Dr. Kenneth Cooper is a lifelong friend and personal physician of George W. Bush’s as well as a rumored replacement for current Surgeon General, although Cooper has indicated he does not want the job. Lets hope that not only does Cooper not receive any government position but that Bush also ignores Cooper’s recently released health prescription for the nation: tax unhealthy people more.
Cooper recently held a press conference to announce a 15-point health agenda that he was presenting to the new Bush administration. Among Cooper’s proposal are tax breaks for people who fit his view of being healthy. According to a Libertarian Party press release, the tax breaks include,
- A $250 tax deduction if you keep your body mass index (a measure of weight) under 25.
- A $250 tax deduction if you donÂ’t smoke.
- A $250 tax deduction if you keep your cholesterol under 200.
- A $250 tax deduction if you keep your blood pressure under 140 over 90.
As Steve Dasbach puts it, “…frankly, the last thing we need is the IRS playing the role of a national aerobics instructor — hectoring us through tax breaks to improve our health.”
Source:
$1,000 tax credit for healthy behavior? The proposal makes Libertarians sick. The Libertarian Party, April 11, 2001.