Dear Editor:
I agree with Bert Dirschell (Aug. 18 Letter to the Editor) - sometimes headlines can be misleading. I don't agree when he says, "I would not expect government to force someone to subsidize the cost of my insurance" due to his obesity. I suggest you visit www.obesitycoverage.com and you'll see Medicare (which I pay into) covers lap band, gastric bypass, and gastric sleeve surgeries for obese Americans. (As well as counseling and behavioral therapy services.) I myself am not obese, but am happy to help my fellow Americans who are because that's what we do as a country, many times through our tax dollars. According to Pew Trusts, state governments across the country (with Republican and Democratic governors) are using taxpayer dollars to deal with the overwhelming cost of obesity to the health care system. And The State of Obesity reports "obesity-related health problems cost $147 billion to $210 billion each year." Do you, Mr. Dirschell, believe that only obese Americans pay those costs?
To take your argument further, why should Americans without children pay taxes that go to public schools? Why should non-drivers pay taxes to help build and maintain state and federal highways? Why should non-readers support public libraries? If I don't use the public parks or Missouri's wonderful conservation centers, why should my hard earned tax dollars be spent on those services? I don't fish or hunt, so why should I pay into programs that keep our rivers and forest areas clean and safe? Because, Mr. Dirschell, all those services are part of what makes America the great country that it is. Instead of bemoaning this "income redistribution," you might want to consider how fortunate you are to live in a country that takes care of its own the way America does. Say what you want about the tax system in this country - it does need reform desperately - but it's never been an al a carte service. If it were, I believe, as the old bumper sticker says, "Public schools would have all the money they need and the military would have to throw bake sales to buy another bomber."
I wish you well, Bert, and hope you take advantage of all the tax payer-supported programs available to help you deal with your obesity and the possible health issues associated with it.