Not everyone belongs to a gym and even those people who go to a gym do not necessarily work out.
Many people who belong to a gym do not attend regularly and yet those who do are in better shape than those that do not.
We have an obesity problem in the United States because of the types of food we eat and our lack of exercising.
These facts are causing huge issues with our health-care system and as we discuss a universal healthcare system for all citizens of the United States one has to ask how on earth we will be able to afford it if two-thirds of our population is overweight and already having medical issues? I propose a tax incentive plan for gym membership with attendance.
Those people who work out or go to the gym should have a tax incentive because they are in better shape and a less health risk.
They deserve lower costs on their health-care insurance because they will be taking less out.
Additionally, since these people will most likely not cost the government health care system much money they deserve an incentive.
Why should my health-care insurance and taxes pay for someone who is overweight, does not take care of themselves, each crappy food and refuses to exercise? It makes no sense to me and I don't want to pay for it.
If we have to bribe Americans to get them back in shape than we would be better off to do that now than to pay for the health care costs later as their bodies fail due to lack of exercise.
Please consider this in 2006.