Self-Care Reform

Self-Care Reform
After watching the 24 hour news coverage of the health care debates and protests last week I have come to one conclusion about where the blame lies for much of the costs of healthcare in America. No it’s not the insurance companies who routinely raise costs to hedge against losses. It’s not big pharma who charges seemingly huge amounts for drugs to cover the costs of past and future testing. It’s the populace at large…and I mean LARGE! As they panned the floor of the House one thing rang consistent, the people shaping our laws are way out of shape. The protesting crowds fared no better, the angry masses were just that, masses. One of the major costs associated with tending to our growing population is the way that we’ve been growing, fatter by the day.
We are fast becoming the fattest nation on Earth in what has been consistently referred to as the ‘Obesity Epidemic’. Sure there are those with true pre-existing conditions who will benefit from the health care reform but they are the exception to the rule. For the majority, their inability to bypass immediate gratification in the form of Super-sized burgers, fries, and stuffed crust pizza with unlimited breadsticks is leading to a whole host of expensive medical needs from heart disease to Type 2 diabetes, and more. We’ve gotten too lazy to shop, cook, or even walk in to a restaurant. We just drive-thru and eat on our stomachs like hungry sea animals. The Senate is trying to close the donut hole in Medicare coverage while the rest of the donut is being crammed down the gullets of a people hypnotized by a sign reading, “Hot and Fresh Now!”
We have become a nation of victims crying out for someone to come to our aid when personal responsibility fails us. When we are caught in the tractor beam that sucks us in to McDonald’s we scream for lawmakers to clamp down on the oils they use. “Oh, it couldn’t be the sheer amount of garbage we feed ourselves, it must be the fault of some partially hydrogenated trans-gender peanut oil right?” screams John Q. as their doctor executes a third triple bypass like it’s a gold medal event. “It couldn’t be the fault of the people to make good choices it must be their lack of education. We just need to put on better warning labels! That worked for cigarettes right? HA! HA!” says Big Brother as they pander for our approval. Mark my words on this one, the government getting involved in anything is not going to make things better, it never does.
My prescription is simple, put down the junk food and get active. Cutting calories will cut costs for you and everyone else. You won’t just add years to your life but you’ll add life to your years. To the protesters I say, stay angry on both sides by marching vigorously for at least 20 minutes a day, 4 days a week. As you progress in your dissent for life’s injustices, carry heavier signs, changing arms frequently. If your cause du jour gets taken care of find something that is worth marching for. For all others there will be a cigarette vigil on the steps of the Capitol. Those coming by bus are asked to bring extra lighters to supply those traveling by plane.