Yesterday I read an article online (at MSN) that basically said America would save a lot of money if there weren't any overweight people in the country.

Apparently, 66 percent of Americans are overweight and half of those are considered obese. If nobody was overweight, America would save so much money, each household could get over $4,000 handed to them using the savings.

The article went into the many ways this money would be saved from less health care problems to the airline industry.

The story said that if no one was overweight, airlines would double their profits because they would be able to use less fuel to move Americans throughout the country and world.

This got me thinking, if it cost the airlines less money to fly me places because I'm 5''11' and 145 pounds, why don't I get a discount when I fly?

Better yet, why does the airline charge me when I travel with an extra bag?

According to a Web site I found via Google, the medical recommend weight for someone my height is up to 179 pounds. That's 34 pounds more than I currently weigh.

I think I should be able to fly with an additional bag weighing up to 34 pounds for free. It's no different than the airliner flying a 179 pound male, then they have to fly his bags too.

According to another Web site I found, a man would have to be 222 pounds at my height to be considered obese, which 33 percent of Americans happen to be. This means the airline can fly me and two 38.5 pound bags at the same price it cost to fly just an obese person.

They should put the savings back into my pocket. Or my belly, I'm all for free alcohol on flights.