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There are taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and gasoline.
I was looking at a high school reunion site of now and then photos of classmates. There were some Big changes, if you know what I mean - I am talking Pant and shirt sizes, here (Petite to X-Large). This is just an illustration of what is happening to us, in this country.
I was a weight lifter and put on size, myself. I went from Medium to X-large. When I took a trip to Europe, X-large was not the US version of X-Large. I have an athletic proportion with a 10 in drop between chest and waist size. However, we as Americans are bigger than our European and Asian Counterparts.
The biggest problem we have in America is obesity with super sized and value sized portions of fast food, Big bars, "Manly meals", etc.
* The US. Department of Agriculture estimates the cost at more than $ 71 billion a year in added health-care and related expenses.
* In 1991, one in eight Americans were obese. In 1999, the number had increased to one in five.
* A study by Policy Analysis Inc. concluded that overweight people cost their employers $12.7 billion in sick time and insurance coverage in 1994 alone.
* It is estimated that kids get up to 40 percent of their meals from fast-food chains, convenience stores and restaurants.
* There are fast-food franchise outlets in 13 percent of the nation's schools.
* One American Medical Association study estimates that 300,000 Americans die each year from obesity-related causes such as heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
* Obesity levels are sky-rocketing despite the fact that $33 billion a year is spent on weight-loss aids.
CNN.com - TV, lots of fast food triple obesity risk - Mar. 10, 2003 (http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/diet.fitness/03/10/fastfood.tv.ap/ - broken link)
Having a kid in elementary school, I am seeing more and more fat children.
Being fat has its issues in making the diagnosis of diseases more difficult.
There are Supersize clothing stores and fat people expecting to pay for one fair when travelling when they encroach on the other space. SUVs and other gas guzzling vehicles are the only things morbidly obese people can fit into.
If it's that deleterious to the health, why not just ban the product altogether? Politicians don't really want to ban stuff like this, they just desire more controls on your behaviors, because after all, they know better than you do what's good and not good for you.
Another instance of people opting for security versus liberty and freedom.
If it's that deleterious to the health, why not just ban the product altogether? Politicians don't really want to ban stuff like this, they just desire more controls on your behaviors, because after all, they know better than you do what's good and not good for you.
Another instance of people opting for security versus liberty and freedom.
I don't think we can ever ban fast food and junk food. We cannot prevent people from eating it. Politicians love taxes, however.
Hasn't it been shown enough times in history that bans don't solve problems and they create black markets? If you outlaw something, only outlaws will have it. Next we'll have restaurants operating underground, lol.
High taxes can cause a black market too. Cigarette box sales happen all the time on the streets.
Everytime I hit a Wendy's or Bugerking they ask if I want a supersize,they don't demand it.And no one made me go to Burgerking anyway.
Matter of fact I can't think of a more awesome meal than BBQ burgers and ribs,bakebeans and corn on the cob cooked at home.Well seafood is awesome also but.
And I love chocolate.
And I'm a size 33 to 34 depending.160lbs.Yes I have some love handle going on these days but I'm relatively thin with no gut besides.
If someone wants to stuff their face even after they are full it's their freewill.Well not always some are compulsive but.
How about getting government on the treadmill and trimming some of their fat instead?
It's amazing to be in the most "remote" places of developing countries and see McDonald's, KFC (they're everywhere) and even Dunkin' Donuts!
Most recently, I ate at a Pizza Hut in Baguio City, a town the the mountians of Luzon Province, RP. I walked by, after seeing all the other big chains, and said, we have GOT to eat at this Pizza Hut. It's just like here except you get great service (and the wait staff was more attractive)
Tax them in the US? Well, all the other good stuff, except ammo, has a tax on it (do they tax bullets yet?)
I think at some point, the health industry is going to know where you eat, how often (along with how fast you drive, how much you drink, etc) and the market forces on you will lead you to modify your lifestyle.
If all of our consumer decisions are monitored, we'll get pushed into risk catagories and won't be able to afford all those freedoms.
I don't like the idea, but I bet business gets that far into our life before the government does.
The Sniper: If You’re Going To Make The Public Foot The Health Care Costs, Make The Least Health Conscious Foot The Lion’s Share (http://3-116thsniper.blogspot.com/2007/07/if-youre-going-to-make-public-foot.html - broken link)
Last edited by gallowsCalibrator; 12-17-2008 at 05:58 AM..
Reason: First link was a porn picture
This is not going to be politically correct:Why not cure obesity by curtailing eating 'junk food' and 'fast food' with a Tax?
The tax can be used on education in inner cities/rural areas, for funding of higher education/medical training and preventing childhood obesity.
I have been predicting the proposal of this kind of tax for the past 10 years, especially after the success of MADD with demonizing alcohol and the elimination of smoking inside buildings.
It is wrong because we should not be a society that dictates behavior via the tax process.
There is no agreement on where to draw a line, why not tax folks who are atheist? How about taxing food on a calorie basis, say a penny a calorie?
Does this help clarify my objection?
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