U.S. columnist says some Canadians 'prefer to be fat'

Jacob Sullum, senior editor at Reason, a U.S.-based libertarian magazine, says:

"People may very well choose to trade off years of their life, or the possibility of disease or injury, in exchange for the current pleasure, excitement, or stress relief they get (from food)," said Sullum.

"It's not for the government to say that's not a legitimate trade-off to make. Canadians need to question the idea that just because something implicates health that government intervention is justified."

"For some people the solution is, they prefer to be fat,' he said. 'That's their choice and they should be permitted to make it."

Not when they're doing it on my dollar.

Duh. Mr. Libertarian American, in this country, we have a state funded medical system - one which is creaky and needs lots of help, but it's something Canadians feel strongly about (which being a libertarian you're probably very confused about. But we're weird that way here). Paying for someone's medical bills means the state can legitimately seek to improve its citizen's lifestyle choices if they're proven to affect their medical condition and their costs to the healthcare system. It's a trade-off we're willing to make here.

Take your libertarian notions back south. They're not going to fly here.

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p.s. Readers of this blog are all lovely - regardless of their size. I don't have a problem with people being fat. (I love Dawn French!) But I also don't have a problem with the government reminding those people that they would probably live healthier, longer lives if they were less so.