O/T - The Japanese Ban Fat People

ALLEX · Apr 10, 2008

The Japanese government has informed it's private companies that they must reduce the amount of fat people (over 33.5" waist) by 10% by 2012. The government is going to do a metabolism test on ALL citizens. Obviously as the deadline gets closer companies will begin firing overweight employees to avoid government fines.

"Companies will be required to cut the number of overweight workers and dependents by 10 percent as of 2012 and 25 percent by 2015. Failing to do so will result in a surcharge of as much as 10 percent on contributions to a fund for elderly care. Insurance groups paid 6.4 trillion yen into the fund in 2004"

In Japan, companies thru the state will not only have the right to fire you if your overweight. But they have the right to go to your house and check your kids. And fire you if they or your wife is overweight.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aTcgvBD7ty.0&refer=home

TooPowerful4u · Apr 10, 2008

WHY CANT WE DO THIS IN AMERICA NOW?!?!?!?!?

flexmaster · Apr 10, 2008

TooPowerful4u said:
WHY CANT WE DO THIS IN AMERICA NOW?!?!?!?!?

lets hope its only a matter of time man!

joeshow5 · Apr 10, 2008

WOW THATS AWESOME!

I think letting your kids get obese is child abuse and nothing less (except of course for those rare medical conditions).

We could learn a thing or two from these guys!

Kcm3000 · Apr 10, 2008

thats a great idea

michelin · Apr 10, 2008

so they can fire you if your wife or the kids are fatties?

seems a little bit harsh haha

thebrick · Apr 10, 2008

Good idea but the US government would never have the balls to do this... I already can hear all the people screaming DISCRIMINATION!!

This reminds me of a news story I recently read concerning airlines trying to save money but cutting weight on airplanes. The reason? To save money due to skyrocketing fuel cost... Their solution? ...smaller meal portions (if that's possible), plastic, instead of glass, etc. Hilarious... have they looked at the passengers?????? Maybe they should think about a "fat ass" fuel surcharge?

j-bird · Apr 10, 2008

Fire all fat people? that doesnt sound good to me. There would be a much smaller work force. Some of these "fatasses" are trying to find cures for diseases, trying to find solutions for world hunger etc. And these kids that are dying all over the world every day from starvation and other things are the future peacemakers, and the people who are going to find a cure for AIDS etc. There is a huge loss in human potential from all these people that are dying that shouldnt be dying. Some fat people are working to fix that.
I dont know, that just came to mind.. I didnt read the article. Maybe it said fire all fat people that work at Mcdonalds lol
edit: dont get me wrong.. i also agree that letting your child become obese is abuse. i dont like it when people arent responsible to take care of themselves, and especially their children.. but a 33 inch waist probably isnt obese
I think there should be something done to help fat people preserve their life, but dont think that fireing them will help anything much

inoverdrive · Apr 10, 2008

thebrick said:
Good idea but the US government would never have the balls to do this... I already can hear all the people screaming DISCRIMINATION!!

This reminds me of a news story I recently read concerning airlines trying to save money but cutting weight on airplanes. The reason? To save money due to skyrocketing fuel cost... Their solution? ...smaller meal portions (if that's possible), plastic, instead of glass, etc. Hilarious... have they looked at the passengers?????? Maybe they should think about a "fat ass" fuel surcharge?

Can you imagine the lawsuits!

Bannock · Apr 10, 2008

Mmmmm.... smell the socialism.... I think that this is a pretty good idea, but there is no way in heck that the government should be doing it. If a company chooses to do so, so be it. That's just smart business.

It's time that more people took responsibility for the impact that their bad choices has on others and if the government is going to be running the health care, they should do what they can to make sure that those who create unnecessary burdens are the ones required to carry it.

Bannock

PHIL HERNON · Apr 10, 2008

one thing for sure

All of the bulked up bodybuilders will be out of a job..........at least a payroll job........another reason to stay lean year round.

Golgo13 · Apr 10, 2008

I don't think many people around here would pass the 33.5inch test.

j-bird · Apr 10, 2008

Golgo13 said:
I don't think many people around here would pass the 33.5inch test.

Haha I love your sheeple avatar

Golgo13 · Apr 10, 2008

j-bird said:
Haha I love your sheeple avatar

Thank you! Thats what the dems do... Dupe the simpletons.

eroc613 · Apr 10, 2008

Golgo13 said:
I don't think many people around here would pass the 33.5inch test.

The japanese have typically smaller bone structure. I'm sure American's would be higher. (but i'm off-season and still not that wide)

garcia · Apr 10, 2008

Yeah!

No fatties!

I also think that no company agree to employ you if you smoke, drink alcohol or have high blood pressure. All of these are high risk behaviors/conditions.

Come on guys, get real.

And you support Ron Paul? Little bit of a contradiction.

joeshow5 · Apr 10, 2008

I don't think there is anything wrong with it if a company decided to implement a policy like this. I think discrimination is the wrong word to use. Obesity causes lots of health issues. Tons of health issues. All these are just liabilities to employers and insurance agencies. Who cares if your a good worker if your just gona end up costing the company thousands of dollars due to some cardiac issue that could have been prevented with a simple change in lifestyle?

I can see both sides of the argument, though, but something like this would help future generations as far as health goes.

Hell, most schools don't even offer P.E. anymore.

Ashop · Apr 10, 2008

ALLEX said:
The Japanese government has informed it's private companies that they must reduce the amount of fat people (over 33.5" waist) by 10% by 2012. The government is going to do a metabolism test on ALL citizens. Obviously as the deadline gets closer companies will begin firing overweight employees to avoid government fines.

"Companies will be required to cut the number of overweight workers and dependents by 10 percent as of 2012 and 25 percent by 2015. Failing to do so will result in a surcharge of as much as 10 percent on contributions to a fund for elderly care. Insurance groups paid 6.4 trillion yen into the fund in 2004"

In Japan, companies thru the state will not only have the right to fire you if your overweight. But they have the right to go to your house and check your kids. And fire you if they or your wife is overweight.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aTcgvBD7ty.0&refer=home

wonder how they plan on doing this?

mature muscle · Apr 10, 2008

PHIL HERNON said:
All of the bulked up bodybuilders will be out of a job..........at least a payroll job........another reason to stay lean year round.

you got a point their phil. their are not many body builders with 33 in waists allot of us would be screwed as well.