overweight.
Also please check "Cushing's Syndrome."
Overweight isn't usually a problem of not pushing
away from the table. Eating is a basic survival
instinct, not an elective behavior.
Please skip the legal reasons for not charging more
for insurance for fat people. Please consider the medical
On this issue I prefer not to inject politics: seems people get too caught up in the politics rather than the obesity issue. (birther and obesity-what???) Don't those "high-risk" people get asked those questions on insurance applications-life, car and health? It's for a reason. Regardless I'm a bit passionate about obesity. I just believe we have more control than we think we do. When I see people loading up on the cheese fries appetizer at Chili's I believe they can say no. Look at kids today!!
I found the post just below the dotted line right here, and I do believe it is the most precise explanation of how I feel about Personal Freedoms, WE are LOSING that battle, Why? Because we VOTERS have refused to stand up for others who are UNDER ATTACK, FOR Smoking, For being Obese...and the list will go on, and on,..until our Government Elites control it all. Oh,..... in my view!.
---------------------------------------------------------
Thank you!!! A voice of intelligence. I gave this same presentation in school a few years ago. The fact that smokers are constantly being persecuted and treated like lepers anymore. I told everyone "You're next." No one bothers to defend the TRUE ISSUE: FREEDOM OF CHOICE. Funny how irate people get when it starts hitting home in their corner of the world, isn't it? Then they get furious... join the club, folks. If our government can tax it, they will.
We each have our individual weight problems and it is up to each one of us to deal with our own problems individually. I believe Obama needs to get his nose out of our business and stay off my TV screen!
Having a nervous stomach is an extremely unpleasant ailment to live with but is the cause of many overweight and underweight problems. For those of us with either of these problems, it is up to us individually to find the best solution to our weight problems.
WAIT A SEC... to the person who said of course obese people should payer higher...
I have a sister-in-law who is skinny and has severe health problems. Where does anyone get off saying this about obese people? My mother is skinny and has nutritional issues.
Yes it is true, it is all about choices for most, hence why there are those who are poor at making right choices.... but regardless... who is going to decide if its "genetic" or by choice? OH YEAH... the government!!
How about the Government stay out of our lives. How about we
all pay our own way. How about we keep the fruits of our labor.
How about Obama show his birth certificate. How about we have more respect for our military people. How about we protect
the Constitution. How about we call the War on TERROR, the War
On TERROR. How about all those that love Mao, just move
to Red China. Individual Liberty trumps all EVIL! People, prepare to vote these left leaning liberals out of office 2010,
2012.
The problem with obesity is seeing oneself as a victim. We do have power to improve our condition. I would have thought this was the American way. There are serious consequences for others that go beyond the individual drinkers, smokers and obese. Drinkers cause automobile deaths way beyond the norm, smokers cause themselves and their families serious health and financial issues. I don't wish to pick on the obese but have to admit I don't like having half their body on my airplane seat.
If unemployment keeps going up and prices in the grocery store continue to skyrocket we will all be thin people sooner rather than later. I miss my "spare tire" already.
Yes, of course, obese people should pay higher rates. It is a fact that they use the system much more than slim people. Also, it is a fact that much obesity has been caused by increased availability of fast food. Parents start the trend by taking kids to these fast food places rather than fixing meals at home. Very few cases of genetic obesity exist.
My thoughts on the Government PICKING one small group to vilify and then TAX are below. But explaining where these Socialist get the IDEAL they can IMPOSE their OBAMA CARE on any AMERICAN CITIZEN, telling you IN EFFECT,,....YOU WILL PURCHASE OBAMA CARE or we WILL SEND YOU TO JAIL is OPPRESSION IN MY VIEW...but they have gotten away with these Socialist tactics before without a Peep from the other citizens, so remember the sad refrains heard AFTER the WAR in Nazi Germany, they came for the Jews, I was not Jewish so I did not complain or protest, They come for the Gays and as I was Not Gay, I did not complain, then later, when they came for me, there was no one left to complain, we are there fellow voters, you let our government go after an TAX Smokers, a small minority, now they have chosen the Obease, another relativeley small mostly poor group of Amrericans to isolate, then FINE for Being OBESE, and YES, now you are the VICTIM, OBAMA CARE will IMPOSE this, YOU WILL PURCHASE THE GOVERNMENT RUN OBAMA CARE or GO TO JAIL, So who now speaks up to protect your rights to this IMPOSING OF A NEW TAX< FINE WHAT EVER YOU CHOOSE TO CALL IT. HOW MANY COLLEGE STUDENTS can afford OBAMA CARE? HOW MANY OF THEIR PARENTS WILL THEN BE FORCED TO PAY FOR THAT POLICY? YOU DECIDE FELLOW VOTERS...Next Years Elections can NOT come soon enough in my view!
Fellow citizens, in my view, if you agreed with the Clinton policy of TAXING Smokers, Which in effect penalized one small group of our citizens because the government did not like the Product they used, SO,..in effect they IMPOSED a FINE in the form of higher taxes that affect only one small group of our Citizens. They in effect ROBBED THEM, THESE WERE MOSTLY THE POOR BY THE WAY, as are the majority of the OBESE...Now, they intend to PICK-OUT to ISOLATE,.. the Obese in the same manner, what will be next? I had forgot, the LIBS already picked out their NEXT VICTIMS,..YOU! Thats correct fellow Citizens, YOU WILL OBAMA SAYS, BUY MY OBAMA CARE OR GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL,..So instead of IMPOSING a TAX, they SIMPLY make a LAW, YOU WILL DO THIS OR ELSE! IS this Tyranny? You Betcha!
This is another ruse to increase taxes and blame a group of people who are not the only issue with healthcare cost in America. You "dummies" need to see what the real intent is here.
i bet those overweight people had no problem when they raised cigerette taxes to extreme...what comes around goes around....now go eat a salad you lard butt's
83% have insurance coverage now (private or public), Senate bill expected to raise that to 94% leaving 6% for whom, (according to Congressional Budget Office) even with government subsidy, gov plan just won't be "affordable". Majority of OBESE are low income~if their rates go up, the rest of us pay for it becoming a way to raise premiums on everyone else. Or many could fall into the 6% working but can't afford the premiums class increasing it & requiring expansion of plan and increasing cost.
GET AWAY WITH TAXING FAT PEOPLE? OBUMS WIFE HAS HIPS LIKE A SEMI-TRUCK! WILL SHE PAY MORE? DOUBT IT. THEY HAVE DOUBLE STANDARDS. ONE FOR AMERICAN TAX PAYER, ONE FOR THE POLITICIANS. LYING, DIRY RAT DOGS.
The same was said about ALCOHOL, Then came CIGS, and now it is FAT PEOPLE. IT is nothing short of discrimination and utterly pathetic to single out groups of people based on how much taxes or medical cost we may or may not have to pay now or sometime in the future. And just how do you know that you are or will actually be paying more for healthcare due to the imprefections of the choices that another human being has made? The answer is you don't! You only know what our gov. tells you.
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perspective
On this issue I prefer not to inject politics: seems people get too caught up in the politics rather than the obesity issue. (birther and obesity-what???) Don't those "high-risk" people get asked those questions on insurance applications-life, car and health? It's for a reason. Regardless I'm a bit passionate about obesity. I just believe we have more control than we think we do. When I see people loading up on the cheese fries appetizer at Chili's I believe they can say no. Look at kids today!!
yep1948
I found the post just below the dotted line right here, and I do believe it is the most precise explanation of how I feel about Personal Freedoms, WE are LOSING that battle, Why? Because we VOTERS have refused to stand up for others who are UNDER ATTACK, FOR Smoking, For being Obese...and the list will go on, and on,..until our Government Elites control it all. Oh,..... in my view!. --------------------------------------------------------- Thank you!!! A voice of intelligence. I gave this same presentation in school a few years ago. The fact that smokers are constantly being persecuted and treated like lepers anymore. I told everyone "You're next." No one bothers to defend the TRUE ISSUE: FREEDOM OF CHOICE. Funny how irate people get when it starts hitting home in their corner of the world, isn't it? Then they get furious... join the club, folks. If our government can tax it, they will.
MozyM
We each have our individual weight problems and it is up to each one of us to deal with our own problems individually. I believe Obama needs to get his nose out of our business and stay off my TV screen!
MozyM
Having a nervous stomach is an extremely unpleasant ailment to live with but is the cause of many overweight and underweight problems. For those of us with either of these problems, it is up to us individually to find the best solution to our weight problems.
Fay in NY
Wouldn't obesity be a pre existing condition? Can't charge more for that. Nancy says so!
GBAinMich
WAIT A SEC... to the person who said of course obese people should payer higher... I have a sister-in-law who is skinny and has severe health problems. Where does anyone get off saying this about obese people? My mother is skinny and has nutritional issues. Yes it is true, it is all about choices for most, hence why there are those who are poor at making right choices.... but regardless... who is going to decide if its "genetic" or by choice? OH YEAH... the government!!
mary51
why dont they TAXES the FDA and the food industry the're the ones that are doing it. I can hear crap hitting the fan on that!!!!!
Jo
How about the Government stay out of our lives. How about we all pay our own way. How about we keep the fruits of our labor. How about Obama show his birth certificate. How about we have more respect for our military people. How about we protect the Constitution. How about we call the War on TERROR, the War On TERROR. How about all those that love Mao, just move to Red China. Individual Liberty trumps all EVIL! People, prepare to vote these left leaning liberals out of office 2010, 2012.
perspective
The problem with obesity is seeing oneself as a victim. We do have power to improve our condition. I would have thought this was the American way. There are serious consequences for others that go beyond the individual drinkers, smokers and obese. Drinkers cause automobile deaths way beyond the norm, smokers cause themselves and their families serious health and financial issues. I don't wish to pick on the obese but have to admit I don't like having half their body on my airplane seat.
Obesity will disappear in the near future. . .
If unemployment keeps going up and prices in the grocery store continue to skyrocket we will all be thin people sooner rather than later. I miss my "spare tire" already.
PTA
Yes, of course, obese people should pay higher rates. It is a fact that they use the system much more than slim people. Also, it is a fact that much obesity has been caused by increased availability of fast food. Parents start the trend by taking kids to these fast food places rather than fixing meals at home. Very few cases of genetic obesity exist.
yep1948
My thoughts on the Government PICKING one small group to vilify and then TAX are below. But explaining where these Socialist get the IDEAL they can IMPOSE their OBAMA CARE on any AMERICAN CITIZEN, telling you IN EFFECT,,....YOU WILL PURCHASE OBAMA CARE or we WILL SEND YOU TO JAIL is OPPRESSION IN MY VIEW...but they have gotten away with these Socialist tactics before without a Peep from the other citizens, so remember the sad refrains heard AFTER the WAR in Nazi Germany, they came for the Jews, I was not Jewish so I did not complain or protest, They come for the Gays and as I was Not Gay, I did not complain, then later, when they came for me, there was no one left to complain, we are there fellow voters, you let our government go after an TAX Smokers, a small minority, now they have chosen the Obease, another relativeley small mostly poor group of Amrericans to isolate, then FINE for Being OBESE, and YES, now you are the VICTIM, OBAMA CARE will IMPOSE this, YOU WILL PURCHASE THE GOVERNMENT RUN OBAMA CARE or GO TO JAIL, So who now speaks up to protect your rights to this IMPOSING OF A NEW TAX< FINE WHAT EVER YOU CHOOSE TO CALL IT. HOW MANY COLLEGE STUDENTS can afford OBAMA CARE? HOW MANY OF THEIR PARENTS WILL THEN BE FORCED TO PAY FOR THAT POLICY? YOU DECIDE FELLOW VOTERS...Next Years Elections can NOT come soon enough in my view!
yep1948
Fellow citizens, in my view, if you agreed with the Clinton policy of TAXING Smokers, Which in effect penalized one small group of our citizens because the government did not like the Product they used, SO,..in effect they IMPOSED a FINE in the form of higher taxes that affect only one small group of our Citizens. They in effect ROBBED THEM, THESE WERE MOSTLY THE POOR BY THE WAY, as are the majority of the OBESE...Now, they intend to PICK-OUT to ISOLATE,.. the Obese in the same manner, what will be next? I had forgot, the LIBS already picked out their NEXT VICTIMS,..YOU! Thats correct fellow Citizens, YOU WILL OBAMA SAYS, BUY MY OBAMA CARE OR GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL,..So instead of IMPOSING a TAX, they SIMPLY make a LAW, YOU WILL DO THIS OR ELSE! IS this Tyranny? You Betcha!
If you believe this tripe..you are an idiot
This is another ruse to increase taxes and blame a group of people who are not the only issue with healthcare cost in America. You "dummies" need to see what the real intent is here.
ron
i bet those overweight people had no problem when they raised cigerette taxes to extreme...what comes around goes around....now go eat a salad you lard butt's
mac
83% have insurance coverage now (private or public), Senate bill expected to raise that to 94% leaving 6% for whom, (according to Congressional Budget Office) even with government subsidy, gov plan just won't be "affordable". Majority of OBESE are low income~if their rates go up, the rest of us pay for it becoming a way to raise premiums on everyone else. Or many could fall into the 6% working but can't afford the premiums class increasing it & requiring expansion of plan and increasing cost.
mdl
Just another example of TAX THE OTHER GUY NOT ME.
TO PUT THE DAMM CAKE DOWN.........BURP...BURP SORRY I ONLY LIKE
PIE!!!!HEE HEE
HOW CAN GOVERMENT AND INSURANCE COMPANIES EVEN THINK THEY COULD
GET AWAY WITH TAXING FAT PEOPLE? OBUMS WIFE HAS HIPS LIKE A SEMI-TRUCK! WILL SHE PAY MORE? DOUBT IT. THEY HAVE DOUBLE STANDARDS. ONE FOR AMERICAN TAX PAYER, ONE FOR THE POLITICIANS. LYING, DIRY RAT DOGS.
Illusion
The same was said about ALCOHOL, Then came CIGS, and now it is FAT PEOPLE. IT is nothing short of discrimination and utterly pathetic to single out groups of people based on how much taxes or medical cost we may or may not have to pay now or sometime in the future. And just how do you know that you are or will actually be paying more for healthcare due to the imprefections of the choices that another human being has made? The answer is you don't! You only know what our gov. tells you.