Dollars For Doughnuts

Thrilled by the overwhelming success of the "Cash for Clunkers" program, I began to think: How can we apply the same concept to health care?

One recurring question I get at town hall meetings on health care is "How are you going to pay for it?" The answer is simple. Lower the costs. And the best way to do that? Pay people to be healthy.

Research has shown that fat people account for 69% of health care spending. Hence, my new program: Dollars for Doughnuts.

The idea is stunningly simple. For every pound you lose, Uncle Sam will pay you $1,000. If you lose ten pounds, you get $10,000. The health care savings alone as a result of the reduction of fat Americans will pay for this incentive program more than three times over.

Now, that's some hefty change you can believe in.