In an interview with CNBC on Thursday, hedge fund elder statesman and father of Tiger Balm, Julian Robertson, shared his thoughts on the Critical Topics of the Day, including the recent elections, quantitative easing, and most importantly: fat people. Read the full interview transcript here, or fast forward to about 6:30 for Fat Talk.
There's no fooling Robertson. He sees you there, mayonnaise flecking your third chin, reaching after that fallen french fry like some sort of beached Manatee. Robertson has his eye on the ball, always has, always will, so when he's of the opinion that winning a fight against American obesity could add $1 trillion to the GDP, you open your fat ears and listen.
You see, JR's a firm proponent of taxing the hell out of the fatties, and he's even willing to go on CNBC and publicly announce his running for "Obesity Czar," saying, "I would love to be the obesity czar. I mean, I think it would be a fantastic job. I don't know of a more important one in the United States and one that's simplistic enough to solve."
You're goddamn right, Robertson. There isn't a more important job. Just picture JR as the new Richard Simmons of weight loss. If that won't scare American Fatties into getting into shape, I don't know what will.
Now, luckily, the world thinks Americans are skinny, intelligent, and respectfully quiet, so most Americans will probably just ignore Robertson's soap-box rantings and let them sink unnoticed into the paralyzing pandemonium of idiocy that is the 24-hr news cycle.
WRONG. America is the world's fat kid, and I for one will not allow this to continue. We cannot allow China and its 1% body fat to beat us in the race into the future. Thus, being an remarkable physical specimen, like a young Michael Johnson, I would like to be an early adopter and fully enlist my services in JR's War on the Fatties.
Together, we are going to slap those Ho Hos out of your flabby face. We also have some ideas on how to accomplish this. Now, I haven't run this by JR yet, but I think we should start by encouraging insurance companies to tax bona-fide-Fatties and pack-a-day-Smokers 5-times the current premiums and turn middle school recess into the NFL Combine.
I'm with JR all the way: we need to provide incentives in this country for the grotesquely overweight (you know who I'm talking about, the type of person who has to buy three seats on a plane for their giant whale's ass, or eats their meals out of buckets), because Lord knows they're not going to do it without that hamburger on a string.
So maybe we offer a Blubber Bucks Plan -- for every 10 lbs each human hippopotamus loses, the government pays them $1,000, or $500 ... whatever the market deems appropriate. Best of all: Once they have this reward in their bloated little fingers, they'll spend it, immediately stimulating the economy. Sold your deep fryer and bought a bushel of broccoli?? Here's $2,000.
(Basically, for you bettors -- in case there was any question -- JR and I are both short on Rosie O'Donnell, long on lipo clinics, and we'd both like to see Jared the Subway Guy get a role somewhere in the Obama administration.)
After all, the facts are pretty depressing, which is why they eat: Every state in the U.S. is now above the 15% obesity line. When KFC decides that there's enough demand to take a regular old chicken sandwich AND REPLACE THE BREAD WITH CHICKEN, I'd say we have a crisis on our hands. When hamburger buns and deep-fried chicken enough ... Jesus Christ ... you know, you almost have to admire us for how far we're willing to go to pursue the fattiest meal possible. (Now, don't get me wrong, the Double Down is extremely delicious, but that's the problem, it's like crack ... eat two of those things in 24-hrs and you'll wake up 2 days later in a dumpster with a hobo's private parts in your ear.)
I think it's safe to say that America can no longer see its dick. It's time to do something, and I'm following JR's lead. As a peak physical specimen, it's the least I can do.
Get off your ass, fatty, and join us.
Thumbs up, though i think a more "sensitive" approach could work with them better, not to mention the money of course.
Incentives? They need to be shamed, early and often. This ain't Rome and your sloppy FUPA is not a sign of wealth and opulence. Stop usurping my tax dollar with your oxygen canister from the age of 29 dragging ass.
Agreed.
You should see the plethora of overweight and fast-food indulgent coworkers in my office, its sickening. As a person who takes care of his body 5-6 days out of the week (hey everyone has to let loose and binge one day a week), it disgusts me to see folks who have no care for their health or physical appearance.
I am a firm believer of those who lack the motivation and effort to care for their bodies, lack the motivation and self control necessary to become leaders of the free world
end rant
Fats and sugars don't make you any more fat than say, corn and broccoli. It's eating too many calories that makes you fat. It doesn't matter if those calories come from either corn or sugar. I think it's in Japan, where they measure your waist then charge your company if your too fat. I don't think we should go down that route. Government planning makes me sick.
That's simply not true. A calorie is not a calorie. I have never in my life seen an obese person who had a steady diet of lean protein and vegetables.
any dietitian will tell you when it comes to veggies, its all you can eat. fat comes from fattening food (sugar, bacon, chocolate, or a combo of all three).
So wrong its hilarious...HMMMMM lets think about this....
Broccoli:
It is full of vitamins, antioxidants, chromium, anti-viral and anti ulcer components. Broccoli contains a wealth of the vitamin A, B6, C, K and E. Its also a good source of calcium, iron, zinc, fiber, folate, protein, potassium, magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids, water and tryptophan. Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable and contains phytochemicals called indoles and isothiocyanates that can boost the activity of enzymes in the body that suppress cancer-causing agents. The vitamins and amino acids in broccoli make it an effective detoxifier that assists the body in ridding itself of toxins and free radicals cleansing the blood and helping it eliminate the bad things like toxins and their effects. Broccoli is rich in cholesterol-reducing fiber, chromium and potassium, which can help control blood sugar and blood pressure in addition to decreasing blood cholesterol levels.
Trans fat:
A type of fat created when oils are hydrogenated, which chemically transforms them from their normal liquid state (at room temperature) into solids. During the hydrogenation procedure extra hydrogen atoms are pumped into unsaturated fat, thereby creating trans fatty acids. This process converts the mixture into a saturated fat, which obliterates its polyunsaturate benefits. Trans fatty acids can be found in a wide array of processed foods including cookies and margarines. Any food with "hydrogenated oils" or "partially hydrogenated oils" on the label contains trans fatty acids. Some researchers believe such foods may actually be more damaging than regular saturated fats to those watching their cholesterol, saying trans fatty acids decrease the good (HDL) cholesterol and increase the bad LDLs. Other scientists argue that the evidence is inconclusive and that trans fatty acids are no worse than butter. In either case, it would seem that "moderation" is the watchword when consuming foods containing trans fatty acids.
Eating the same amount of trans fat (in calories) and broccoli yields completely different results.
Please take this the wrong way: by chance, are you obese?
The image associated with this thread sickens me. I couldn't even read the original post because i had to scroll down away from that image.
Just think, bro, somebody's hittin' that. Regular.
I just threw up in my mouth,thanks.
I'm sorry - there's no way someone is that desperate.
There should definitely be some kind of financial penalty for fatties. For insurance purposes, it is irrelevant that I eat healthy, go to the gym, etc, etc. I pay the same as the 400 pound fucker in my office that eats chips all day. If I get 5 speeding tickets you better believe my car insurance goes up. Why not the same for health insurance?
Cashiers in grocery store should have the ability to say "No, you may not purchase that bag of chips b/c yo are 300 pounds". Or put a scale in the store. If it says "To be continued" when the person steps on then NO PURCHASE lights up on the register.
This entire country is fat. It's disgusting.
Obesity has to go the same route as smoking. It's perfectly acceptable now to ridicule or alienate someone for being a smoker. The same should apply to obesity.
Geez dude. Who doesnt enjoy a cigarette every now and then when they have a few drinks?
I think this is a revolutionary idea, brilliant. At first I was hesitant to think proving tax money to fatso's for losing weight is a bad idea but then i pulled by brain cells together and realized it will make society better as a whole, on a larger macro scale. because when people see happy skinny people all around them, they will also be happy and will potentially feel the need to stay in shape as well. + it will potentially save the country and the fatso's god knows how much money (i know i know there are specific numbers out there, just too lazy to look them up).
+1 vote from me.
I really like the idea of taxing sugar and fats. Every time i go back to the States (and sadly, even my own country, Canada), I am shocked by how fat people are and the portion of the population that is fat. It slows down productivity, increases health care costs, and just the over-consumption of food itself is a diversion of resources away from more productive means.
I am a firm proponent of anything that reduces life span and thereby helps lower global population.
As people get more educated and more wealthy they get fatter. You sit on your ass all day and go out to eat, guess what, you are going to gain weight. People in India and China are skinny, you know why? Rice and no money. Hard labor helps also.
Fat people get sick, they can't work as much, who cares? It is their choice and they incur the costs. What should not happen is anyone but them incurring costs. This is what happens when you socialize shit. Once we all have to shoulder the burden we all get a say in what happens.
When your parents pay for your car they tell you what to do. Same thing with government.
Tax the corpulent who are not encumbered by disease and make over a certain income (meaning they have a choice of divulging in cuisine other than processed/trans fatty/shit)
Also tax sugar.
Double taxation to the fat nation...Ledgend wait for it....Dary
Excess calories make you fat. We are not discussing health. Certain foods are more calorie dense than others. That's about it.
The whole concept behind the broccoli/butter comparison is that your body will change in completely different ways while consuming the same number of calories. The added benefits of consuming one versus the other have the ultimate impact on deciding how your metabolism functions. ie. are you burning fat or storing glycogen.
Calories in vs Calories out applies to the vast majority of the population to an extent for weight control.
Only in situations where you are trying to get down to sub-10% bodyfat levels does macro-nutrient manipulation matter.
I shed down to 7 % BF this past year and it was NOT simply due to calories in vs calories out. It was a systematic diet of low carbohydrates, moderate fats, high proteins and carbohydrate cycling with nutrient timing being crucial.
But for the majority of people who want a healthy life style and lose a few lbs, it is indeed calories in vs calories out
Now...Health concerns based on macro-nutrient breakdown are a totally different subject
and by the way not ALL FATs are unhealthy.
monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are extremely healthy and provide great energy.
I eat a primarily med-high fat/high protein diet almost year around and i never have energy problems or health concerns.
We understand the concept of omega 3s-----The original comparison was fat and sugar to broccoli-----I dont think omega 3s were implied, and if they were where the hell is the attention to detail.
Details are an imperative.
nm
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