Fat Tax Could Curb Nation's Obesity Problem

[Dusty]

Another example of the government sticking its nose in the private citizen's business, and it's based on data from a British study:

http://www.theindychannel.com/health...97/detail.html

Health experts have been trying to combat obesity in America for years and have recently suggested a new way to solve the growing problem.
A new study suggests that imposing a fat tax on unhealthy food and drinks could help slim down expanding waistlines.

According to British Medical Journal , more than 60 percent of Americans are overweight. Under the tax, a $4 cheeseburger would cost an extra 80 cents, RTV6's Stacia Matthews reported.
Some Hoosiers found the proposed fat tax hard to swallow.
"I don't think we should tax people and the way they run their lives,” one man said.
Others said a fat tax is palatable.
"I'd pay 20 percent. It's worth it,” one woman said. "I would eat a lot more healthy just to save more money.”
Researchers said a fat tax could drop obesity rates by 3.5 percent and prevent 2,700 heart-related deaths a year. The study also urged subsidies for healthier foods and veggies to make them more affordable.
Dr. Eric Wright, who heads the Department of Public Health at the Indiana University School of Medicine, said the fat tax falls right in line with other consumer products.
"We've applied tax to alcohol and tobacco and that has definitely shown through very many studies that it actually decreased use. So, the logic has been applied to fatty foods and preliminary evidence in Europe is that it’s very effective,” Wright said.
Researchers said Indiana spends $3.5 billion a year on obesity-related medical costs.
"The reality is, with two-thirds of the population being overweight or obese, that's what's driving up health care costs and you can either choose to pay now, or you can pay later,” Wright said.
Critics of the tax said people who choose to eat healthier foods should receive tax breaks and incentives.

Snip

[Pete]

When you hit somebody with a high tax you can change some people's habits.

But when they change their habits you lose the income.

So the list of what foods are bad expands and pretty soon everything is bad and taxed.

The tax man is like the camel trying to get it's nose into the tent.

[Dusty]

What, is it hip to be European, now? Can't these imbeciles take a good hard look at what's happening over there and realize it dont' f.cking work?

[ZonieDiver]

Originally Posted by Dusty

What, is it hip to be European, now? Can't these imbeciles take a good hard look at what's happening over there and realize it dont' f.cking work?

"Over there"???

You don't have to go that far... just look to the west - California! They've killed their economy via taxes, and don't realize, or admit, it even now.

[PSM]

Originally Posted by ZonieDiver

"Over there"???

You don't have to go that far... just look to the west - California! They've killed their economy via taxes, and don't realize, or admit, it even now.

My wife's paycheck just went up $280 a month because of our move to AZ with it's lower income tax. Plus, our property tax is lower, sales tax is about the same, fuel is much cheaper, government is less intrusive but they seem to be eager to change that. Four years ago we would not have needed any permits to build here. Not now. With more Californians escaping to AZ, I'm afraid they are bringing their nanny-state culture with them. We must resist them! Maybe a border fence.

Pat

ETA: My wife just told me that the $280 may include "catch-up" payments since the first of the year.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by ZonieDiver

"Over there"???

You don't have to go that far... just look to the west - California! They've killed their economy via taxes, and don't realize, or admit, it even now.

Good point.

The problems in Cali started at the corner of Haight and Ashbury, and spiraled out.

[ZonieDiver]

Originally Posted by PSM

My wife's paycheck just went up $280 a month because of our move to AZ with it's lower income tax. Plus, our property tax is lower, sales tax is about the same, fuel is much cheaper, government is less intrusive but they seem to be eager to change that. Four years ago we would not have needed any permits to build here. Not now. With more Californians escaping to AZ, I'm afraid they are bringing their nanny-state culture with them. We must resist them! Maybe a border fence.

Pat

You're too close to 'The People's Republic of Tucson' - aka 'Baja Arizona'!

In 1973 I had a bumper sticker on my pickup that read, "Don't Californicate Arizona"! Too late???

[PSM]

Originally Posted by ZonieDiver

In 1973 I had a bumper sticker on my pickup that read, "Don't Californicate Arizona"! Too late???

You psychic? California was still mostly sane in 1973; Reagan was governor.

Most of the survivors of Haight and Ashbury are in the California legislature, now, Dusty.

Pat

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by PSM

Most of the survivors of Haight and Ashbury are in the California legislature, now, Dusty.

Pat

The rest teach in college.

[Scimitar]

Yeah tax unhealthy food.

Do you know who eats unhealthy food; the poor do, why, cos it's cheaper.

So let's tax the poor, and then we can turn around and give the revenue back to the poor cos we just made them poorer.

But not before we take our public sector cut for administrating it.

Morons

The Bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding Bureaucracy

[cbtengr]

You all realize that this may be good for the economy, the Prez could appoint a Czar to oversee the thousands of new federal employees that will be needed to enforce the laws governing obesity. It can be called the Obesity Security Administration (OSA) and they can advertise for openings just like the TSA does, on the boxes of junk foods. I can easily envision unemployment dipping to less than 8% if this takes hold.

" Do you know who eats unhealthy food; the poor do, why, cos it's cheaper."

I guess I like unhealthy foods but as to them being cheap I do not see it. Define unhealthy foods, I think of fast foods but they are anything but cheap. I think obesity is more of a result of volume eaten vs. what is eaten. You can tax things as much as you want but there will always be those who do not care.

[MR2]

TSA = Thousands Standing Around

OSA = Obese Sitting AndRound

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by cbtengr

You all realize that this may be good for the economy, the Prez could appoint a Czar to oversee the thousands of new federal employees that will be needed to enforce the laws governing obesity.

Entirely feasible if he gets another four years.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by cbtengr

You all realize that this may be good for the economy, the Prez could appoint a Czar to oversee the thousands of new federal employees that will be needed to enforce the laws governing obesity.

"Fatty Czar" Richard Simmons - staffed with laid off McDonald's, Wendy's, etc. employees who would have the edge for those jobs as SME's on the topic.

And so it goes...

Richard

[greenberetTFS]

If this passes BT will be in lots of trouble.........

Big Teddy