The war against obese people starts here.
- Nearly one in five British secondary school pupils and a quarter of adults are obese, costing the NHS about £9billion a year.
- Almost 12,000 people last year received Disability Living Allowance because they are to obese to work, compared to 5500 in 2010.
- Britain’s obesity crisis is costing the taxpayer £54million a year in benefit payouts.
Thus, there is clear evidence of UK’s government spending too much money on obese people. This money spent on obese people could be spent on more crucial things to improve economic performance of the country and living standards of those who really need (and deserve) it. For example, it could be spent on supply-side policies suggested by George Osborne, which should promote growth and increase international competitiveness. Furthermore, this money could be spent on people who need more, like orphans or soldiers injured during military actions like ones in Afghan. There are plenty of other people who need money more than obese people. If government revokes benefits for obese people, they would have to eventually lose weight and find job. That would also benefit economy, since it is increase in labour force and thus promotes long-run growth. Thereby, British government indeed should repeal obesity benefits if plans to lose weight are not adhered to.
Instead of spending on obese people. British government could spend on improving conditions for immigrant workers, like providing them free language lessons and trainings for increasing their qualification. Unlike obese people, immigrants do benefit British economy. Immigrant entrepreneurs should get more subsidies for establishing their business in the UK, as it will benefit British economy. The UK Government has to redirect money spent on obese people to raise subsidies for immigrant businessmen as it will increase the macroeconomic performance of the country and potentially might result in an improvement in international competitiveness.
Yes, all this ideas might sound extreme, but is it productive spending money on people who are out of labour force and will not get back in it just because they are considered “too fat to work”? Or is it morally correct to spend money on those who are “too fat to work” instead of increasing benefits for those who suffered while protecting their country or subsidies for those who can improve British economy? Sometimes we all should be harsh and extreme, to achieve better life for those who really deserve it. The UK government mush repeal benefits for obese individuals, there is no other way. The time has come.
merchinomics 