We are AMERICANS.
NOT a brain-washed pack of socialist Euro-weenies.
Government is the PROBLEM, not the solution.
If I want to main-line lard, WHAT business is it of yours?
NONE.
PUBLIC OPINION > America Should Not Adopt a Fat Tax
SodaHead News
2012/05/21 22:00:00
Following Denmark's recent adoption of a "fat tax" -- that is, a tax on fatty foods, not a tax on fat people -- researchers are suggesting that a similar tax in America could save thousands of lives and cut down on obesity. But would a fat tax fly in the land of liberty? We asked the public to find out.
Fat chance! There was some support for a fat tax, but not nearly enough to pass on a ballot. Nearly two-thirds of respondents were opposed. One commenter wrote, "This does nothing to solve the real problem in America: Healthy natural foods are overpriced." Many comments echoed that sentiment, suggesting that it would be more productive to develop cheap nutritious food than to make the fatty stuff more expensive.
International Encouragement
It's gonna be tough to pass legislation if American citizens are against it, but there's plenty of support overseas. Voters from outside the U.S. were twice as likely to support a fat tax. Although, keep in mind that the question asked about an American fat tax, so international voters aren't necessarily saying they want one in their own country. But they'd definitely like to see one in the States.
Heavy Opposition
Naturally, overweight respondents were among the least supportive. Presumably, that's because it would impact their budget the most. Skinny voters were actually more than twice as likely to support a fat tax as overweight voters. Average weight voters sided with the overweight, while athletes were closer to skinny voters, but not quite as enthusiastic.
Liberals Love the Idea
Finally, as expected, there was an enormous political margin. Liberals were more supportive than any other group with 73% saying they would encourage a fat tax. That's an unprecedented 50% more than conservatives. Oddly enough, progressives were against the tax, as were most moderates and "others." Libertarians were even more opposed than conservatives with just 18% support.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about the fat tax. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
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abubincrazy 2012/05/21 23:19:30
More taxes, means more entitlements.
Liberals support any position that empowers the government to force people to live the way the government thinks is best for them.
They are the closest thing to Nazis in our society.
"Pursuit of happiness" only applies to situations where you comply with what they deem you should be happy with.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/r...
"Reuters is reporting that obesity in America is now adding an astounding $190 billion to the annual national healthcare price tag, exceeding smoking as public health enemy number one when it comes to cost.
“Obese men rack up an additional $1,152 a year in medical spending, especially for hospitalizations and prescription drugs, Cawley and Chad Meyerhoefer of Lehigh University reported in January in the Journal of Health Economics. Obese women account for an extra $3,613 a year. Using data from 9,852 men (average BMI: 28) and 13,837 women (average BMI: 27) ages 20 to 64, among whom 28 percent were obese, the researchers found even higher costs among the uninsured: annual medical spending for an obese person was $3,271 compared with $512 for the non-obese.”
...
http://www.forbes.com/sites/r...
"Reuters is reporting that obesity in America is now adding an astounding $190 billion to the annual national healthcare price tag, exceeding smoking as public health enemy number one when it comes to cost.
“Obese men rack up an additional $1,152 a year in medical spending, especially for hospitalizations and prescription drugs, Cawley and Chad Meyerhoefer of Lehigh University reported in January in the Journal of Health Economics. Obese women account for an extra $3,613 a year. Using data from 9,852 men (average BMI: 28) and 13,837 women (average BMI: 27) ages 20 to 64, among whom 28 percent were obese, the researchers found even higher costs among the uninsured: annual medical spending for an obese person was $3,271 compared with $512 for the non-obese.”
The high cost of being significantly overweight manifests in a variety of ways, ranging from the increased insurance premiums we all pay to subsidize the added medical charges incurred by the obese to the surprisingly dramatic impact our collective pounds has on energy costs.
According to Sheldon Jacobson of the University of Illinois, the extra weight carried by vehicles as a result of obese and overweight Americans is responsible for almost one billion additional gallons of gasoline being burned each year by our automobiles—nearly 1 percent of our total gasoline usage."
The article continues beyond this. It's an interesting read for anyone who's interested.
Even if we did adopt a "fat tax" what exact foods or drinks would qualify? Where would this fat tax money REALLY be going except in the pockets of central bankers to pay off government interest on debt "owed"? First it's about adopting a flat tax and now it's a fat tax, the world's bonkers!
Fat is actually good for our health in order to aid metabolism and to absorb and use nutrients in our body to their potential. People who get the best nutrition physically look the most healthy in general, even noticed?
The Greek diet is the world's most healthful and guess what? It contains plenty of fat. It sounds to me like Denmark, being the happiest county on earth supposedly will be taking a step downward before long by getting grouchy and malnourished because they have a stupid government like the USA and Great Britain. Bottom line, this world's problem is government sticking its nose where it does not belong! Government doesn't know everything and more often than not they do not have all the answers for the good of society. G-d gave individual people a brain to govern themselves.
Its a good fat.
NOT a brain-washed pack of socialist Euro-weenies.
Government is the PROBLEM, not the solution.
If I want to main-line lard, WHAT business is it of yours?
NONE.
http://upfromaustralia.com/au...
But excuse my nit-picking. Carry on.
We have a spending problem. Thats why were trillion dollars in debt. The last dope cut taxes while spending a crap load of money, akin to a person having his paycheck slashed and still goes on shopping sprees. The new dope picked up where the last one left off.
Raising taxes only suppresses the economy...
The Euros let their governments dictate to them. That will not fly here.
Micro-managing my life is not Washington's job.
Government spends far too much.
I can't fathom why Europeans would WANT government to run their lives.
However, when a person becomes mormidly obese and gets really ill, the public spends a lot of tax money on that person's gluteny. Remember that when you pay for some 400lb smoker's doctors' bill. There's a difference between being fat and being so fat you cannot function properly (such as walking down the street for more than a few blocks, squatting, or even having sex). There is no excuse to become so fat. Biologically, it is improbable for an active person to become this fat. Inactivity is the main problem. I know children that don't even know how to run! That's ridiculous. There should definitely be some for of constraint. People of today will always affect next generation.
i say to hell with that