Jamie Oliver has launched a stinging attack on binge drinkers, claiming they should be fined for clogging up the NHS.Well, of course he did.
In a rant on Twitter, the 34-year-old berated 'idiot weekend yobbo binge drinkers' for wasting resources that should be reserved for the genuinely ill.
The father-of-three went on to suggest that similar penalties could be applied to obese people who eat unhealthily.
He said: 'We must start fining these idiot weekend yobbo binge drinkers for their cost to the UK NHS, then spend the money on people that really need help.Which is par for the course from deep thinkers like Jamie.
'We can't afford fixing drunks. People in need have no choice; weekend drunks have a choice.'
But it seems even his followers have had enough of this:
His comments provoked a debate among his followers on the social networking website, many of whom disagreed with his stance.Heh!
One fan, who pointed out that the NHS worked precisely because it does not discriminate between patients, asked the chef if he thought obese patients should be similarly penalised.Big mistake! He wasn’t going to say ‘No’, was he?
To which Oliver replied that he certainly did. He said: 'Brother, now you are talking. For many it's an addiction and yes drunks can be as well, I know.There are indeed reasons why the NHS won’t last forever, but they certainly aren’t all down to binge drinking or eating. In fact, some of them are down to obscenities like this.
'So where is the line? Big debate - NHS won't last forever.'
But one user responded witheringly: 'People don't follow you for political comment mate.'Which rather begs the question: just why do they follow him?
Oliver, who is expecting his fourth child with wife Jools, explained that the outburst had been prompted by watching a BBC documentary on sick children.Ah. I knew there was a reason they called it ‘the idiot box’.
A spokesman for Oliver told the Daily Mail: 'Jamie was watching the very emotional programme about Great Ormond Street Hospital on Tuesday night and became annoyed that so much money has to be diverted by the NHS to treat people who binge drink.'
It is not the first time he has been moved by issues affecting children.He’s easily upset, isn’t he, poor lad?
He was recently reduced to tears by a U.S. radio host who dismissed his efforts to make American children healthy as part of his TV series, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.
Perhaps someone else should monitor and control his TV access. For his own good, of course. I’m sure he couldn’t object to that?
Makes one weep to see the commenters actually agreeing with him, not a thought to unintended consequences between the lot of them. So dense they could bend light.
ReplyDeleteThe fault is the very structure of the NHS.
ReplyDeleteIt subsidises the insurance of those who don't look after their health and thus rewards sloth. It's funded by fining everyone who works. Treatment is directed by bureaucrats, rather than patients.
All in all it's the worst form of healthcare, funded in the worst possible way.
This is about punishing Sin and Sinners.
ReplyDeleteThe kind of socialist state we have is inspired more by Methodism than Marx. The moral imperatives we see at play in the creation of the NHS and indeed the welfare state were the expression of a protestant religious movement aimed at building a new Jerusalem, a heaven on earth by eliminating poverty (perhaps by eliminating the poor through eugenics) and leading people to lead good abstemious, sin free lives.
//became annoyed that so much money has to be diverted by the NHS to treat people who binge drink.//
ReplyDeleteYeah, those pesky binge drinkers, working the week through, paying taxes, and then expecting to be treated by the Health Service that they helped pay for. Damn them, and their selfish demand for wanting what they paid for.
Maybe the NHS should also take action against those folk who irresponsibly have more than 3 children (Oooh, that would be you Jamie) and whose fecundity obviously threatens the rest of us by using up scarce hospital resources.
ReplyDeleteNext time he's there - "Nurse. Two bricks for Mr Oliver, please"
After all, family style is also a lifestyle choice that impacts on the rest of us.
I would pay good money to punch Jamie 'cockney geezer, cheeky chappy' Oliver in the face. Very hard.
ReplyDeleteI used to like the lad, nice easy recipes served up by a slightly strange mockney Essex boy. Got too big for his boots and I couldn't even watch his previosu foray into the US with all his 'Bruvva this and fella that'. Got right on my nerves know wot I meen geezer'. Stick with what you know Jamie and butt out!
ReplyDelete"Makes one weep to see the commenters actually agreeing with him..."
ReplyDeleteI know. I'm getting used to that.
"All in all it's the worst form of healthcare, funded in the worst possible way."
Couldn't agree more.
"The kind of socialist state we have is inspired more by Methodism than Marx."
There's a large streak of Puritanism running through a lot of our institutions.
Someone should tell Jamie that binge drinking is fine if you only do it every now and again.
ReplyDelete"Damn them, and their selfish demand for wanting what they paid for."
ReplyDeleteWell, if they get it, how is the NHS supposed to pay for 50ft effigies of burger eating kids to burn, eh?
"Next time he's there - "Nurse. Two bricks for Mr Oliver, please""
Heh!
"Got too big for his boots..."
That seems to happen to a lot of celebrities who start rubbing shoulders with politicians, doesn't it?