Reply #34: Obseity and diabetes cost far far more.

[Statistical]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/opinion/10pollan.html?pagewanted=all

We’re spending $147 billion to treat obesity, $116 billion to treat diabetes, and hundreds of billions more to treat cardiovascular disease and the many types of cancer that have been linked to the so-called Western diet. One recent study estimated that 30 percent of the increase in health care spending over the past 20 years could be attributed to the soaring rate of obesity, a condition that now accounts for nearly a tenth of all spending on health care.

Nope it is all the smokers. Of course when you look at that $96.7 billion you fail to account for the offset in additional taxes smokers pay so their net impact is much less than $96.7 billion.

Last year I can find is 2006 and annual tobacco tax revenue was $16.7 billion. So the net impact smokers contribute to healthcare costs is more like $80 billion. Of course 2009 raised tobacco taxes substantially so I would expect the tax offset to be even more today.

Adjusted by the tax offset the effect of smoking is half that of obesity and there is no calls for banning obese persons (other than those with a diagnosed medical reason) from health care system.

Of course not, that wouldn't be progressive.