“Your Say” says it all about discrimination in America.

I’m sure you are all familiar with the Facebook application called "Your Say," opinion polls made by users.  Questions like "do you like dogs" or "how much are you looking forward to the new Twilight movie" seem trivial and not worth answering.  However, I have come across plenty of wothwhile questions such as, "what do you think of the new healthcare plan."  Okay, not so bad.  But then, you get to the biased, skewed questions that do not hide their discrimination.  The one that caught my eye tonight is this one:

Should Fat people have to pay more taxes?

Being the opinionated person that I am, I had to answer it.  The question alone is pretty bad. Here is my response:

Put it this way, we can replace the word "Fat" with "Black."  Meaning, should Black people have to pay more taxes?  Most people would get pissed at the idea of racial profiling.  Replacing "Fat" with "Gay" would mostly get the same effect.  (I say mostly because there is still an unfortunate stigma against homosexuals.) Again, we could use "Disabled" for "Fat" and produce a similar effect.  However, I’m pretty certain that there are a lot of jackasses out there that would be down for the idea of having disabled people with fixed low incomes pay more taxes out of ignorance.  By proclaiming one group to be "less than" based on physical appearance is an antiquated idea of regression.

Now, if the question wasn’t bad enough the choices of answer were even worse:

Maybe: They do with all the fast food they eat
Yes: They are 90% of health care cost going up
No:  Businesses who sell the junk should

This insinuates the stereotype that all overweight people eat enormous amounts of fast food which lead them to go to the hospital to get help for their health problems; thus, resulting in higher health care costs for the able bodied.

Fortunately for me, they are wrong in their assumption that obesity accounts for 90% of health care costs.  According to the Associated Press and MSNBC, current health care costs related to obesity is close to just 10% , nearly 80% less.  Granted, this will change as the obesity rate keeps climbing.

On another level, this question highlights how a thin physical appearance is held in high esteem while anything "other" is deemed low grade or unacceptable.  This is a problem for men and women.  This is more of a problem for women that are already bombarded with pop culture’s accepted ideals of beauty.  TV shows such as "America’s Next Top Model" and "Battle of the Bods" perpetuate unrealistic standards.  "Battle of the Bods" particularly presents a voyeuristic approach that states that women and their parts are only eye candy for men. (That show is a disgusting look at pop culture deserving its own critique.)  It brings to the forefront not just insecurities about your overall appearance but mundane things like your belly button.  We also have Kate Moss proclaiming that thin is the best thing you could ever be.

Instead of critiquing each other based on what we look like we should be embracing the beauty that is the personal freedom of expression.  Whether it is through owning your sexuality or giving out your opinion in music or art.  I often venture downtown to a local bar and cafe that is known for their live music performances.  I’ve seen some of the best musicians there that defy beauty standards in many many ways.  Really, too bad pop culture is clouded with this view of beauty that says your not good enough.  Otherwise more people would see the awesomeness that is Blue Dahlia or Rubblebucket Orchestra.  It takes a strong person to go out there and say I’m going to do my own thing regardless of what you think.  People like that rock, I rock, we all are amazing for defying the cultural norm.  It is opinions that say that fat people need to pay more taxes that has the potential for keeping America in social stagnation.  Luckily, 75% of those that voted agreed with me.