Is President Obama’s wellness initiative a plan to legalize discrimination?
Years of medical research confirms that genetics predetermine much of who we are. Our grandfathers knew this when they coined the phrase; "An apple doesn’t fall from the tree". In president Obama’s Health care plan a "wellness initiative" is proposed whereby those who are obese will be fined for their susceptibility to medical complications. Since geneticists have confirmed that many people are obese because of their genetic predisposition then, is the fine imposed under the Wellness initiative discriminatory and unconstitutional?
You are misstating the issue. Genetics plays a role, certainly. You can be predisposed to arteriosclerosis, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, certain cancers, and yes even obesity… but that does not mean your destiny is carved in stone. It just means you have to work harder to stay healthy. Using your genetics as an excuse for being fat… or anything else is a cop-out.
As to the "fine" you refer to for being fat, I don’t know enough about whether there are any allowances for health conditions that could contribute to a person being obese to say for sure, but since obesity is already classified as a disability, I would say it "could" be considered discriminatory… again depending on how it is decided. If contributory conditions were factored in, I would have no problem with the otherwise healthy obese having to pay more… just like I wouldn’t have a problem with smokers paying more.
March 9th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Sure – Obesidy, Homosexuality, and Racism are all genetic features. Oh please, give me a break.
I use to be fat, I didn’t blame it on My mom or Dad, I got up and exercized daily and now I’m in better shape than half the kids that picked on me in Middle School.
Why should Americans who struggle to stay healthy, who sacrifice time and energy to keep from having to run to the doctor – why should WE pay the same as those who don’t care what they eat or do, and just sit around the house all day watching CNN and FOXNeWS?
No offense if you are overweight, I am not one of those health-nuts, if you want to get in shape, you gotta stop being lazy
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March 9th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
James with Obama care you can choose to take better care of yourself/ Living longer and losing the weight.
Maybe one day you will stop hating yourself.
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March 9th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
You are misstating the issue. Genetics plays a role, certainly. You can be predisposed to arteriosclerosis, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, certain cancers, and yes even obesity… but that does not mean your destiny is carved in stone. It just means you have to work harder to stay healthy. Using your genetics as an excuse for being fat… or anything else is a cop-out.
As to the "fine" you refer to for being fat, I don’t know enough about whether there are any allowances for health conditions that could contribute to a person being obese to say for sure, but since obesity is already classified as a disability, I would say it "could" be considered discriminatory… again depending on how it is decided. If contributory conditions were factored in, I would have no problem with the otherwise healthy obese having to pay more… just like I wouldn’t have a problem with smokers paying more.
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I’ve been a health/wellness consultant and writer for over 35 years