01-25-2013, 06:10 PM
Manlove wrote:
Hmm. To stop smoking stop putting cigarettes in your mouth. At some point you have the last one- don't buy another pack. To stop smoking you actually have to NOT smoke. Sounds tautological when put like that, but really, that truth has to sink in. And that truth can't sink in until you WANT to stop smoking. I didn't stop until I wanted to stop. Then I stopped. I discontinued what I was doing. Not being smug, just pointing out the obvious. You want to talk about addiction? Okay. The physical need dissipates fairly quickly. If you can keep yourself in line mentally, then you can overcome the physical need. You have to want to quit, not just feel like it, or say "I know I should, but I can't" because that is not wanting to. That's just negating the possibility.
Smoking and being seriously overweight are both indicators of being in general poor health and those in poor health are likely to cost more to heal and then keep healthy.
About the discrimination aspect, how many groups need to be included before it's not discrimination?
Just smokers paying more-discrimination.
Smokers and obese- discrimination.
Smokers, obese and older men- discrimination.
Etcetera etcetera etcetera.
Young people who are neither smokers nor obese should pay less- they cost less. Sorry Boomers, you need to foot the bill for this one.
Kids pay more in auto-insurance, you pay more for health insurance, unless you do what you can and should to look after yourselves.
Genetic predisposition, which is what cBelt says he has for his ailments. Yep, they exist, but can be massively exacerbated by not making some simple choices. Not necessarily choices made at a personal level, rather at the level of food production. A lot of what passes for food in this country really isn't!
So yes, fat old people who have had a lifetime of earning and not treating themselves properly need to pay more for their own care.
Don't be so smug. Feel lucky that you were able to quit. Just because it was easy for you does not mean it is that easy for the next person. It's not just about wanting to. Nor is everyone over the physical condition in a couple of weeks. Addiction for some is tied to physiology in the brain. It's not a problem of mental weakness or not "wanting" to quit.