Who thinks there should be a 'fat tax'? They put a strain on the NHS!?

Question

It's not stupid! It's a very good idea! Unless you had been diagnosed with an illness that made you fat, and lets face it, the majority just want to eat and eat and eat, then you should have to pay extra costs toward the healthcare you WILL need at a later date.

Answer 1

Only liberals will answer yes on this one.

Answer 2

They do not need a fat tax, as in some parts of the UK, the NHS refuse to do operations until the person has lost weight. I know i put on weight when i gave up smoking, so which is worse?. I mean, i now walk between 5 to 8 miles a day, and am fitter now in my 40's than i was in my 30's!.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Then you should also be prepared to have a smokers tax, an eating disorders tax, a drug addicts tax, an alcoholics tax etc. I do agree with you in principle as it is frustrating to be continually told that the NHS doesn't have enough funds to help some people but bend over backwards to help someone who has put themselves in that position.

There are a number of factors that put strain on the NHS but you cant start to charge people to have treatment that they have 'brought on themselves'. Does that mean you will have to pay to have a baby?

Edit: I used to smoke and yes cigarettes are heavily taxed but I dont think that covers every smoker and their smoking related illnesses. For example did you know that smoking can lead to abnormal smear tests which require treatment, it isn't just lung cancer and emphysema that need treatment

Answer 4

Not all overweight people are sick. As a nurse I see many skinny people who smoke, do drugs or are just plain unhealthy. Should we also put a tax on these? Perhaps only those who have paid into the healthcare system should be allowed to access it that would remove some of the strain!

Answer 5

i get your point, Now how about an Old tax, Smokers tax, Drinkers tax, Depressed peoples tax, Junkies tax. Now there's a tax to get to grips with, Tax all the junkies who use all the resources in the NHS every time they have a bit of extra cash to spend on an overdose. How about a tax on thin people as they get hypothermia because they don't have any fat to keep them warm. How about a tax on the idiots that go hill walking in January and put the emergency services at risk. The options are endless, I'm with you let's tax everybody. This is as well thought out as the prawn who came to a New labour branch meeting to put forward a proposal that the government should charge the people who made vast fortunes from Tobacco that they should pay for the care of the people with smoking related diseases like in America. It was pointed out that the people who made most out of tobacco was the government.

Answer 6

I don't think that all over weight people should pay a "Fat Tax" because there are some who really can't help their weight and it's not due to them over eating. My mother gained over 50 pounds from taking a medication (Welbutrin) and she is a healthy eater. I do think that junk food like cookies and potato chips should be taxed. I have never understood why people can buy junk food and not be taxed on it but yet if they buy shampoo, toilet paper, tampons and etc.. they are taxed on such items that are necessities.

Claire One Belt- By the way, there is already a smokers tax and it is pretty steep.

Answer 7

What about everything else that puts a stain on the NHS? Should we tax all these as well?................
BBC.....The ageing population will place a huge strain on the NHS, a study says.
Guardian...............Rise in domestic mishaps puts strain on NHS. Accident survey shows
Independent........Middle-age mums put huge strain on NHS
BBC.........Drink injuries ‘putting strain on NHS’
One person suffers from a heart attack every two minutes in the UK, a strain on the NHS?
Large-scale immigration strain on the NHS?

If a new tax is to be invented they should introduce a “bad ideas tax”. And they should start with this one,(fat tax) it’s a gold mine...

Answer 8

I believe it would be wrong to tax someone for their live choices, especially if the person is not well off. On the other hand i think alot more could be done by the government to teach kids about health eating.

Who else agrees kids at primary school should start the day with 15 minutes of jumping and stretching etc...

Answer 9

there already is a fat tax but it works the opposite way in which you suggest.

You pay income tax, and it goes into Fat bankers wallets.

none of it pays for government services, because the Federal Reserve is a fraud and is ripping all of us off .... all that money is going straight to pay the stupid fat tax (interest) on the national debt... this is why we need Ron Paul for President.

He will abolish the corrupt FED.

Answer 10

I am five stone overweight and am trying to reduce it. However I am quite a bit fitter than many a man who is the correct weight. I do not think weight or body mass indicator are quite as reliable aas the Tax 'em brigade think they are. if the NHS are not going to treat me can I please have a tax refund for that proportion of tax I pay to the NHS. You are not going to have it both ways

Answer 11

?! Don,t know if you ever watched a programme [forgot the name sorry ] filmed at various airports but mainly Heathrow,where many supposed holiday visitors,mostly overwheight,but irrelevent,suddenly collapse in the waiting lounge to be taken to London hospitals,with many even requiring transplants.Its said its by far cheaper to fly here than pay in there own place of origin We apparantly are obliged,and it wasn,t even our economy that benefitted from the out front appearance Stay Lucky [mostly smoke related]