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| State Legislator Wants To Tax And Regulate Sofas And Comfy Chairs |
| 2010-04-03 |
| Seattle - At a press conference this evening Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Kent), chair of the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee, discussed the growing medical evidence about the disastrous health consequences -- and budgetary burden -- of sedentary lifestyles. Keiser cited two academic studies. One in January's American Heart Association journal, which found that "those who watched more than four hours [of television] a day had a 46 percent higher risk of death from all causes and an 80 percent increased risk for [cardiovascular disease]-related death". Another study, from the University of Missouri, estimates that a quarter of a million Americans will die each year from "Sedentary Death Syndrome", and that the total cost of extra medical expenses for treating sedentary-related ill health will reach $3 trillion over 10 years. This is what happens with government health care -- it becomes the duty of every busybody in government to tell you how to live. "The good news", Keiser said, "is that health care reform will provide millions of dollars in new health care funding for the people of Washington. But the state still has an obligation to fund health care. And we're just not going to be able to fund as much as we like, given the limits of our ability to raise taxes in this economy. So with that, we're all going to have to come together as a state and help each other lead healthier lifestyles and reduce our collective health expenses." And Keiser's idea of "helping each other lead healthier lifestyles" means -- "nudging" people sitting comfortably in their living rooms to get up and take frequent stretch breaks. As in her amendment to the Basic Health Plan budget requires, get this, that All new armchairs and sofas with cushions of three inches of thickness or greater, sold at retail in the state of Washington after 2015 shall be equipped with timers that emit an audible alarm at intervals of not more than twenty minutes. The requirement will not apply to dining room style chairs, office chairs, or "sofa-beds when configured for sleeping". And between now and 2015, there will be an extra excise tax of 5% on the sale of all new couches and comfy chairs that are not fitted with the special alarms. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #14 "...ho ho! That comfy chair has got to go! Furniture is murder!" "whatcha doing there Sparklepalms?" "Campaigning for Poplar Rights Man!" "No duuude, its popular rights." |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-04-03 18:27 |
| #13 meh...so-so movie quote :-) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-04-03 17:32 |
| #12 Excellent movie quote tu3031! |
| Posted by: bigjim-CA 2010-04-03 16:22 |
| #11 I'm waiting for self-extinguishing candles. Did you know you can currently light them, and they will burn? Attended, or unattended? We must hold candle manufacturers to account. Contact your state representative today. . |
| Posted by: OregonGuy 2010-04-03 12:35 |
| #10 #9 Nagging from busy bodies is also bad for health. Causes blood pressure to shoot sky high. Posted by: ed 2010-04-03 10:44 Nagging (constant and unrelenting) can also be hazardous to the nagger's health; if yanowadimean? |
| Posted by: WolfDog 2010-04-03 12:11 |
| #9 Nagging from busy bodies is also bad for health. Causes blood pressure to shoot sky high. |
| Posted by: ed 2010-04-03 10:44 |
| #8 Why don't you preach to Obama to stop smoking--it's not good for his health. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-04-03 10:01 |
| #7 Why don't these idjuts tax hot air, blather, distortions, and lies. They'd have lots and lots of money. Growing body of medical evidence. Two academic studies. What a bunch of crap. Everyone knows sedentary life styles aren't good for you but if someone wants to be sedentary, that is their choice, period. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-04-03 10:00 |
| #6 Note the date in the link. We all might wanna lighten up, Francis... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-04-03 09:44 |
| #5 ...but do judge those who voted for her. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2010-04-03 08:57 |
| #4 I second that USN - please don't judge the whole state by this brainless nanny.... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2010-04-03 06:11 |
| #3 ION BHARAT RAKSHAK > UN REPORT: BIGGEST WORLD CITIES MERGING INTO MEGA-REGIONS. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-04-03 02:19 |
| #2 had a 46 percent higher risk of death from all causes ima confused. i would think the risk of death from all causes is darn close to 100 percent. how do you get a 46 percent increase in that? |
| Posted by: abu do you love 2010-04-03 00:31 |
| #1 Please don't judge all of us Washingtonians by the actions of this nut case. remember, Kent and South sounders have a propensity for either walking onto train tracks and getting squashed, or turning their cars into the path of trains and light rail. So i think there may be something in the water that turns them stupid. or democrat. but i repeat myself. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2010-04-03 00:23 |