NEWS: Would You Support a "Fat Tax"?

Don't lie, you're here for the butthole shots.

I respect your opinion there, but you're wrong. My point is that if someone can afford to buy junk food to feed themselves and their family, they can also afford to buy real, healthy food. Junk food is not cheaper than real, healthy food, it's just cheaper than most real, interesting food. As many people have stated, beans and rice are extremely cheap and infinitely healthier than hot dogs and boxed mac and cheese, vitamins and mineral fortified though they may be. You give me any actual meal consisting of food like that, and I can give you a healthier alternative that a poor family could turn to with a bit more effort.

By that definition you gave me, they shouldn't even be able to afford the cheap, boxed food. In that case, I'm not really talking about them. I'm talking about the working poor who take the easy way out by buying and eating junk.

No, it was a poor choice. That $20 I mentioned could feed six people, and could probably be stretched to feed several more if money is especially tight. I also said I could make the same amount of food for half of that, if necessary. Remember, I'm not talking about $20 per person. Please don't jump to conclusions and then call me clueless. I'm not naieve at all; I know exactly what I'm talking about. You've proven that you can use a calculator; now prove that you can use your brain. Do some more research and get back to me.

Also, $20 for all three meals is ridiculous. Breakfast and lunch are generally much smaller meals, and don't even have to cost half as much. With careful budgeting and intelligent food choices, anyone can eat relatively healthy food with very little money. It may not be the world's most interesting food, and it will likely have to be repetitive, but it will keep a family fed and properly nourished. As I said, all it takes is the willingness to put forth the effort. It's easier to open that blue box of faux mac and cheese than it is to make something real. But it's not cheaper. At least, not by any significant amount. And it doesn't have to take that much time, as anyone with a crock pot will tell you (at least, not that much time in actual attendace of the food while it cooks.)

[Edited on Jan 18, 2006 10:11PM]

[Edited on Jan 18, 2006 10:13PM]

I think its a fucking brilliant idea.

I'm more in favour of a solution that educates society to form better habits.

I lived in New York for a year, which is pretty healthy for a US city I think, but still it is pretty out of control.

Switzerland is very different- for instance, I am about to go to the gym in a few minutes.
There will be more 50+ people in the gym than younger people, but it will be pretty balanced.
Young people exercise, old people exercise.
There is culturally a big interest in health or 'wellness' as they call it, because people here know how much better you feel for exercising every few days.

It is sad to see people not exercise and use rubbish excuses like 'I have big bones' or 'I don't lose weight like other people' and such excuses.
Especially considering it is such rubbish.
Being overweight is so unnecessary and mostly environmental/consumption based.
Very, very, very few peopl ehave the often used excuse of 'thyroid' problem- even that can be regulated with diet and exercise.

I never, ever thought I would be an advocate for working out- 10 years ago I was 250lbs and probably about 35% body fat and I felt and looked like I was 40 (when I was 24).
Now at 34 (and 185lbs - 13% body fat) I look younger than I did back then but more importantly I feel mch better in my body. I don't wake up tired and exhausted all the time and I have more than enough energy-

Also exercise has definitely helped with a long standing problem with depression- that has to count for something.

I feel utilizing Alec Baldwin's Pyramid of Pain would be far more effective.

Since we're so gung-ho on having government act like our moms and dads, lets not pussyfoot around with taxes. Let's just have government tell us what to eat and if we're caught snacking we get punished. Compliance will, of course, have to be monitored with in-house video surveillance, but with modern technology the cameras are so small you'll forget they're even there.

Alternatively, rather than tax junk food, why not remove the tax on cigarettes? If smoking keeps all those fashion models thin, I say we remove the disincentive.

Good idea.
I have one also- borrowing from Hitchhikers Guide- we could have monthly weigh-ins for everyone and people who gain weight have that weight surgically removed immediately after the weigh-in.

The removed body weight could be frozen and shipped to Africa.