Quote:Just stop. You dont need a government middleman. Instead of all this how about we just remove the market distortion and move on?

 

I agree.  I swear, this conversation is turning me back into a conservative.  

 

The whole idea of taxing unhealthy food, or taxing companies that make unhealthy food, or using the tax system or government regulation to influence lifestyle choices is so cumbersome and unworkable it's ridiculous.  It would be a morass of regulations, lobbyists, bureaucrats, arguments over whether sweet potato fries are healthier than regular fries, over whether we're taxing poor people for buying coca cola, it would be a nightmare. 

 

There is no doubt that the most effective and efficient and cheapest way to regulate lifestyle choices is to let people suffer the full consequences of their choices.   You want to eat bacon every day?   Fine.  You pay for your own cancer.   Don't ask me to subsidize it. 

 

The free market works very effectively.  

 

So, here's a solution!   Are we willing to do this?  

 

Repeal Obamacare, and let the free market rule.   Give poor people a subsidy if they buy health insurance.   Let insurers charge rates that correspond to risk.  Educate people about the risks they are taking with their lifestyle choices. 

 

I guess I'm just getting tired of the country arguing about the health care system.  And it doesn't affect me at all, except for the extra Obamacare-related taxes I am paying.  I'm healthy (knock on wood).   Why are all these stupid people eating french fries and drinking milk shakes? 

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