Tax on junk food.

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2004-02-19 04:14am

How do you feel about this?

What I have seen about it is a suggestion to put a tax high-fat or high sugar “junk food” like chips, coca cola and stuff like that.

I am split in my opinion, if the tax is used in the health sector to pay for all the damage junk food causes it might have a justification but on the other hand I am not sure that a extra tax would discourage anyone from eating junk food.

What is your opinion?

GySgt. Hartman · Post by **GySgt. Hartman** » 2004-02-19 07:31am

They should put a tax on sex, to pay for the state-operated foster homes.
Maybe the government will use the money to subsidize vegetables. Or you can get a tax break if you can prove that you work out regularly.

theski · Post by **theski** » 2004-02-19 08:07am

READ MY LIPS "NO NEW TAXES" thank you

Post by **Colonel Olrik** » 2004-02-19 08:12am

theski wrote:READ MY LIPS "NO NEW TAXES" thank you

You alway pay taxes.

What if the government enforced a reduction of the cost of health insurances first (and maybe subsidiate to a degree your sport activities), and then put extra taxes in high fat food and other disease inducers? If done properly, it would save me money, and I wouldn't see my taxes paying for the consequences of the unhealthy habits of others.

theski · Post by **theski** » 2004-02-19 08:14am

I could live with that Col.... nice idea

KrauserKrauser · Post by **KrauserKrauser** » 2004-02-19 12:23pm

No thanks on the new taxes. I'd rather be able to choose for myself whether or not I will eat the foods that are unhealthy for me.

Pass on taxes.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-02-19 12:31pm

new taxes on my junk food addiction? Nay, i say to you, evil bill of the bush administraiton! go back from where you came! YOU SHALL NOT PASS!

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2004-02-19 12:54pm

Okay, Darth_Zod, you'll be better in a moment (injects his medication)

Now then...
I think it's a great idea if managed properly.
Considering how much Junk food your average non-mexican north american eats in a year, if you put a 10% tax on that, that would be one hell of a revenue generator.

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2004-02-19 01:08pm

No thank you. If I'm willing to work out and keep healthy, why should I be punished for indulging in a twinkie and a bag of doritos when I feel like it?

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2004-02-19 01:13pm

Solauren wrote:Okay, Darth_Zod, you'll be better in a moment (injects his medication)

Now then...
I think it's a great idea if managed properly.
Considering how much Junk food your average non-mexican north american eats in a year, if you put a 10% tax on that, that would be one hell of a revenue generator.

Except that if you taxed it by 10%, then you'd see a drop in the amount of junkfood sold. You could actually end up loosing the government money. Loss of sales = loss of jobs = millions spent by the federal and state governments to pay for the new unemployment and to the area so that congressman John Doe gets to keep his seat in the next election.

Of course, there's also the question of what exactly are you going to tax. Will you just tax premade junk food, or will you also tax the basic ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, etc.?

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2004-02-19 01:28pm

Turning junk food into a cash cow, no thanks, I don't think so. If the goal is to keep people fit and at a healthy weight, give them physical fitness tests and check their weight every year, and whack them with the appropriate health care premiums. If a person's in bad shape he gets whacked with higher healthcare payments, a person in good shape gets lower costs. Incentives and subsidies can also be provided for fitness club memberships and sports equipment. I could write off a ton of costs that way, and being in excellent physical shape my healthcare payments would be minimal.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2004-02-19 01:48pm

I bet the taxes would go to fund some shithead pork barrel project anyway, so I vote no.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-02-19 02:06pm

Uraniun235 wrote:I bet the taxes would go to fund some shithead pork barrel project anyway, so I vote no.

[Homer Simpson] Stupid donut tax! Mmmmmm, Pork Barrel. [/Homer Simpson]

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-02-19 04:35pm

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.

If you eat too much, I'll tax your meat.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2004-02-19 04:42pm

I'd say no, as making it a few cents more expensive isn't going discourage people from eating ten times the reccomended serving amount.

Perhaps fast food restaurants could refuse service to obese people. But that might not work either.

"I'll take 5 Big Macs and some fries, with a Diet Coke."
"Don't you think you're too fat, sir?"
"No, I'm only 450 pounds!"
"That's too much sir, you really need to go on a diet or something."
"That's what the Diet Coke is for!"
"You're going to need to do more than that."
"Just give me the food, or I'll sit on you!"
"Here you go, then."

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2004-02-19 04:54pm

I will voice my objection to such a tax from the rooftops and behind the tree.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2004-02-19 04:55pm

Incidentally, if the US adopted a universal health care system, how would it deal w/ obese, snack-obsessed, or smoking patients? Require them to pay? Refuse to serve? How does Canada do it?

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2004-02-19 07:41pm

Would a tax on things that make you fat double the tax on beer?

Alcohol tax + junk food (fat) tax = $$$$

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2004-02-19 10:54pm

The problem with taxes designed to curb behavior is if they are succesful you lose the income stream. Then the gov't bitches about not having money.
No thank you.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-02-19 11:54pm

I gotta give this one a hearty "Hell no!"

Post by **Gandalf** » 2004-02-20 12:11am

I say nay. If I want to be fat that's my own business. And the rich won't care anyway.

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2004-02-20 01:53am

[Mr. Mackey]Taxes are bad, mmkay?[/Mr Mackey]

Gunshy · Post by **Gunshy** » 2004-02-20 02:31am

Is there a real difference between a junk food tax, and a cigarette tax?