and this will really be a concern should we move to a more socialist system like Canada or much of Europe with healtcare, then everyone will feel they are picking up the burden of the "abusers".....for good or bad it seems like this is the way things are going to go....hello higher taxes, decline in service quality and facilities and hello to everyone complaining about what people do with their health.
"But yes, americans are over-indulgent because we're so dang wealthy. Also we're "consumers"...we like to consume and that is banged into our heads since birth."
This is what is such a hoot about the class warfare the left perpetuates. Even what is considered poor in this country, is FAR better off than most people around the world. Yet, because others in this country have more, there needs to be a redistribution of their wealth.
Fact is, a rising tide DOES lift all boats!
This is what is such a hoot about the class warfare the left perpetuates. Even what is considered poor in this country, is FAR better off than most people around the world. Yet, because others in this country have more, there needs to be a redistribution of their wealth.
Fact is, a rising tide DOES lift all boats!
i wasn't linking your quote to spidey07's. and it wasn't out of context, it summed up your whole post. what you said reflects the attitude of most, that they know it'd probably be for the best but they don't care.
- Mar 20, 2000
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the system works that way already, for some reason fat people and smokers don't have higher health insurance premiums anyway (iirc), while they do have higher life insurance premiums (at least for smokers, anyway). you already pay extra because that fat coworker two cubicles over eats a box of donuts, double meat big mac, super sized fries, and a diet coke (cuz hes watching out, you know). its frickin' ridiculous. if you're going to be fat that is fine but you should pay higher insurance rates.
You're right, some of those things do effect you. But the way you're looking at it is backwards. A change needs to be made to the system that provides support for those who harm themselves without adequate self-sufficient support. You don't seem to have a problem with me drinking to excess, just when I get behind the wheel drunk (and justifiably so). But the solution to that isn't to make people drink less. I remember reading about Cicero's "Golden Mean"; everything in moderation. I wrote that I liked the test pilot's motto of "Faster...Higher...Farther."
- Mar 20, 2000
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Originally posted by: Ornery
"But yes, americans are over-indulgent because we're so dang wealthy. Also we're "consumers"...we like to consume and that is banged into our heads since birth."
This is what is such a hoot about the class warfare the left perpetuates. Even what is considered poor in this country, is FAR better off than most people around the world. Yet, because others in this country have more, there needs to be a redistribution of their wealth.
Fact is, a rising tide DOES lift all boats!
i don't know how recognizing the social indoctrination toward conspicuous consumption forces a person to conclude that we need a redistribution of wealth
I'm NOT the one in favor of redistribution!
I'm saying, that even the poor in this country are plenty indulgent. They can be that way, because of the prosperity of the country as a whole.
I'm saying, that even the poor in this country are plenty indulgent. They can be that way, because of the prosperity of the country as a whole.
Yes.
Every other TV commercial is something to do with food (inc. alcohol and restaurant ads) or getting out of debt.
Arby's new this! Mickey D's supersize that! KFC's megadeal!
or
Reconnect your phone! You won't be turned away for our creditcard!
Every other TV commercial is something to do with food (inc. alcohol and restaurant ads) or getting out of debt.
Arby's new this! Mickey D's supersize that! KFC's megadeal!
or
Reconnect your phone! You won't be turned away for our creditcard!
Squisher
Lifer
- Aug 17, 2000
- 21,204
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Abundance gives rise to over-indulgence.
It isn't and American thing.
It isn't even a human thing.
Animals taken out of their normal environment will react abnormally.
We were never hardwired to be able to sit a desk all day then call for a pizza delivery.
It isn't and American thing.
It isn't even a human thing.
Animals taken out of their normal environment will react abnormally.
We were never hardwired to be able to sit a desk all day then call for a pizza delivery.
To all the stupid people that don't know when to say when, pick up the pace and soon there will be A LOT less of you 
"i don't know how recognizing the social indoctrination toward conspicuous consumption forces a person to conclude that we need a redistribution of wealth"
I'm saying that, even though there is a vast difference between the richest, and the poorest people in this country, the poor STILL can be very indulgent compared to most others in the world. I don't see a need to redistribute wealth, when people on the lower rungs can still have a couple cars, roof over their head, not have to live with extended family, eat obscene amounts of food three times per day, access to the best medical treatment in the world, a cable TV in every room, $100.00 sneakers, washer & drier... my God, the list goes on and on! Yet, they still feel they should have a cut of the person's money who has more than they do.
I'm saying that, even though there is a vast difference between the richest, and the poorest people in this country, the poor STILL can be very indulgent compared to most others in the world. I don't see a need to redistribute wealth, when people on the lower rungs can still have a couple cars, roof over their head, not have to live with extended family, eat obscene amounts of food three times per day, access to the best medical treatment in the world, a cable TV in every room, $100.00 sneakers, washer & drier... my God, the list goes on and on! Yet, they still feel they should have a cut of the person's money who has more than they do.
um what do you mean it doesn't negatively effect other people
are you blind...?
cigs - second hand smoke
alcohol - drunken driving accidents
cigs, alcohol, and obesity - causes long term health problems that the american tax payer has to shell out for in the long run
Sure, if I smoke right next to you. Or if you choose to stand right next to me while I smoke. Or, you could just inhale all the pollutants put in the air by cars or factories.
That's if I drink and drive. Drinking by itself does not cause the accidents.
Sure, if I cannot support myself. But what's the real problem here: the long term health problems, or the fact that there's a system out there that supports people who get these long term health problems and cannot support themselves?
well why pick on those three?
If we're going to start the "cost health insurance" nonsense (which is a poor line of thinking btw) why not go to a gattaca based system where everything you do is pre-ordained right down to when you die and how much you can contribute to society or how much of a burden you will be.
OP - you could fall down a flight of stairs and run up my health insurance premiums. Therefore we should teach people not to use stairs. Those stairs are a menace to society ya know.
Oh well, yes american and people for that matter are over-indulgent. It goes to the whole reward function of the brain - and there are a lot of other "rewards" we over-indulge in besides tobacco.
<---laughing because we predicted this line of thinking would evolve once the tobacco suites passed.
If we're going to start the "cost health insurance" nonsense (which is a poor line of thinking btw) why not go to a gattaca based system where everything you do is pre-ordained right down to when you die and how much you can contribute to society or how much of a burden you will be.
OP - you could fall down a flight of stairs and run up my health insurance premiums. Therefore we should teach people not to use stairs. Those stairs are a menace to society ya know.
Oh well, yes american and people for that matter are over-indulgent. It goes to the whole reward function of the brain - and there are a lot of other "rewards" we over-indulge in besides tobacco.
<---laughing because we predicted this line of thinking would evolve once the tobacco suites passed.
oh, of course. because cigarettes are as vital to society as stairs, which serve no practical purpose. those stairs are only there for people to fall down them, not for any other reason. ban all stairs!
laugh all you want, it's because people (and not just americans, i didn't see stats for other countries) have no self control and feed like pigs at a trough that it even causes me to think about stuff like this. and i'm not alone, either.
Cars - Smog. Not to mention environmental damage. Let's not forget innocent car accidents either. Costs us all money strangely enough.
Medicinal care - Over population. This will be a very real problem someday with very real quality of life effects on all of us who are living then.
Just about every packaged thing that you buy at the store - All this trash will catch up with us someday you know.
Loud stereos - Hearing damage. We, as taxpayers, will end up paying for some of these people.
Computers - Yes, that thing you're on right now. Not real good on your eyes when you get right down to it. We're going to be paying for a lot of glasses and lasik surgery in the future.
Deep fat fried foods - You didn't really think those were good for you did you? Better get rid of them.
Let me know when you'd like me to stop. I could go on like this for hours.
The thing you fail to grasp is that almost everything we do, buy, use, etc has some sort of effect on us, the people around us, and the world as a whole in some way. Also, things can be good and bad at the same time which you also don't seem to get. Cars: bad for all of us in quite a few ways, but can you deny the benefits of them?
Are you aware that there are people that choose not to drive because of the bad effects of cars? Do you think they're all happy that you drive (I'm assuming you do) and force your smog on them? Are you rushing to sell your car and buy a bike? If not, be quiet. You're negatively effecting others. You're just as selfish as the rest of us and I don't have the energy to listen to your misguided, self-righteous bs.
Personally, I think there are too many people on this damn planet anyways so let them smoke, be fat-asses, etc., and die sooner.
I'm doing my part and I think everybody else should too!
D
I'm doing my part and I think everybody else should too!
D
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