http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Fatmouse.jpg
I download a lot of free books from BookBub. I strongly recommend it: many – but not all – of the books are self-published and if I’m honest, there’s a lot of dross; but I have discovered some real gems, including the Talented Saga by Sophie Davis, which I absolutely loved. The first book was free but I bought the next three because I enjoyed it so much. The whole collection cost me less than £6.50 and I will definitely re-read them; and more than once.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13466202-talented
Last night I started reading another free download, Gone by Christine Kersey. It’s a YA novel about a teenage girl who runs away from home on a whim; realises her mistake; struggles to get back; and finds herself in a parallel universe, where it is illegal to be fat. The government sends anyone over the weight limit to F.A.T. camp, forcing them to sell their house to pay for their mandatory treatment.
http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/294/a/4/funny_picture_by_metalmario2345-d5ijd9x.jpg
It’s an okay book but I thought the premise was a little preposterous. And then I read Sky News this morning: it appears that fat is now a government issue. The current incumbents, if re-elected in May, propose to strip benefits from anyone deemed obese who refuses to go on a diet.
You couldn’t make it up.
Or you could; but the real thing is much more frightening.
Please, take a read of the whole Sky News story and tell me what you think.
The Laughing Housewife 
I saw that on the news, Tilly. Sounds like they have nothing else to do…
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It certainly sounds like a bunch of people around a table with nothing better to do came up with it.
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Ahhh, you don’t want me to get on that soapbox!! 🙂 In a nutshell, I think our governments are running amok!!
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The trouble is, we’re letting them. Nobody votes any more.
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Governments always seem to apply a simple solution to a complex problem…resulting in failure.
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You know the government mantra?
If it ain’t broke, fix it till it is.
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I believe it because there is a reason why they say truth is stranger than fiction. The issue of obesity is far more complex than simply a diet and the government needs to understand that, it should not be only motivated to save cost. Great tip on the free downloads! Thanks Tilly 😀 xoxox
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Yes; people don’t develop eating disorders for the fun of it.
Glad to share the freebies!
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Tilly you speak the truth girlfriend 😀 I hope that you, the Hub and Molly and Toby aren’t freezing like we are here. It is most uncomfortable. xxoo
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Not too bad, actually; cold but bearable. Stay warm!
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Good I am very happy to hear it. My family over in France has been bombarded by the rain and they are sick of it; it may not be too cold for them but they are at the saturation point. I think that this winter has been hard for many regardless where they are in the world. Kisses and hugs Tilly xoxoxo 😀
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Wow. I didn’t even know one could use obesity as a reason not to work. If this is carried through, it will set a precedent and it won’t be long before other countries follow that example.
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Truth really is stranger than fiction.
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I can’t disagree!
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if we really took notice of everything we read or hear, then confusion reigns…half of what we hear now is just propaganda for the coming elections…all a load of twaddel
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and the other half is journalistic hype – if you read the entire article you see that it is not compelling people to go on a diet, but actually to seek medical help, which is a different kettle of fish.
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Yes, I understand that. And I understand also that people should not be allowed to stay on benefits as a lifestyle choice.
But I have a real problem with governments telling people how to live their lives beyond sensible laws like no murdering, no stealing, etc.
While I don’t believe that obesity is a good thing (hence my own diet and careful maintenance of my present weight), I strongly object to governments forbidding it.
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Besides being immediately pissed off that this so-called Nazi-overtoned solution comes from that first-class twat Cameron, my question is this: is the help being offered the kind of help that is actually needed? The symptom is rarely the cause. I work full time, and I have what the majority in this world would consider a charmed life, but I also know what it means to be mentally ill and how easy it is to slip into addiction and homelessness regardless of one’s circumstances. Work has saved me on so many occasions. But it’s not the tonic for everyone. I also know that, in really bad periods, it can be very, very difficult to get out of bed in the morning, to eat healthily, to eschew alcohol. It’s a very fine line. Regardless, let’s treat the cause, not the symptom. And, frankly, I think my tax dollars are well spent supporting the people who are struggling in this way. Yes, there are rorters of the system the world over, but I would hazard a guess that most are not.
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And there you have the crux of the matter: governments tend to have a one-size-fits-all approach to every problem; and life just isn’t like that. Of course, government can’t possibly fix every problem; but I don’t think punishing those most in need of help is the answer.
This government, however, if their punitive approach to the sick and disabled is any guide, do seem to think that is the answer.
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Actually, if you consider it carefully, the idea has merit. If people are drawing benefits because of an avoidable condition, why should they be subsidised by those who have avoided the condition? And the twits who maintain that it would not prove a disincentive to continue the behaviour show empty rhetoric devoid of sense.
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What gets to me so often is the government’s refusal to realize obesity is not just a matter of refusing to diet – there are so many other components to it! I put a lot of weight on after sexual assaults in my early 20’s, even more weight when I experienced a lot of sexual abuse at work. So many women who have been assaulted put on weight as a protection against men – they try to make themselves as unattractive as possible to keep men from hitting on them, assaulting them & abusing them. Governments need to treat obesity like any other mental health issue – diagnose it (is it laziness? is it poor education? is it poverty? is it depression? etc.) If they discover people with obesity as part of a mental health issue, then help the people overcome their problems with support!
Sorry to sound like I’m shouting but this is a hot button topic for me since obesity is just one of many conditions leading to my disability.
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oh my goodness. I remember here there was a case where the mom had her welfare benefits stopped because her children were overweight — so that she couldn’t buy them so much junk food. What? But in taking away her money, you also took away her ability to pay the bills .. or buy, any food. duh. Sign her up for some healthy cooking classes or something. There have also been cases of parents being taken to Family Court in cases of morbidly over weight children – citing it as a form of abuse or neglect. Regardless of whether you consider that kind of thing abuse or not; sending them to jail AWAY from the children is hardly the answer.
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All I am going to say is can get scary when fact mirrors fiction.
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I do believe fat has become a government issue in Japan. It’s pretty amazing. They measure waist sizes at work and if you’re over the limit, you can get penalized… or something like that.
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Really?! This gets scarier by the day.
It’s not that I believe in being overweight; it’s that I worry about the individual’s right to choose to eat too much, or not. And what about those with health conditions which cause weight gain? They have no chance.
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Usually I have lots and lots of words, but here I’m kinda stuck at o.O
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Thank you so much for the book recommendation. It’s still free. Yae! I’ve uploaded it unto our Kindles.
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There are loads of free books available. And the great thing is, if I don’t like one, I just delete it.
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