The Japanese government maintains that, because it pays for citizens’ health care, it must monitor everyone’s diet and lifestyle and correct those who may impose “excessive” costs on the system.

Imagine a country where the government regularly checks the waistlines of citizens over age 40. Anyone deemed too fat would be required to undergo diet counseling. Those who fail to lose sufficient weight could face further “reeducation” and their communities subject to stiff fines.

Is this some nightmarish dystopia?

No, this is contemporary Japan.

In a system of taxpayer-funded health care, those with “unhealthy” lifestyles and habits can become costly “burdens” on the public purse.  Looking only to the bottom line, the nanny state renders citizens incompetent to take care of themselves.

h/t: The Beacon, blog of the Independent Institute

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Tags: Chutzpah, Government finance, Health and medical, Japan, Tyranny
Filed under: Asia-Pacific, Economics, Social sciences
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