Sin: Obesity

We, as a nation, finally got fed up with smokers polluting the environment and driving health care costs through the roof, and did something about it. The next target should be fat-ass, tubs-of-lard who impose themselves upon people in every public place and whose collective health problems threaten to bankrupt the system. An illustrative news item: MSNBC passes along this picture of a slightlyawkward situation on an American Airlines flight.

Originally reported by Kieran Daly at airline blogFlightGlobal.com, the picture was supposedly taken by a worried flight attendant who wanted to ensure that the seating arrangement didn't compromise the safety of the other passengers.

Here's FlightGlobal:

"This is sent to me with the absolute assurance that it's a genuine picture taken by a flight attendant at American Airlines. The F/A took it to show her manager what was happening on the aircraft (757???) and why she was unhappy about it. Seems the guy paid for only one seat and the gate staff let him board."

As we pointed out earier this year, some airlines are now requiring obese passengers to buy more than one seat. Last year United Airlines had received "more than 700 complaints last year from passengers 'who did not have a comfortable flight because the person next to them infringed on their seat,' an airline spokesman said."

I know it's politically incorrect to target fat-asses and their self-destructive behavior and, frankly, I don't give a damn what they do to themselves so long as it doesn't infringe on others. But when it does infringe on others, as it often does these days... everything from airline seats to seats at performances and movie theaters and restaurants to even walking down the aisles of a supermarket... then it's time we, as a collective, do something about it.

A Fat-Ass Tax! Require the purchase of "at least" two tickets to any public arena and public transportation; special, more expensive seating at restaurants; more expensive health insurance and even special rules requiring them to cover up their ugly asses at public beaches.

Now, I'm sure many of you will argue that obesity is an affliction, that they can't help it, and that they need help, not derision. I don't buy it. It's a matter of self-control.

Almost without exception, obese fat-asses are the way they are because they constantly stuff their faces. You don't see this problem in countries where food is a premium, or in more enlightened countries where gluttony is a sin. No, it's almost exclusively confined to the good ole consume it all, do it all, more is better, U-S-of-A.

When it boils right down to it, obesity is a sin.