You're fat
So patrols of nurses roaming the streets pointing out that you're fat, wonderful. Hardly surprising though this seems to be the standard escalation pattern of every main-stream political party.
First off you identify a 'problem', having done so you voluntarily ask people to solve it for themselves usually via an expensive leaflet or advertising campaign; in this instance by asking people to get screened by their GP.
Then said party asks amazed that people in general don't have time to take time off or pay money to do something that may or may not affect them (also GP's surgery motto "If you're not ill now then just stay in our waiting room") and acknowledge this by "making it easier" for you to solve your 'problem' by coming to you, or bothering you in the street.
Again said party gasps in amazement that the majority response to such intrusion is "[beep] off" and therefore as a reluctant and final resort have to make such solutions mandatory with the imposition of fines.
Of course anybody with even an ounce of common-sense would be re-evaluating the 'problem' that started this off in the first place at every phase, but since when did that ever apply to our lord and masters? After in in this case getting people fitter now puts less of a strain on our ailing NHS so therefore it makes sense to swamp GPs with routine check-ups and pull nurses from hospitals to wander the streets... um?
On a personal note I too share the incredulity of DK over the 32 inch jibe; I recently went up to a size 36 and I doubt anyone would consider me a case for diabetes.
3 comments:
There's one of those posters on a bus shelter I pass on the way home from work: it's on the wrong side of the road, so I've never been able to see how big you're supposed to be. It doesn't matter anyway: if your waist is bigger than this you may need a test for diabetes? Everyone may need a test for diabetes; are they really suggesting total screening? Blood pressure is the one that really gets me. Mine is relatively low - nurses keep telling me how fit I must be, and my resting pulse is 52. I don't want foods with less salt to reduce your blood pressure, or any other nanny-state-ism like that: if my blood pressure were any lower I really would need medical treatment.
As DK sort of hints, the problem isn't so much the government promoting healthy eating and behaviour: in a fairly socialist country with national healthcare, an amount of that is to be expected and maybe even welcomed. The problem is the one-size-fits-all response
Oops, sent the thing without finishing the sentence off, but you know what I was going to say. The problem is the one-size-fits-all response to any problem, be it healthcare, congestion, policing, progressive taxes, or whatever.
Ah but a one-fit-all solution is simple to run and thus cheaper; just saving the money of the tax-payers.
Seriously though you're right and it is a factor to be taking into account. As you mention less salt foods etc. I tend to buy the full fat, full salt etc. content on the grounds the 'healthy' ones taste damn awful, but as I'm sure you're aware talk was flitted about regarding a fat/salt tax so we're already edging into mandatory restrictions.
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