Apr 27, 2006, 08:28 AM
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#1 of 37
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This entire debate could be generalized to the question, "Should lifestyle choices influence the cost of privatized (or government) healthcare?". Smoking is a lifestyle choice. Drinking is a lifestyle choice. Poor diet is a lifestyle choice. Physical inactivity is a lifestyle choice. This contrasts with genetic deficiencies which are not lifestyle choices. You didn't emerge from between your mother's legs with a Big Mac in your left hand, a Coors Lite in your right, and a Marlboro hanging off your lips. You did, however, pop out with your family's predisposition for colon cancer and heart disease.
The top three underlying causes of death in the United States (in 2000) are Tobacco (18.1% of deaths), Obesity (16.6%), and Alcohol (3.5%). Underneath those are microbes, toxins, car crashes, firearms, sex, and drug use.
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Spare the slippery slope bullshit. You know well enough that's far beyond the scope of this thread.
Jam it back in, in the dark.
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