Here's a sign
of the times. The average Briton is walking eighty miles less
each year. With inactivity now being seen as bad for the health as
smoking, this rise in idleness is being taken to be yet another
contributing factor to cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Perhaps
the average Briton should take up geocaching. That would make them
walk a bit more. Or that is the way that I do it would make them walk
a bit more. I have no time for this drive-by nonsense (he lied)...
I digress....
As I drove home this
evening there was an interesting discussion about the subject on
the radio. The crux of the debate was that a lot of illness
which is currently being dealt with by over-worked hospitals is
arguably directly attributable to the lifestyle choices made my those
with said illnesses. The question asked was should those who smoke,
fail to exercise, and/or regularly drink to excess expect to get free
treatment for their self-induced maladies from the NHS? Obviously
they shouldn't. Obviously they get all they deserve (!)
So how do we spot those
who shouldn't benefit from free health care? Can you really tell a
smoker from a non-smoker if the smoker is making an effort to hide
his predilection for fags? Some people (like me) put on weight
by merely glancing at a cream cake; others can dine on lard and
remain svelte. Is discriminating against people like me really fair?
And how about the super-fit health fanatic who slips on a dog turd
and breaks his leg whilst out jogging. Why should the non-jogging
community foot the bill? And is someone who plays football regularly
deliberately increasing his chances of injury (and subsequent cost
to the hospital)?
Initially I was of the
opinion that (as a bit of a porker myself) we've all paid our
bit and so are entitled to health care. But now I've thought about it
I'm not so sure. Is the actual concept of deserving and un-deserving
patients simply wrong? Or is it a choice that a health system which
is strapped for cash needs to make? And how is such a choice to be
made?
I don't know the answer.
But I do know that I worry far less about my own healthcare provision
(which is currently free) than I do about that of my dog's
(which costs)
Meanwhile here's a much
sadder
sign of the times. Sir Cyril Smith was another celebrity who
abused his position to take advantage of small children. Apparently.
In a novel break with current practice, it seems that this case might
actually have a nugget of truth in it. This morning's news had a
statement from his family regretting the incidents, but commenting on
the unfortunate "trial by media" which is taking
place. The family have a point.
Over the last few weeks
I've touched on this and other such cases. I've wondered how many
other celebrities are worried. Some are worried that their crimes
will be uncovered. As well they might worry. But it is my concern
that a far greater number of innocent people are living in fear of
baseless allegations made against them by those making money from
selling these stories.
I for one am now worried
about such baseless allegations being made against me. Over the years
when I was a scout leader, at camps and sleep-overs children would
from time to time foul themselves. When camping this would happen (on
average) at a rate of about one child every night. Sometimes more;
rarely less. It was every single night for three weeks when we took
them to Canada for the first time. I lost count of the amount of such
boys that I (and other scout leaders) cleaned up. And, to be
blunt, you can't clean up such a shitted child without being rather
intimate.
Admittedly in retrospect
I may well have put myself into a compromising position in doing so,
but what alternative was there? Should we have left these boys
(unable to clean themselves) caked in their own poo?
Many of these boys are
now in their twenties. They all now have bills to pay. Some have
their own houses and families to support. And they are seeing these
stories about alleged child abuse in the news. They are seeing the
lucrative deals newspapers will offer to victims of such alleged
crimes. I wonder how long it will be before an ex-cub points the
finger at me for financial gain? When they do, I expect I will be
stuffed. I've done no wrong, but as I've mentioned before several
times, from bitter experience I have absolutely no confidence in the
British judicial system.
Meanwhile in more mundane
news I am reliably informed that a rat which is the size of Fudge has
taken up residence in my back garden . I wonder what I'm supposed to
do about that. I can't put down poison or Fudge will eat it.
Similarly he'll stick his nose into any rat traps I might put down.
If the rat were smaller, Fudge might have seen it off. This rat might
see him off. I shall have a think...
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