Obesity and health costs: here come the vice police

Ezra Klein shows the correlation between obesity and increased health costs...

As long as we help pay for each other through Medicare, Medicaid, and assorted other subsidies, the aggregate health of the nation is a concern for taxpayers, not just individuals. But this isn't just about government. As long as most of us pay health-care premiums based on the average health needs of other people (and that's true for everyone receiving employer-based health coverage, and any other type of risk-pooled coverage), the health of others will be a financial concern for us.

I look at this and see yet another reason we should transition to a real individual health market, with HSAs and catastrophic-only insurance, so that people are responsible for their own health.  Just like car insurance.

Progressives look at this problem and think we should tax soda and other fattening foods. (seriously!)