Do you support a Fat Tax?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070712/hl_nm/britain_fat_dc

This is London, but, were we to elect a Socialist leader like Hillary or Obama, take a look at our future, they are already giving points benefits here in America at large corporations for employees that are healthier, so, now when you see a fat person, not only will judge them as useless slobs, but now you can also label them as a drain on the economy and your rising health premiums. And, oh btw, Hitler would be proud of London for their fat tax, it just screams of Social Darwinism, n'est pas?

John O and justgrandma rock!!!

and I, Robot, I don't know Godwin's Law, please do tell. My point is the old where does this taxing, or social engineering end, mein freund.

I don't agree with Godwin's "Law" as if I give a tinker's damn about his opinion.

Case in point, the slippery slope IS leading us closer to social darwinism, and I will be damned to sit by and bite my tongue when I see the obvious comparisons therein.

Take a look at this story, to add insult to injury (pun intended)

http://health.yahoo.com/news/177292

correafan, I will find out what YOU like, and tax the hell out of that then. Don't you get it, this is exactly how it starts, only instead of Jews, it will be fat people, or smokers, or whatever. "those people" America is not a nation where we want the government telling us what to do all the time, that is NOT freedom.

Answer 1

Once we start taxing people or financially penalizing people in other ways for lifestyle it won't stop. It is the proverbial slippery slope. And for those who talk about how much it costs every year to take care of overweight people,or smokers,or drinkers or whatever I have a question for them. Have they ever looked into the costs of sports injuries per year? I'll bet they haven't,and I'll bet the moment someone tells them they will be taxed more or penalized in any way for engaging in atheletic activities they will freak. Yet it would make perfect sense,if you play football with friends and blow out your knee,perhaps your insurance should pay a smaller percentage of the costs because you were engaged in a risky activity.


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Answer 2

Wow! What a question! And what a tax! I'm not sure how I feel on this. I mean on one hand it would be like taxing cigarettes. If you choose to buy it, then you pay the tax on it. It's not like the tax goes after people who have a certain body fat ratio.
But on the other hand what is considered unhealthy? Who decides? It will very interesting to see how this pans out for you Londoners. Good luck!
PS if it gets to much for you, you can always move to the US. We love our junk food. I doubt we will be implementing a fat tax any time soon.

Answer 3

just like the way some people eat people will do anything to get money into there pockets. no I don't like that idea and it could be fought agents by means of prodigious. they would be separating fat people. it is no better then blacks and whites in the past. they should not come up with this crap but people do. it may do as said cut down on the hart attacks but not by enough to excuse the hole thing. look at some of the Quoting of this site. http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/health/feeds/hscout/2006/01/11/hscout530229.html
now people have different metabolisms I have a friend that latterly eats his lunch breakfast and dinner with salt and It makes me sick but nothing happens on the other hand my other friend is diabetic so what does this mean. I'm in another controversy that I can see both sides of the lines.

Answer 4

I understand your point, it is a form of discrimination. Unfortuantely, however, the facts do exist that point to rising health problems for the obese, chief of which will be diabiates and it's related illness. Rather then a "fat tax" their shold be no tax on healthier foods and. Being fat is not a crime as it also has to do with genetics, family history habits and some social and personal issues. Cigarette smokers on the other hand will almost always experience heart and probably lung disease and they should pay a health tax that does tax the system.

Answer 5

I don't necessarily agree that it will make things that much better. I find right now - where I live - that it is expensive to eat healthy, I don't have the option of growing my own food. People are going to eat sweets and salty foods regardless if there is a tax or not- it is just going to leave less money for good food. just like cigarettes - people still smoke them they just have less money left for food at the end of the month. You can't change a persons habits just by charging him more money. You need to educate not tax!!

If this ever would be proposed in the US it would just look to me like another way of the government getting my money without technically raising my individual taxes.

Answer 6

As much of a vice as it is, on principle, I would ALWAYS say NO. That is the point where goverment ceases to be a social protector as it should be and begins treading into personal freedom. I'm not a radical or an alarmist, but history simply tells us over and over that this kind of foolishness is how Communism and worse begins. Let us leave the matter of obesity to the individual. So many are already doing it on their own with this new health craze today. hehe.

Answer 7

I would not agree to any gov't-mandated "fat tax" but insurance companies devise their own guidelines when it comes to setting premiums. Those who take care of themselves should be given an incentive to stay healthy by the insurance companies, whereas those who choose to live in girth should shoulder more of the cost burden for their health care.

"And, oh btw, Hitler would be proud of London for their fat tax, it just screams of Social Darwinism, n'est pas?"

Congratulations, you've just violated Godwin's Law! Whatever argument you have attempted to make is now officially moot.

Answer 8

the fat tax is just another tax-disguised as something that is going to help us. Why not tax "fat" people as a penalty like those caught speeding? They'll collect the tax and spend it on the regular bs that they want to anyway with little regard for what the original intent was.

Answer 9

I do not support a fat tax. I think it was created by someone who hates to see others enjoy themsleves. The Misermongers get see people pay more for what they enjoy and the socialists in Congress get more money.

Answer 10

Many people who are fat work too hard to find time for exercise.

I have to bill for 60 hours a week, at the minimum; hardly gives me time to have a regular exercise regimen. However, I am a weekend warrior.

The fat tax is ridiculous. Why punish hard-working people?