You’ve got to be kidding me…I would trade a fat tax for compulsory government regulated indoctrination camps (public schools) any day.
I liked it better when it was called “cognitive dissonance” and/or “incompetence”.
Another article here: ( http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/japan/091109/fat-japan-youre-breaking-the-law ).
I have to agree with Solid Choke that this fat tax is less worth of fighting (practically speaking) than say, internment, indoctrination, or politically correct camps (public schools), economic policies of The State, the growing elderly problem in japan’s society, etc.
Don’t agree with it, but I don’t agree with getting a driver’s licensee (without RFID, so far…) either. In both cases, they seem very benign battles compared to bigger issues.
but now they can base their whole legal system and politics upon this fat tax. it may not be as big as other things, i don’t think it is as big, but everything that can channel off this foundation can go into so many directions. how far will this be enforced? it’s only a tax now, but now all kinds of legislation to do with this will happen justified by fat as being a national issue. What will come of this? i would need to think about it more.
As would I, but I said “Japanese internal policy”. This policy appears, thus far, to be unique to Japan (as were the Thought Police), whereas government schools are not exclusive to Japan.
Perhaps they should call in Kim Jong-il. Seems to know a thing or two about keeping the population underweight..
Asia has always been about caste, family, and duty. Its no surprise how disturbing their politics and culture can get. Unfortunately, these days I can say some of those things about the US to a lesser extent.
True I suppose. Painting an ugly portrait would be an easy way to get beheaded.
George Orwell anyone?
I wouldn’t be surprised if they got kids in US schools to do jumping jacks whilst reciting the pledge of allegiance.. You know, it’s incentive-based “cohesion”…
No, jumping jacks when reciting the constitution, ice-cream for the pledge of allegiance. And the rest of the day off after a presidential pep-talk.
Gotta keep it Pavlovian.
I looked it up - the Information is actually wrong. It´s not illegal to be or to become fat in Japan.
It´s just so that the enterprises prefer to have their workers and clerks in “good working condition”. People that are or are on the way to become fat would cause higher costs for the enterprises and lower productivity.
As long as you can keep these risk-groups out of your business - that´s not a point of discussion. As long as insurance-companies can fee these “risks” higher - or keep risks out of their business - it´s not even necesary to talk about it.
Let´s have a superficial look on statistics: Fat people are in general less educated, more often ill an they are more often members of lower social classes. In the case of the US (I guess) it is to be expected that fat people are much more likely to stand without any insurance than normal-wighted cititzens.(true or not?)
And why do less intelligent people tend to bee poorer? Just because of Market-Economics.
If I would employ people I would tend to prefer employees that are in a good physically and psycally condition. Just because I know that wrong food, smoking and too little motion leads to illnesses and less productivity.
I think most employers think that way. This means of course that even the employees do react in advance on this.
If you are smart you will try to make a good impression on your (future or present) boss. You would dress in a fitting and decent way - and you would cut your hair - keep your whole personality in a good conition. And the latter does already include serious efforts to keep yourself in shape and good condition. So people that are not willing to do so - are again either too stupid to realize - or not really interested in their job. So you would not employ them just for that reason, too.
So to be honest: i think the pressure on the Individual in a free market is actually much higher than in a regulated market. The only advantage you have in a free market is maybe enogh “fuck you money” or enogh “fuck you brain” so you do not have to work at all - or you know that your boss would hire you anyway because you are simply the best that would find any day an even better payed job.
Genius.