
Put simply, the longer a person lives, the more they use. Fit folk are much more likely to succumb to prolonged nasties like Alzheimers and Parkinsons, than swift but horrid lifestyle linked illnesses like heart disease and lung cancer. While a smoker notches up a civilised 359,000 bill over a lifetime, a person of normal weight and health racks up 458,000.
So. To do the decent thing and check out of this world early, thus saving the common man a farthing or two on his tax bill? Or to carry on with that gym membership and pump-iron your way to a long and expensive life? Don’t worry, it’s not actually quite that simple.
Au contraire. Healthier people generally contribute much more over a life time to the tax system than their unhealthy counterparts – less time off sick, more actual working years etc. In short they’ve already paid their nursing home bill before they even get there. Which basically dscounts everything we've just said.
Lets just say, reckless indulgence is lots of fabulous fun. But being obese and sick is all a bit miserable really. Plus you die sooner - and that can't be much craic. A proverb if we may. 'Everything in moderation'. Ah, undiluted wisdom in a single line.