My Body, My Choice, My...soda?

[Anomaly]

[quote name='ardillacid' timestamp='1338762808' post='2440343']
I'm not saying I want universal health care, but if we are going to have it forced on us then I don't see why I shouldn't push for other people to get their poo in a pile. I don't want to pay for your bad life choices.
[/quote]Sorry, but that's the point of health insurance whether it's private or national. Healthy people will pay for the sick, whether bad luck of genetics or poor habits. I actually thought you were joking.

[ardillacid]

[quote name='Anomaly' timestamp='1338763172' post='2440347']
Sorry, but that's the point of health insurance whether it's private or national. Healthy people will pay for the sick, whether bad luck of genetics or poor habits. I actually thought you were joking.
[/quote]Well, I don't have a fully fleshed out opinion on insurance so feel free to attempt to influence it. Or mock it, whichever you prefer.

I do know that for car insurance, if a person is 'at risk' or a reckless driver, this person is going to being paying a lot more than I am. Additionally, there are plenty of laws aimed at reducing the risks associated with driving. You are not allowed to drink and drive. You are not allowed to talk/text on your cell phone and drive. Are these examples somewhat analogous to banning sugary drinks or smoking?

[Anomaly]

Basically insurance is everybody pooling the cost of their liability risk, whether home, auto, life, or health. Some will get more than the pay when the ysuffer a catastrophic loss, while the luckier or better behaved won't suffer the same loss and their contributions will pay for the unlucky. The hope is to have a big enough pool of people that the lucky compensate for the unlucky.

Most traffic laws are intended to protect others as much if not more than the operator. You don't text and drive not just for your personal safety, but also for the safety of other drivers, passengers, or pedestrians. The question about the legitimacy of laws is the extent to how it serves the benefit of the individual AND society as a whole while allowing maximum personal freedoms. Working all that out is wide open for debate, conjecture, ridicule, arguement, tears, and opinion.

Bloomberg isn't mean or a soda hater, he means well but what are the trade offs and consequences of his ideas and restrictions on big sodas.

Edited June 4, 2012 by Anomaly

[i<3LSOP]

[quote name='arfink' timestamp='1338562018' post='2439336']
My solution: go to the grocery store, buy a 2 liter soda, drop in crazy straw. Walk to McDonalds.

FLAUNT IT, PHATTIES!
[/quote]
My parents were joking how they're gonna do this last night.

[Papist]

Bloomberg's employees at his media and financial information company can guzzle all the free soda they want while they work. They get free fountain soda in the office.
.

[Slappo]

[quote name='Anomaly' timestamp='1338763172' post='2440347']
Sorry, but that's the point of health insurance whether it's private or national. Healthy people will pay for the sick, whether bad luck of genetics or poor habits. I actually thought you were joking.
[/quote]

However if the sick bring it upon themselves or put themselves at higher risk, their insurance premiums should be higher. If I speed down the road as a personal life style choice on how to drive and I get a speeding ticket for it my car insurance increases because it means I am more likely to drive carelessly or get into a car accident.

If I'm a smoker, don't exercise, and eat fatty foods, I'm at increase risk of a heart attack because of my personal life style choices. The only trick would be how do you "get caught" not exercising and eating fatty foods.


Of course this is all if the government chooses to adhere to the Socialist States of the Obama Nation rather than our constitution.

[Winchester]

[quote name='Slappo' timestamp='1338927604' post='2441357']
However if the sick bring it upon themselves or put themselves at higher risk, their insurance premiums should be higher. If I speed down the road as a personal life style choice on how to drive and I get a speeding ticket for it my car insurance increases because it means I am more likely to drive carelessly or get into a car accident.

If I'm a smoker, don't exercise, and eat fatty foods, I'm at increase risk of a heart attack because of my personal life style choices. The only trick would be how do you "get caught" not exercising and eating fatty foods.


Of course this is all if the government chooses to adhere to the Socialist States of the Obama Nation rather than our constitution.
[/quote]Any chance of you taking up careless driving or smoking? Or both? Maybe simultaneously?

[Papist]

The government just wants what is best for us.
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[Slappo]

[quote name='Winchester' timestamp='1338927717' post='2441359']
Any chance of you taking up careless driving or smoking? Or both? Maybe simultaneously?
[/quote]

Only if you pay the cost of my increased premium

[Anomaly]

[quote name='Slappo' timestamp='1338927604' post='2441357']
However if the sick bring it upon themselves or put themselves at higher risk, their insurance premiums should be higher. If I speed down the road as a personal life style choice on how to drive and I get a speeding ticket for it my car insurance increases because it means I am more likely to drive carelessly or get into a car accident.

If I'm a smoker, don't exercise, and eat fatty foods, I'm at increase risk of a heart attack because of my personal life style choices. The only trick would be how do you "get caught" not exercising and eating fatty foods.


Of course this is all if the government chooses to adhere to the Socialist States of the Obama Nation rather than our constitution.
[/quote]Well, there lies the crux of most debates over social issues and human behavior. Humans are individuals who choose to live in communities. There's always a problem of allowing personal freedoms, demanding personal responsibility, and having responsibilities for our brothers because we live in a community. Throw in the practical, moral, and philosphical problems when/if we attempt to creat and enforce laws restricting personal choices and/or protecting people from natural consequences.

Not all smokers will get lung cancer, nor will all reckless drivers kill others. Smokers who get sick do suffer consequences of their actions. If you are a smoker and attempt to get private health or life insurance, you do pay substantially more. If you are a reckless driver with tickets, you do pay substantially more, but you still can buy insurance that will potentially pay more than you've paid in premiums.

How would you tax or regulate how much exercise people get? Some people abohor exercise, some love it, and some don't care either way? Should we outlaw cars and require bicycles?

[Slappo]

[quote name='Anomaly' timestamp='1338929343' post='2441378']
Should we outlaw cars and require bicycles?
[/quote]

YES!!!11!!1!

Then we can all save the world by not using as much oil.


In the (modified) words of smokey the bear: "Only YOU can prevent global warming" - Oily the Octopus

Edited June 5, 2012 by Slappo

[Anomaly]

[quote name='Slappo' timestamp='1338929527' post='2441380']
YES!!!11!!1!

Then we can all save the world by not using as much oil.
[/quote]I can't decide whether to chuckle at your humor, grind my teeth at your impertinence, or shake my head at the futility.


Good post.

[Annie12]

[quote name='BG45' timestamp='1338561232' post='2439324']
In New York City, Mayor Bloomberg holds that it is a 15 year old's choice to have an abortion, because it is her body and her choice. However, he now wants to ban soft drinks of larger than 16 ounces due to obesity...so while it's your body and choice in Bloomberg-land to have a life ending surgery, it apparently isn't your choice for your body to drink a 17 ounce or above soda.
[/quote]
In places like McDonald's, you can get re-fill's so it's a dumb law anyway and abortion is stupid but you made a REALLY good point here!

[Mercy me]

The only supporters of this are the sports stadium vendors that will graciously sell you a $6.00 cup of soda. With this new law they will now be able to sell you 2 smaller cups of soda.

[fides' Jack]

[quote name='Mercy me' timestamp='1338953482' post='2441635']
The only supporters of this are the sports stadium vendors that will graciously sell you a $6.00 cup of soda. With this new law they will now be able to sell you 2 smaller cups of soda.
[/quote]

But still at $6.

Each.