Limbaugh Calls for 'Slut' Tax: the Politics of Personal Responsibility in Health Care

[marmar]

Limbaugh Calls for 'Slut' Tax: the Politics of Personal Responsibility in Health Care

Posted by Joshua Holland, AlterNet at 1:33 PM on July 23, 2009.

Your individual rights only go as far as my wallet.




Here's Rushbo -- drug addict, likely third-world sex tourist and self-appointed guardian of America's moral virtues -- working a bit of gratuitous slut-shaming into the health care debate.

It's comedy gold! See, Rush is up in arms over the fact that smokers buying insurance through the public health 'gateways' envisioned by the Dems would have to pay a higher premium. It's so unfair!

Why? From what I can make out in his "argument," Rush is saying that smokers make a risky lifestyle choice which results in higher health costs. So why don't we impose surcharges on other risky behaviors, like women who have an active sex life?

It's a patently silly argument -- unless they've come up with some kind of a cigarette-condom that makes smoking safe, I don't see much of a parallel. And, as is the norm with so many of these silly attacks on a public insurance option, Limbaugh acts as if private insurers don't charge higher premiums for smokers, which is ridiculous. Not only do insurers charge a premium, but many private companies make their employees who smoke pick up higher share of the costs of coverage. Heck, smokers actually pay higher premiums not only for health insurance, but also in many cases for life insurance, homeowner's insurance and even auto coverage.

So, a typically dishonest rant, but one that does touch on one of the crucial pivot points in the health care debate -- personal responsibility and the mandate that everyone (with a few exceptions) carry insurance. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/141515/limbaugh_calls_for_%27slut%27_tax%3A_the_politics_of_personal_responsibility_in_health_care/

[Locrian]

1. good thing for you Rush, there isn't a tax on "stupid" - nt

[Segami]

4. Rush would be broke by now.

[Buzz Clik]

2. Hm. Would Limbaugh endorse a tax on over-consumption?

[Segami]

5. That would mean poorhouse suicide for him.

[AndyA]

3. Ummm...Rush...your hypocrisy is showing (again).

Being overweight is also a "risky lifestyle choice which results in higher health costs." In your case, you're not just overweight, you're obese.

Put down that sausage roll and shut your mouth, you're just emphasizing what a loud mouthed, bigoted, liar you are. What's that saying about people who live in glass houses?

[blogslut]

6. Fair's fair, Rush

I propose we also have an anal cyst tax.

[cap]

7. a slut tax would definitely improve Limbaugh's 20% following among women

downwardly.... I wonder if he could hit 10% :). Maybe he needs another show having women call in to tell him why they don't like him so much.

[juno jones]

8. So men who engage said 'sluts'

aren't partaking of risky behaviour as well. Hmmmmmmmm.

[dana_b]

9. misogynist

just for women who have an active sex life? what about all those studs out there - like big ol' Rush-boy? a smoking-boozing-pill poppin'-sex addict!! Gee!!

of course his whole rant is ridiculous. i have blood pressure issues so of course I'm going to be more of a risk than someone who has no health issues. he's just a senseless ass.

[ismnotwasm]

10. Rush Limbaugh is a Junkie Pedophile

That is known to all

He, with his own um. er. --proclivities-- and income--a large income however hard it is to understand why, it is a large income,
would owe a slut tax equal to the GNP of a small country.

[scheming daemons]

11. This tax would be disproportionately paid by Republican congressmen... so I'm in favor!