News The philosophy behind the Fat Tax

[Ivan Seeking]

Well, I've been predicting this for years. What's really at issue is the basic question of whether or not we should, as a deterrent, tax people for making poor choices in their lifestyle. We have done this with smoking and alcohol, and in the case of seat belts and motorcycle helmets, we have passed laws. The logic that follows is inescapable: This should apply to all poor choices that can lead to costs to society.

Every day on Planet Earth, 25,000 people die of starvation. Given this startling reality, one might be forgiven for wondering why the most controversial issue on the agenda of last week's World Health Organization meeting was the size of our love handles. Yet the venerable global health body practically begged for this fight. WHO's anti-obesity strategy includes a call for "fat taxes" on hot dogs, candy, and the like. The Bush Administration won the right to amend WHO's plan after charging that it neglects "the notion of personal responsibility." Predictably, defenders of the fat tax cried foul.

Most notably, the self-described "food police" at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) accused the Administration of "sabotage." They consulted on WHO's plan, and the fat tax is the crown jewel of their anti-obesity policy. "We could envision taxes on butter, potato chips, whole milk, cheeses, [and] meat," says CSPI executive director Michael Jacobson. [continued]

http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/headline/2336

How far does the logic extend? Should we be taxed on the distance driven each day and the associated risk with the chosen route, safety rating of the car, quality of tires, etc? Or perhaps we should simply assign a more general notion a "risk tax" that goes with everything sold and all activities.

The point is that either this unfairly targets one group or another, or it applies equally to everyone.

Edit: Crud, I just noticed that this is not the current story. CNN is reporting on this but I didn't see any links yet.

 

[Pengwuino]

Discrimination, plain and simple.

What next, a violence tax? a tax on rap albums, violent video games, knives, violent movies? A noise tax? tax on rap albums again haha, large stereos, musical instruments?

Wait! Cars are dangerous! A car-safety tax! On all foods, cell phones, drinks, anything that can be hung on a mirror, air-fresheners!

 

[dav2008]

Wait! Cars are dangerous! A car-safety tax!

They have those. They're called tickets.

 

[Averagesupernova]

Well since no one can make a final decision about which things we put in our body actually are bad for us then I'd say this can't fly. Take for instance eggs. 20 years ago eating an egg a day was considered next thing to suicide. Now the story has changed.

 

[dimensionless]

I would tend to say that there should be no such tax. It would be impossible to implement. Besides, I need fat. I need candy. If you want people to be healthier, raise the gasoline tax and make them walk to work.

 

[scott1]

violent video games,

There already starting there fineing kids if they buy violent video games.

 

[RVBuckeye]

Tax: a charge (usu. of money) imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes.

Sanction: a measure (as a threat or fine) designed to enforce a law or standard.

The WHO wants to impose sanctions

 

[Pengwuino]

There already starting there fineing kids if they buy violent video games.

i thought they're not suppose to in the first place.

 

[russ_watters]

There is no slippery slope here. Seatbelt laws, mandatory insurance, and cig taxes serve useful purposes and are completely Constitutional. Ironically, these are a biproduct of people shirking their personal responsibility: ie, since we've decided that if necessary, the general public will pay the medical bills of an idiot who doesn't wear a seatbelt, it directly follows that we must make wearing seatbelts mandatory. Remove the free healtcare and the mandatory seatbelts, insurance, and cig tax go away.

Adding more crutches for the shirking of personal responsibility will go on a case by case basis under the same logic. Since, unlike with smoking, fatty food can be eaten without damaging your health, I suspect this one won't fly.

Modern liberalism is the cause of this. Modern liberals want to have their government protection but don't want to have to be responsible enough to deserve it. Sorry, it doesn't and can't work that way. Its both or neither.

 

[Pengwuino]

How can you say its not a slippery slope? If all these things are constitutional, whos to say where it can stop? It does all have to do with responsibility; how far do we go and who gets to decide where our responsibilities end and where they begin? Who gets to decide our culture? I mean some might even say when you start taxing food, you've already fallen down that slope.

 

[Hurkyl]

I thought Russ gave a fairly clear criterion for stopping.

 

[Pengwuino]

I'm not seeing it. I've needed pictures drawn out for me all day though.

 

[Moonbear]

How far does the logic extend? Should we be taxed on the distance driven each day and the associated risk with the chosen route, safety rating of the car, quality of tires, etc?

Well, I already pay based on all those criteria (except the tires), but it's to my insurance carrier, not the government, though it's the government that requires I pay the insurance carrier.

I'm annoyed that people get a tax BREAK for getting fat then trying to lose the weight (i.e., the deduction for health club memberships)...why don't I get a tax break for staying healthy and active so I don't need to run around on treadmills? I lean toward Russ' viewpoint on this one, that it's one or the other; we either subsidize health care and penalize people who bring those costs up with their bad habits by taxing those habits, or we let them pay their own way when they choose to indulge their habits. Though, to me, I don't care if they tax junk food. If you don't eat much of it, it won't cost you much extra. Though, if they're going to do that, the tax should be by the gallon for soda, not by price. (Sorry, it's a current sore spot...I was just traveling, and on the way home stopped at Wendy's for lunch...they've just increased their sizes again! What used to be a medium drink is now a small, and small is economy...I was tired and cranky, and my cup holder isn't that big, so I just let the store manager have it: "Who on Earth needs that much soda with a single meal?! What is now a medium is enough to last me a week! Why can't they make smaller portions rather than larger? I'm not paying more to throw away most of it! No wonder kids can't sit still and pay attention in school and everyone is so fat if they drink a half gallon of soda in a sitting!" [/off topic rant])

When I'm not being grouchy with a knee-jerk reaction to over-consumption of fast food and insane portion inflation, I go back to my more usual opinion that if you want to eat junk and be unhealthy, it's your body to do with as you want. We're already taxed for things we put in our body that have no nutritive value at all, but it would be hard to argue a dividing line between junk food and non-junk food, because it really all depends on how much you eat and what else you eat with it.

 

[Hurkyl]

I'm not seeing it. I've needed pictures drawn out for me all day though.

You tax behaviors for which society is absorbing the cost of the consequences.

You can tax cigarettes because cigarette usage lead to health problems, which lead to smokers requiring health care, which (in the current system) leads to Joe Q. Public paying for Pierre D. Smoker's health care.

You can't tax twinkies because twinkie usage does not lead to health problems, or anything else that would cause there to be some cost that Joe Q. Public would have to pay.

 

[Moonbear]

You can't tax twinkies because twinkie usage does not lead to health problems, or anything else that would cause there to be some cost that Joe Q. Public would have to pay.

You picked Twinkies for that example? I'm not sure there's any redeeming value to Twinkies. How about pretzels? Or white bread? Or chocolate chip cereal bars? I think those get the point across better. None of them is inherently bad, and can be eaten as part of a healthy diet, but if you over eat any of them, or don't balance them with other healthy things, then they become junk food.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

There is no slippery slope here. Seatbelt laws, mandatory insurance, and cig taxes serve useful purposes and are completely Constitutional.

Who said that it wasn't Constitutional? And you have said nothing to suggest that this isn't a slippery slope.

Ironically, these are a biproduct of people shirking their personal responsibility: ie, since we've decided that if necessary, the general public will pay the medical bills of an idiot who doesn't wear a seatbelt, it directly follows that we must make wearing seatbelts mandatory. Remove the free healtcare and the mandatory seatbelts, insurance, and cig tax go away.

And what of those who pay their medical bills? Should they be exempt?

Adding more crutches for the shirking of personal responsibility will go on a case by case basis under the same logic. Since, unlike with smoking, fatty food can be eaten without damaging your health, I suspect this one won't fly.

How much fat may be consumed? At some point it clearly is a problem. Why should I pay [through my insurance] for some guy who sits at Wal Mart eating hot dogs?

Modern liberalism is the cause of this. Modern liberals want to have their government protection but don't want to have to be responsible enough to deserve it. Sorry, it doesn't and can't work that way. Its both or neither.

The cause of what? With all the rhetoric I can hardly tell what your point is.

 

[Pengwuino]

You tax behaviors for which society is absorbing the cost of the consequences.

You can tax cigarettes because cigarette usage lead to health problems, which lead to smokers requiring health care, which (in the current system) leads to Joe Q. Public paying for Pierre D. Smoker's health care.

You can't tax twinkies because twinkie usage does not lead to health problems, or anything else that would cause there to be some cost that Joe Q. Public would have to pay.

That's completely false. Smoking in of itself is not dangerous. You're body isn't going to freak out if you have a cigarette every week or so (and yes i know this is as common as eating 1 potato cihp). It's when you smoke a pack, 2, or 3 a week or a pack daily where people readily becoming a public health issue. I can drink a soda every day or 2 and i won't really be a risk to the public health system. Start downing a 2 liter a day and yah, you're now probably going to become a health care issue.

 

[SOS2008]

It's not just the consumer that must be held responsible. Crappy food is cheaper to produce. At fast food restaurants, it would be great if they had to display the total fats and calories with each number meal. Also if they were required to provide healthier options, such as having a choice between roasted chicken and breaded deep-fried chicken.

Those who would ignore the stats and choose the less healthy meals do cost us all, regardless of if they pay for their own health care. Many become delinquent on their medical bills, often filing bankruptcy. How do you think these debts are covered? It is passed on to other consumers.

There are some companies that won't even hire smokers because it results in higher health care costs. Schools are already removing sugary sodas from vending machines, and some are re-implementing physical education. Requirements for nutrition labels have become more strict over time. I support these efforts.

I would prefer that people who make unhealthy choices just paid higher premiums for their health insurance (like people with bad driving records for their auto insurance). But health insurance would have to be mandatory like auto insurance. Otherwise there would just be more and more uninsured people, which is already a problem because of the already high cost for medical care.

 

[Pengwuino]

Corporations shouldn't have to pay for citizen's stupidity. If you go to a fast food restaurant and want a healthy alternative... don't eat there. Simple as that. Does our whole society need to guide people's every decision? What next, forcing mcdonalds to have kosher meals?

 

[Moonbear]

That's completely false. Smoking in of itself is not dangerous. You're body isn't going to freak out if you have a cigarette every week or so

Actually, that's the false statement. The effects of cigarette smoking are cumulative. A cigarette every week or so does impart a substantial health risk. Not as much as smoking a pack a day, but more than if you never smoked at all.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Actually, that's the false statement. The effects of cigarette smoking are cumulative. A cigarette every week or so does impart a substantial health risk. Not as much as smoking a pack a day, but more than if you never smoked at all.

However, IIRC, about 30% of regular smokers will never have any significant problems before something else gets them.

Here is a good starting point for developing a tax structure.

The table below was prepared in response to frequent inquiries, especially from the media, asking questions such as, "What are the odds of being killed by lightning?" or "What are the chances of dying in a plane crash?"

The table has four columns. The first column gives the manner of injury such as motor-vehicle crash, fall, fire, etc. The second column gives the total number of deaths nationwide due to the manner of injury in 2002 (the latest year for which data are available). The third column gives the odds of dying in one year due to the manner of injury. The fourth column gives the lifetime odds of dying from the manner of injury. Statements about the odds or chances of dying from a given cause of death may be made as follows: [continued]

http://www.nsc.org/lrs/statinfo/odds.htm

Looking at the data, it seems that we need a tax rate for dying by unspecified means.

 

[Pengwuino]

Actually, that's the false statement. The effects of cigarette smoking are cumulative. A cigarette every week or so does impart a substantial health risk. Not as much as smoking a pack a day, but more than if you never smoked at all.

Does it do enough damage so that the effects become noticable on our public health care system? Would 2 groups of equals show any distinct increase in tobacco related illness if one had a cigarette once every week or 2?

 

[Averagesupernova]

Should we be taxed on the distance driven each day and the associated risk with the chosen route, safety rating of the car, quality of tires, etc? Or perhaps we should simply assign a more general notion a "risk tax" that goes with everything sold and all activities.

You already are taxed on the distance driven each day. Indirectly you are anyway. The tax on gasoline is used to maintain roads. I'm not sure where else it goes. The farther you drive, the more you pay. It's not perfect, but if you don't move, you don't pay.

 

[Bystander]

http://www.multied.com/revolt/stamptax.html

How 'bout a tax on political suicide?

 

[Moonbear]

Does it do enough damage so that the effects become noticable on our public health care system? Would 2 groups of equals show any distinct increase in tobacco related illness if one had a cigarette once every week or 2?

That counts as "regular" tobacco use. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who has progressed to regular, but infrequent use who does not increase their frequency of use to daily, then several times daily, as their addiction increases. Nicotine is highly addictive.

For example:

Chassin L, Presson CC, Sherman SJ, Edwards DA. The natural history of cigarette smoking: predicting young-adult smoking outcomes from adolescent smoking patterns. Health Psychol. 1990;9(6):701-16.

Assessed the magnitude of risk that adolescent cigarette smoking carries for adult smoking. Using a longitudinal, prospective design, results indicate that even infrequent experimentation in adolescence significantly raises the risk for adult smoking and that regular (at least monthly) adolescent smoking raises the risk for adult smoking by a factor of 16 compared to nonsmoking adolescents. Relative risk was also increased by an early onset of smoking and by a stable, uninterrupted course from experimentation to regular smoking. Relative risk did not significantly vary by age or sex. The continuity of smoking behavior between adolescence and adulthood supports the importance of primary prevention programs directed at adolescent populations.

Anyway, I think continuing further on this would lead astray from Ivan's original question.

 

[moose]

There should be an obesity tax.

 

[SOS2008]

Corporations shouldn't have to pay for citizen's stupidity. If you go to a fast food restaurant and want a healthy alternative... don't eat there. Simple as that. Does our whole society need to guide people's every decision? What next, forcing mcdonalds to have kosher meals?

I didn't say corporations should pay for citizen's stupidity. I said they should have to inform the consumer about what they are selling them, and should try to provide healthy alternatives. Convenient (fast) and affordable healthy food is not as available. Education is a major factor in regard to weight problems:

Most Americans Unaware of Fat-Cancer Connection
And many underestimate their own weight, experts say

...According to a new poll of more than 2,000 adults for the American Cancer Society, just 8 percent were aware of the link between being overweight and cancer risk, but 65 percent knew how the popular TV show [American Idol] works.

Experts say the obesity-cancer connection needs a lot more press.

The problem "has to do with communication from the health profession, which includes us as registered dieticians," said David Grotto, a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association. "We need to do a better job of communicating the risk of obesity with many types of diseases."

..."Obesity is the second leading cause of premature and preventable death in the United States, second only to smoking ... Only in the last five years has it become more apparent to the public," McCullough said. "The ACS really wants to raise awareness about this."

There isn't yet a complete understanding of the role fat plays in cancer, but, among other things, it seems to be connected to the body's inability to use insulin.

etc. - http://health.msn.com/centers/cancer/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100136151&GT1=8155

Public service announcements would be great. There is a TV program in which an analysis is done to show what people's children will look like when they are 40 if they continue the lifestyle they lead (poor eating habits and little or no exercise). It is really a wake-up call for the parents, who are told they are helping to kill their children (usually 7-10 years off their lives). It's a great program. We need more things like this.

In the meantime, I spend at least 30 minutes longer when grocery shopping because I read the nutrition labels. For example, I used to buy stuffed salmon until I looked at the label and realized that what I thought was healthy was chock full of fats and calories because of the stuffing.

 

[dav2008]

Does it do enough damage so that the effects become noticable on our public health care system? Would 2 groups of equals show any distinct increase in tobacco related illness if one had a cigarette once every week or 2?

The person who is smoking more is going to do higher damage to his own health as well as that of others. Since he buys more cigarettes he obviously pays more in taxes.

The person who smokes less is going to do less damage and pays less taxes.

The question is what benefits society. Seat belt laws are there because the government has to clean your bloody mess off the pavement if you don't wear a seat belt. As far as health issues such as smoking, drugs, and obesity it's in the government's interest to keep its citizens healthy. Healthier citizens can contribute more to society.

 

[Pengwuino]

I didn't say corporations should pay for citizen's stupidity. I said they should have to inform the consumer about what they are selling them, and should try to provide healthy alternatives. Convenient (fast) and affordable healthy food is not as available. Education is a major factor in regard to weight problems:

And this means... a small inconvenience in peoples lives, oh my god, how horrible. And there is subway! That place is popping up everywhere so at some point you'll have a choice for healthy fast food wherever you go just like you have the choice to pay $5 a day on starbucks coffee (and yes, i do take any chance given to bash people who buy starbucks on a daily basis). Let people be responsible for their own lives.

The question is what benefits society. Seat belt laws are there because the government has to clean your bloody mess off the pavement if you don't wear a seat belt. As far as health issues such as smoking, drugs, and obesity it's in the government's interest to keep its citizens healthy. Healthier citizens can contribute more to society.

doing something just because the government feels its in their best interest? I didn't think i'd see that in this forum. The problem is where does this all go? This is over the line when you start micromanaging peoples eating habbits. Like i said, what next, extra taxes on rap albums? extra taxes on violent movies? Where is the line (even though I am sure this crosses it)?

Really, what can you say if they decide to do that? It's even less intrusive then micromanaging peoples eating habbits.

 

[loseyourname]

I didn't say corporations should pay for citizen's stupidity. I said they should have to inform the consumer about what they are selling them, and should try to provide healthy alternatives. Convenient (fast) and affordable healthy food is not as available.

Most fast-food places have a poster right next to the order counter with a listing of the caloric, fat, and carbohydrate content of each food item and combo meal they serve. I don't see how it's any of the government's business to force anyone food chain to provide healthy alternatives to the unhealthy meals they serve, either. There are other restaurants one can go to. The food service industry isn't exactly one that can be cornered. The spirit of competition will always be alive and well there. Almost every place offers a reduced fat or reduced carb menu of some sort just to stay competitive within that market; if they don't, go next door. They don't really need to have their hands forced.

 

[J77]

It would be a good thing to increase the price of fast food, ie. to make people think twice before eating it.

Especially for kids, all this junk you can buy for under a euro, pound, dollar...

imo, it's not a lack of education which makes people buy this stuff. It's that they can get a cheap meal for themselves and their kids, or the kids can get a cheap meal with their mates.

Either tho', the stuff they're buying is junk.

Increasing price by creating a 'Fat Tax' is a bad way of doing it tho'

 

[Art]

Why not have an annual weigh in and charge people an 'excess' tax for each lb they are overweight? And while we're at it why not measure people too and tax people for being too tall as they are more prone to back problems. And of course we should tax people for being poor as poor people suffer worse health than wealthy people. And to catch those who manage to covertly live a high risk lifestyle their estates should be taxed if a person dies prematurely.

And yes I am being facetious.

 

[StarkRavingMad]

Well, I've been predicting this for years. What's really at issue is the basic question of whether or not we should, as a deterrent, tax people for making poor choices in their lifestyle. We have done this with smoking and alcohol, and in the case of seat belts and motorcycle helmets, we have passed laws. The logic that follows is inescapable: This should apply to all poor choices that can lead to costs to society.

I'm curious if you think that's a good thing for a bad thing.

 

[Zantra]

This is a slippery slope, it just has a lower degree of incline, making it harder to see. First of all, you can't tax unhealthy food without it affecting everyone. Sure, the fat guy pays a lot of money, but what about the normal guy who wants a bag of chips or candy bar now and again? So he should pay more for the food because another person can't control their eating habits? Unlike smoking, everyone eats bad foods- it's a matter of quantity, so unlike smoking, it affects everyone. Incentives for healthy behavior are the way to go, not punishments for unhealthy behavior.

Ultimately people who participate in unhealthy behaviors do so with full knowledge of the consequences of their actions. In some ways the social context of legal or illegal, has little bearing on it. It's the same as with weed, ciggarettes, alcohol, or anything else. People will partake regardless of implications. If someone wants to do something badly enough, no law or tax will curtail their behavior. And someone who is obese has psychological issues most times. It's not a physical disorder. Food to them is like any other drug. And like any other addict, they will get their fix regardless of censure. They have to want to change. The only one to benefit from a fat tax is the U.S. government. It's another excuse to generate revenue by exploiting habits of consumers. It's not a fix. A REAL fix needs to be made at the root cause. Find some way to force healthy behaviors. Mandatory exercise. And correlate the amount of excercise with caloric consumption. This will deter someone from overeating if they know they have to run 5 miles when they finish.

All things in moderation

 

[russ_watters]

I'm not seeing it. I've needed pictures drawn out for me all day though.

I don't have time to read the rest of the thread to see if anyone pointed it out, but it isn't a slippery slope because:

Adding more crutches for the shirking of personal responsibility will go on a case by case basis under the same logic.

and the criteria (the logic alluded to above) for deciding what is Constitutional and what is not is:

Since, unlike with smoking, fatty food can be eaten without damaging your health, I suspect this one won't fly.

 

[Evo]

I think a misconception is that the majority of fat people got that way by eating junk food. The majority of fat people are fat because they eat too much of normal food. Yes, there are exceptions, but it's mainly portion size coupled with a sedentary lifestyle. Ever see a family of fat people eating? Four helpings of mashed potatoes loaded with butter then swimming in gravy, a half dozen biscuits slathered with butter, fried foods, huge portions of meat. There is no junk food on the table. Then they roll onto the couch and watch 6 hours of tv before going to bed.

Reminds me that in Italy, there is a tax on tv sets, you pay according to the number of sets you own. I'm not talking sales tax, I'm referring to a continuing tax.

 

[Pengwuino]

I don't have time to read the rest of the thread to see if anyone pointed it out, but it isn't a slippery slope because:

You know that will never fly

 

[Bladibla]

The comparison of fat tax to violent films or rap music should not be made. There is no evidence that violent films or rap music can physically cause discomfort for the watcher, or make them become potentially murderous and so on. Heck I've watched a LOT of violent films, and yet I am here, discussing this subject.

On the other hand, Obesity ACTUALLY does give bad physique and health. People don't realize that the obesity tax is for their own good. Again, the comparison doesn't work for the other 2 examples as there is no overwhelming evidence that watching/listening to violent movies/ rap music is bad. I think the tax is as appropriate as the government raising the prices of cigarettes to encourage people to stop smoking.

 

[Pengwuino]

The comparison of fat tax to violent films or rap music should not be made. There is no evidence that violent films or rap music can physically cause discomfort for the watcher, or make them become potentially murderous and so on. Heck I've watched a LOT of violent films, and yet I am here, discussing this subject.

I'll have to call you on that one...

http://www.apa.org/releases/videogames.html Let's just pretend violent video games were included because that's not much of a stretch from violent music adn violent TV.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/10/051012082710.htm

http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/160/4/341 It would be interesting to find the full report on this one

 

[Bladibla]

I'll have to call you on that one...

I'll look for the studies that i remember showing links.

It doesn't matter. The two cases simply cannot be compared to obesity, where there is a direct physical manisfestion of your increased rate of consumption of junk food/ normal food/ whatever (doesn't matter as long as your fat as a result of it) The other 2 examples on the other hand do not show direct influence into a increase in crime rate or anything like that, or rather, you don't suddenly go psychpathic after watching thre movie 'psycho' which clearly is a violent movie, but quite a acclaimed one at that. Obesity on the other hand, has a direct increase in the cholestrol level in your body, which increases the chances of a heart attack and whatever bad things.

To put it another way: If I ate Mcdonalds for non-stop a month, there isn't a 'chance' I will go fat; I will most definately become fat. The same, no matter what evidence you put. cannot be said for violent movies or rap music. Any data you put in is a matter of coincidence, or even if true, is so litle of indication of the universal effect of the examples you have mentioned.

I'd say that obesity tax is a good idea.

 

[Pengwuino]

No matter what evidence i put? Well that's all i need to hear to know not to waste anymore time.

 

[Bladibla]

No matter what evidence i put? Well that's all i need to hear to know not to waste anymore time.

I am saying that the examples you have given, even if 'evidence' is present, is speculation. Sure, They may be true, but as I said before, They do not represent a definite conclusion that such-and-such will definately become violent as a result of watching violent movies/ play violent games etc. However, Obesity, You WILL get fat if you eat too much; its not something you can discuss about.

 

[Pengwuino]

I am saying that the examples you have given, even if 'evidence' is present, is speculation. Sure, They may be true, but as I said before, They do not represent a definite conclusion that such-and-such will definately become violent as a result of watching violent movies/ play violent games etc. However, Obesity, You WILL get fat if you eat too much; its not something you can discuss about.

So basically any evidence that doesn't support your conclusion is speculative even if it was done to the same standards as your own conclusion's evidence was done at. Great.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Here is something that could help greatly in controlling incorrect eating behavior.

A company in Cheshire is designing a futuristic toilet which can monitor human waste and spot health problems.

At the first sign of a medical condition, the Versatile Interactive Pan (VIP) would contact a GP via the internet.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1433904.stm

We could tax people directly based on the toilet results.

Here's one for Uncle Sam!

 

[Pengwuino]

We could tax people directly based on the toilet results.

"Yes Mr. Thompson, we called you in because you're toilet readings have shown that you're a goldfish. We must inform your HMO of this."

 

[BobG]

I think a misconception is that the majority of fat people got that way by eating junk food. The majority of fat people are fat because they eat too much of normal food. Yes, there are exceptions, but it's mainly portion size coupled with a sedentary lifestyle. Ever see a family of fat people eating? Four helpings of mashed potatoes loaded with butter then swimming in gravy, a half dozen biscuits slathered with butter, fried foods, huge portions of meat. There is no junk food on the table. Then they roll onto the couch and watch 6 hours of tv before going to bed.

Reminds me that in Italy, there is a tax on tv sets, you pay according to the number of sets you own. I'm not talking sales tax, I'm referring to a continuing tax.

I agree. Living on junk food will cause a person to suffer malnutrition. Obesity is caused by eating more food, period, than a person burns off. Best option (if possible) is to stay active enough that you don't have to worry about how much you eat.

On the other hand, I'm not sure how many Italians actually pay the TV tax. When my sister and her husband lived in Italy for around a year, the other Americans were advising them not to pay the tax, "No one pays the TV tax." Being a little hesitant to be a foreigner charged with tax evasion, they dutifully went down to the office to file the paper work for their TVs and to find out how much they had to pay. It turned into a two day wait in the waiting room (they got to go home when the office closed, but had to wait again the next day). Considering the advice they had been given and how long they had to wait, the only thing they could conclude is that no one truly did pay the tax - the office must have had to go hire a new employee when someone shocked the office by actually trying to pay the tax.

Of course, then again, standing in line to pay taxes is an Italian past time, second only to soccer. In fact, heaven would be a tax line with a TV showing a soccer game.

 

[Bladibla]

So basically any evidence that doesn't support your conclusion is speculative even if it was done to the same standards as your own conclusion's evidence was done at. Great.

Don't put words into my mouth. The point is the examples you gave and obesity CAN'T have the same 'standards' as you put it. Tell me, Is there any evidence where a person consistently watches a violent movie/ listening to rap WILL become violent? Are you kidding?

Fatness on the other hand, As I have said TWICE before, is inevitable If you eat too much. There is no '30% of people who eat Mcdonalds for a month will go fat' rather, its a 100%!

The examples you gave are just out of context.

 

[Pengwuino]

Are you kidding me? Ever heard of exercising?

 

[Bladibla]

Are you kidding me? Ever heard of exercising?

Well obviously a lot of people have not, otherwise there wouldn't be this issue of discussing the introduction of OBESITY TAX. A government wouldn't suggest such if everyone, according to your logic, went to exercise to get off the extra weight gained from eating Mcdonalds/BK whatever.

 

[Gokul43201]

Don't put words into my mouth. The point is the examples you gave and obesity CAN'T have the same 'standards' as you put it. Tell me, Is there any evidence where a person consistently watches a violent movie/ listening to rap WILL become violent? Are you kidding?

Peng's links were all about video games, where I can easily imagine it leading to aggressive tendencies because it is an interactive first person experience, unlike watching the TV or listening to music. He hasn't given any evidence yet, to support the effects of watching TV or listening to rap. I do however think there have been studies of the effects of violence in TV as well. Don't remember the conclusions.

Fatness on the other hand, As I have said TWICE before, is inevitable If you eat too much. There is no '30% of people who eat Mcdonalds for a month will go fat' rather, its a 100%!

I don't believe that. I know someone that ate lunch at Mcdonald's 6 days a week for well over a month, and he's underweight (and was at that time). But even if true, do you only tax people that eat at McDonald's for a month in a row. What if I eat there once a month? Do I pay a flat tax, a small fraction of the maxiimum tax or no tax at all? How do you calculate a tax for a person with some general distribution of meals at McDonald's?