POLL: Are You in Favor of a Fat Tax?

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BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
64,144
12,461
136
Originally posted by: skim milk
wow, I'm surprised that blahblahfvckingmoron didn't start this thread

No, but YOU posted in it to cover the moron quota...:p
 

hanoverphist

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2006
9,867
23
76
Originally posted by: eits
<blockquote>quote:
Originally posted by: everman
You can't just tax food deemed unhealthy, then everyone pays regardless of their health status. Some people can control themselves and only eat junk food occasionally, they should not be required to pay any such "fat tax". I think a better alternative is to charge obese people more for health insurance just like smokers, charge them less once they drop the weight.</blockquote>

yeah, that's a good idea... but i think they already do that, don't they? isn't that what insurance risk analysts determine?

yes, but at least here (as far as i know) it is passed on to the whole plan, not the individual. we had a few people here that were serious health risks a while back, overall we had 3 old guys with pacemakers and multiple heart attacks, a few overweight people and 2 guys that ended up in rehab. the next january our insurance went up by a third. the rehab guys were caught at work on substances and terminated, two of the heart guys quit within two years. health insurance dropped the following january. it isnt the specific person that pays extra for their weight problem or heart problem, its everyone they work with that pays.

as for fat tax, if the fat person is eating 5 times more than a normal person, they are paying 5 times the tax on that food. seems to me they are helping out that burden already.
 

JS80

Lifer
Oct 24, 2005
26,271
7
81
There should be a poor tax. At least fat people who are producers will have jobs and health insurance.
 

xj0hnx

Diamond Member
Dec 18, 2007
9,262
3
76
Originally posted by: waggy
nope.

it would make me worry about what is next.

This. I can't even believe people consider this bullshit. Someone can think of a reason to tax anything.
 

PlasmaBomb

Lifer
Nov 19, 2004
11,636
2
81
Originally posted by: eits
i was sitting in class yesterday and the professor was talking about some extremely obese patient he had and how much food he ate just for breakfast... then, he went on to talk about how much tax payers money go towards keeping his fat ass alive each year.

the student in front of me turned around and said, "that's why we need a fat tax." my liberal ass said, "don't you think that's kinda discriminatory?" he replied, "so? fvck 'em..."

good point.

but how would you implement a fat tax? tax fast food goers more per order? tax break for those who can document a healthy lifestyle and/or weight loss? it just kinda seems like it'd be hard to control...

EDIT: http://www.obesity.org/subs/tax/taxguide.shtml
http://www.mindfully.org/Health/2004/Obesity-US-$75_1B22jan04.htm

found these... thought it'd be useful for the discussion.

You suck at linking.

Paging BlahBlah...

Edit: Damn.. why the hell did you necro this thread Scholzpdx?
 

PlasmaBomb

Lifer
Nov 19, 2004
11,636
2
81
Originally posted by: ultimatebob
Make healthy food cheaper, and more people will buy it. As long as that "organically grown" crap costs twice as much as normal food, most folks are never going to buy it.

Organic != healthy.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,079
136
Originally posted by: TehMac
No fat tax, but I believe the obese peeps are getting raped by insurance.

In reality I think its more like insurance is getting raped by obese people. As far as health care goes they cost a great deal more than skinnies.

I think the tax should be higher premiums, same with smokers.

Also, I cant believe I didnt vote in this two years ago. Weird. I would have loved a fatty tax back then and love it even more now. Either that or they absorb the ridiculous cost of health care. If Obama is serious about health care reform I think reforming the health of the average American is a GREAT place to start. I seem to recall Bush Sr tried to get a national fitness program going and it failed. Since so many people in this country worship Obama I think now is a good time to revive that idea.



Originally posted by: SuperSix
Originally posted by: waggy
nope.

it would make me worry about what is next.
Exactly. As more and more freedoms are eroded away . . . .
You dont have freedom from taxes. But I agree that maybe this doesnt need a tax so long as fatties stop messing up health care costs for the non-fatties.
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
They want to add 1 cent for every oz for soda and similar drinks. That is 16-20 cents more per bottle.
No thanks.
Next will be 20 cent tax for buying candy, anything but ground sirloin, etc
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
64,144
12,461
136
Originally posted by: Modelworks
They want to add 1 cent for every oz for soda and similar drinks. That is 16-20 cents more per bottle.
No thanks.
Next will be 20 cent tax for buying candy, anything but ground sirloin, etc

You think red meat is healthy? Hell, they'll be leveling "Fat Taxes" and "cholesterol taxes" on that artery-clogging red meat before too long. :roll:

Here in Kahleeforneeya, they're also trying some kind of tax on soda pop. They just increased the taxes on cigarettes...AGAIN. About the only thing they aren't hitting with heavy tax increases is the alcohol industry. The various beer, booze, and wine companies here must have pretty good lobbists.

While tobacco products are far from healthy, for the most part, they only hurt the person who uses them.

Alcohol on the other hand, not only hurts the user, but because too many dumb-fucks seem to think it's ok to drink and drive, it also causes a LOT of hurt to other people...non-users.

Time to levy HUGE taxes on beer, wine, and hard liquor.

$1.00 per bottle of beer, $10.00 (or more) per bottle of wine, $50.00 (or more) per quart (or part thereof) of all hard liquors.


Why not? It's just another form of sin tax like cigarette taxes...:D
 

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
11,883
63
91
Originally posted by: BoomerD
You think red meat is healthy? Hell, they'll be leveling "Fat Taxes" and "cholesterol taxes" on that artery-clogging red meat before too long. :roll:

Here in Kahleeforneeya, they're also trying some kind of tax on soda pop. They just increased the taxes on cigarettes...AGAIN. About the only thing they aren't hitting with heavy tax increases is the alcohol industry. The various beer, booze, and wine companies here must have pretty good lobbists.

While tobacco products are far from healthy, for the most part, they only hurt the person who uses them.

Alcohol on the other hand, not only hurts the user, but because too many dumb-fucks seem to think it's ok to drink and drive, it also causes a LOT of hurt to other people...non-users.

Time to levy HUGE taxes on beer, wine, and hard liquor.

$1.00 per bottle of beer, $10.00 (or more) per bottle of wine, $50.00 (or more) per quart (or part thereof) of all hard liquors.


Why not? It's just another form of sin tax like cigarette taxes...:D

Are you drunk?
 

Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,502
136
Only thing I would approve of is incentives for all those who keep educated on health issues (including weight loss) from free and voluntary courses/seminars sponsored by government and/or health insurance companies.
So they give you points exchangeable for gifts, tax deduction, etc. to show up once a month, keep track of your diet and medical issues (for yourself only), and that way people would be encouraged to lose weight and maintain good health. Learn risk factors for diseases and cancer, healthy foods vs unhealthy foods, stuff that is basic nutrition and health, but that not enough people are educated on.

A preventative approach that doesn't come off as a burden imposed against fat people, and something that could benefit entire country and help reduce obesity.

Why is this in OT, btw?
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Originally posted by: Modelworks
They want to add 1 cent for every oz for soda and similar drinks. That is 16-20 cents more per bottle.
No thanks.
Next will be 20 cent tax for buying candy, anything but ground sirloin, etc

You think red meat is healthy? Hell, they'll be leveling "Fat Taxes" and "cholesterol taxes" on that artery-clogging red meat before too long. :roll:

some things are healthy in moderation... my doc always yells at me and tells me to eat more red meat. my iron is like perpetually on the low end of the "normal" range but iron supplements do bad things to me.
 

Cattlegod

Diamond Member
May 22, 2001
8,687
1
0
Hell no.

I work out 6 days a week for 2 hours a day. I eat as much as a fat ass, but I'm all muscle. Why should I pay extra money because I'm healthy?

We should tax everyone who doesn't work out 3 days a week.
 

69Mach1

Senior member
Jun 10, 2009
662
0
76
Where exactly in the constitution does it give the Federal government the power to do this? Then what is next? How about we just have a stupid tax, more people would be paying. If you let this get started, there is no telling where it will end. To all those who voted yes, how old are you? If you're still young, you haven't had time for your metabolism to slow down, you might be in for a shock later. I see a lot of people I went to school with who were so proud of their weight, now each hip has a different area code. I think it's funny as hell, I would hate to be deprived of my entertainment.
 

surfsatwerk

Lifer
Mar 6, 2008
10,110
5
81
As a smoker I think it will do the country good to take it up the ass like we have been getting it for years now.