General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIn Britain, obese could be ordered to 'lose weight or lose benefits' if Conservatives win election
Source: The Independent
The Conservatives plan to tell obese people on welfare that they will lose their sickness benefit if they do not diet.
The move is the partys latest foray into reducing welfare costs and they also want to see drug addicts and alcoholics stripped of benefits if they refuse treatment plans.
While playing to many traditional Tory voters, it will infuriate addiction and other health charities which have previously criticised similar proposals.
It could also bring the Conservatives into direct confrontation with the British Medical Association which in 2013 castigated as draconian and sill calls by Tory-held Westminster Council to cut the benefits of overweight people who refused exercise regimes.
Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/obese-could-be-ordered-to-lose-weight-or-lose-benefits-if-conservatives-win-general-election-10046025.html
MADem
(135,425 posts)It's "personal responsibility" doncha know! Drown that gubmint in a bathtub!
Problem is, there's some new research that says that in many cases, obesity may be the result of a virus and not the "fault" of the individual.
http://www.livescience.com/41952-catch-obesity-with-head-cold.html
Everyone with love handles--go sneeze on the politicians!!!
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)shraby
(21,946 posts)Lancero
(3,015 posts)British Conservatives are vastly different compared to a US Conservative.
This is a rather quick comparison between the two, but it serves as a good example.
http://www.thewire.com/politics/2013/08/how-conservative-would-uk-conservatives-be-us/67930/
Perhaps though the most easily noticeable difference? US conservatives would outright strip benefits from the obese and drug users. British Conservatives are trying to force people to, or at the least make a attempt to, better themselves.