[RatedG²]

Originally posted by itstotallybea

Hmm maybe you aren't getting what I'm saying.

The tax from the unhealthy food would go into subsiding healthy food, meaning that the price goes down and that food is as affordable as the unhealthy food was. Making the money issue go away so people can stop using that as an excuse because in reality a lot of it comes down to laziness or lack of know how. It's called convenience food for a reason.

Even now if you were to properly plan a family meal it would work out more cost effective to cook it properly from scratch than to stick some pizzas in the oven or call for a delivery.

Anger is better than apathy when it comes to health imo.

Well I see where you are going with this. First, taxing should be totally out of the question when it comes to obesity. People are personally responsible for their health, not the products. Taxing those products for people who aren't unhealthy but probably want to eat that just because isn't right. And how would you decide on what to tax? I know you want to tax empty calorie food and drinks, but technically anything can be abused to the point that you can become obese from it. Taxes would punish those successful businesses like McDonald's and Coca-Cola for providing things that people actually WANT! Additional taxes would indefinitely lead to job cuts in the affected business and contribute to a degradation of consumer purchasing power.

And while anger may be better than apathy, those angry voters will have pay back

[arkl]

No, I think you're not gripping the content of your proposal. Taxing junk/unhealthy foods, in spite of it's self resonating authoritarian control of personal preferences, will never be the answer to any solution. How would you levy the tax on this foods, huh? 200% increase? Now, if you strategize on it, for every tax increase on this 'empty calories' categorized foods, it has neither had a drastic change on the course of obesity. They would be willing to shell out extra money, especially in the areas where economy is progressive. Plus, before we know it the government could be imposing tax on any food that is deemed bad.

What this people are needing is a proper education on obesity and food consumption. I'm not gonna give the government the noose to strangle me eventually.

And not everyone are buying those foods out of emotional substitution.

[Roman]

Originally posted by itstotallybea

Then let them it lowers the price of healthy food for those who do want to make the effort.

...that wouldn't solve the obesity issue then.

Increasing taxes in a market with high demand only leads to one thing:

The people have less money for other expenses. They will continue buying burgers and have less money for clothes etc.

[Queen Bea.]

If people are responsible for their own health and they let it get that out of control then someone else should step in or at the very least they shouldn't be allowed to keep pets let alone other humans. I already said what should be taxed, I feel no need to repeat myself.

And god forbid the mega corporations Coca-Cola and McDonalds lose some money, after all they are struggling businesses. Things were better when you bought local produce from a market, not buying marshmallow fluff from walmart. Mega-corporations are party to blame for this. And the other countries that suffer so that America can have cheap burgers is horrific.


People will buy what is easiest to make, they need a deterrent or a strong motivation to do otherwise. Sadly not everyone thinks things through like we do.

[Queen Bea.]

Arkl it is not my proposal. It is a proposal put forward by many governments including the USA.

In fact I believe in Denmark it was passed and has reduced obesity related conditions.

[Queen Bea.]

Originally posted by Roman

...that wouldn't solve the obesity issue then.

Increasing taxes in a market with high demand only leads to one thing:

The people have less money for other expenses. They will continue buying burgers and have less money for clothes etc.

In my opinion someone that would rather buy expensive burgers than buy say...diapers for their kid isn't right in the head in the first place.

Clearly people need to be taught how to budget.

[RatedG²]

Originally posted by itstotallybea

If people are responsible for their own health and they let it get that out of control then someone else should step in or at the very least they shouldn't be allowed to keep pets let alone other humans. I already said what should be taxed, I feel no need to repeat myself.

And god forbid the mega corporations Coca-Cola and McDonalds lose some money, after all they are struggling businesses. Things were better when you bought local produce from a market, not buying marshmallow fluff from walmart. Mega-corporations are party to blame for this. And the other countries that suffer so that America can have cheap burgers is horrific.


People will buy what is easiest to make, they need a deterrent or a strong motivation to do otherwise. Sadly not everyone thinks things through like we do.

Obesity is a personal problem, so it should have a personal solution, not a state and/or federal solution. The government should not be responsible for that kind of personal problem. And I didn't ask you to repeat yourself, I just put a question out there saying that anything can basically be taxed if deemed bad, and anything out of moderation is technically bad for you.
Still, those are corporations that did exactly what they wanted to do, got to the top, and now are to be taxed because the government thinks people are fat. That should not happen, whether it's good for people or not. If the people are buying their products, why not sell it?

People will buy what is easier to OBTAIN, whether it's home-made, or delivered. A deterrent could be used, but taxes will not solve anything

[Queen Bea.]

People really just need to learn self-control.

And this supersizing **** needs to be gotton rid off, that isn't even an option in Europe.

Better healthy and nutrition education in schools is the first step. I wanna see teenage boys being forced to learn how to make a casserole. MTV can turn it into a reality show.

[RatedG²]

Originally posted by itstotallybea

People really just need to learn self-control.

And this supersizing **** needs to be gotton rid off, that isn't even an option in Europe.

Better healthy and nutrition education in schools is the first step. I wanna see teenage boys being forced to learn how to make a casserole. MTV can turn it into a reality show.

These are some things I can agree with

People do need to learn self-control, and nutritional education is a perfect option. We just have to make it readily available for the average person so he or she would not be left out.

Really . How will I survive in Europe without my supersized Big Mac for only a dollar more . That's a steal!

Casseroles are . But learning how to make healthy foods could be a solution

[Roman]

Originally posted by itstotallybea

Arkl it is not my proposal. It is a proposal put forward by many governments including the USA.

In fact I believe in Denmark it was passed and has reduced obesity related conditions.

Can you please provide evidence for that?

They are taxing sweets such as ice cream and chocolate, and those are still in high demand there.
Denmark has never struck me as a particularly obese country either way.

The point is that you can't change people's lifestyles with a tax increase. They will continue to buy packaged meals, premade food, fast food etc. You can't impose a tax on all that. You are going to hit the low-income population the hardest.

[Queen Bea.]

Roman I watched a programme about it on the BBC it was a panorama special, you can look it up if you want.

[Queen Bea.]

Originally posted by RatedGaga

These are some things I can agree with

People do need to learn self-control, and nutritional education is a perfect option. We just have to make it readily available for the average person so he or she would not be left out.

Really . How will I survive in Europe without my supersized Big Mac for only a dollar more . That's a steal!

Casseroles are . But learning how to make healthy foods could be a solution

The idea of a super sized meal literally makes me feel sick. In fact I rarely eat fast food at all, maybe once every 3 months. When I'm with the BF in America I do have a soft spot for DQ though, just ice cream.

Have you ever seen or heard of a documentary called Supersize Me?

[Jewfro]

Originally posted by itstotallybea

Have you ever seen or heard of a documentary called Supersize Me?

Watching that made me sick to my stomach. It truly is disgusting.

[RatedG²]

Originally posted by itstotallybea

The idea of a super sized meal literally makes me feel sick. In fact I rarely eat fast food at all, maybe once every 3 months. When I'm with the BF in America I do have a soft spot for DQ though, just ice cream.

Have you ever seen or heard of a documentary called Supersize Me?

I eat it once a month, I usually just decide to make healthier foods, since I play sports. But once in a while, I do like to treat myself

And yes, I've seen the movie about two times actually. I find it especially surprising that a regular American eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner at McDonald's. I could not do that without throwing up after every meal

[Roman]

Originally posted by itstotallybea

The idea of a super sized meal literally makes me feel sick. In fact I rarely eat fast food at all, maybe once every 3 months. When I'm with the BF in America I do have a soft spot for DQ though, just ice cream.

Have you ever seen or heard of a documentary called Supersize Me?

I mentioned that movie multiple times here and I even made a presentation on that in Nutrition Science class.

Education is the only way to go I see, not taxes.

[Queen Bea.]

Originally posted by Jewfro

Watching that made me sick to my stomach. It truly is disgusting.

We watched it in school as part of my Biology class. Pretty much everyone was gagging after a while. It is truly horrific. And there are too many people, especially Americans, who have diets all too similar to that.

Clearly some action needs to be taken.

[RatedG²]

Originally posted by Roman

I mentioned that movie multiple times here and I even made a presentation on that in Nutrition Science class.

Education is the only way to go I see, not taxes.

A presentation

I hate teaching students, especially when they don't try to get it, then complain about falling behind in that class. I have to orally present a common psychology theme every week and teach people. It's awful

[Jewfro]

Originally posted by itstotallybea

We watched it in school as part of my Biology class. Pretty much everyone was gagging after a while. It is truly horrific. And there are too many people, especially Americans, who have diets all too similar to that.

Clearly some action needs to be taken.

I watched it for a class a couple of years ago as well. I agree; unfortunately it does cost more money to eat healthier, and lower income individuals pressed for both money and time (because they work so damn much to try and make ends meet) turn to fast food because it's quick and cheap.

[Queen Bea.]

Originally posted by RatedGaga

I eat it once a month, I usually just decide to make healthier foods, since I play sports. But once in a while, I do like to treat myself

And yes, I've seen the movie about two times actually. I find it especially surprising that a regular American eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner at McDonald's. I could not do that without throwing up after every meal

But some Americans do eat like that! Surely you agree that as a nation you should do something.

I am not trying to sound posh or anything here but the better the education you have and the better upbringing the more likely you are to have a healthy diet, of course there are always exceptions. But some people do not have the food education they need and some even if offered would ignore.

Education is the first step but there may well need to be further action taken.

[jcsfreebitch]

I really have no sympathy for parents who don't look after their nutrition and exercise. They have kids to raise, and they should want to be as healthy as they can be so that they can live long for their children.