Fast food should be taxed!

trojanbb

People who think the government should step in with nanny laws and taxes should be taxed... we can call it a stupid tax.

Yes! I'd prefer deportation though.

LesterBlackstone

Add a tax to all fast food and subsidize healthy eating propaganda in public places.
They could even add a warning the doors of fast food places like on alcohol bottles and cigarettes packs.

By fast food I mean:
-anything fried
-with added sodium
-with added sugar
-anything that sounds unhealthy or you suspect is.

like your relationship with food?

Bravuro

I definitely agree on the warning labels or if nothing else, forcing fast food restaurants to full disclosure (like the food we buy in grocery stores). Although that (like on alcohol containers and cigarette boxes) won't deter most, it will force a lot of people to recognize how dangerous that stuff really is! I personally don't have much issue with things like added sodium or sugar; sometimes we splurge, even knowing how bad it might be for you. But the added chemicals & preservatives are what give people all kinds of crazy ailments and disorders, yet there is no accountability on the part of those restaurants!

Sarauk2sf

Add a tax to all fast food and subsidize healthy eating propaganda in public places.
They could even add a warning the doors of fast food places like on alcohol bottles and cigarettes packs.

By fast food I mean:
-anything fried
-with added sodium
-with added sugar
-anything that sounds unhealthy or you suspect is.

Well, thats a nice specific definition - there will be no problem implementing that.

You do realize that non 'fast-food' using the general definition includes the above don't you. Any chef worth their salt usually adds salt to their food and will use sugar to make many items on their menu, especially desserts. But they should not be taxed if not a fast food establishment? Thats a bit elitist don't you think (not to mention ridiculous).

futuremalestripper

You, good sir, are an idiot.

I would normally explain the flaws in your logic, but this is so dumb that I can't bring myself to bother.

futuremalestripper

Add a tax to all fast food and subsidize healthy eating propaganda in public places.
They could even add a warning the doors of fast food places like on alcohol bottles and cigarettes packs.

By fast food I mean:
-anything fried
-with added sodium
-with added sugar
-anything that sounds unhealthy or you suspect is.

Well, thats a nice specific definition - there will be no problem implementing that.

You do realize that non 'fast-food' using the general definition includes the above don't you. Any chef worth their salt usually adds salt to their food and will use sugar to make many items on their menu, especially desserts. But they should not be taxed if not a fast food establishment? Thats a bit elitist don't you think (not to mention ridiculous).

This socialism thing is spreading. Thankfully it will eventually collapse when they run out of other people's money to spend.

overboard101

Finally, the voice of reason. Since processed food is killing us and our children why is the taxing of fast food and processed food not taxed, the hidden sugar and salt is killing people just as surely as drugs and alcohol. There is an epidemic. There will be a lot of people in the food industry that would argue............ the truth hurts people physically and financially. Changing the world is hard, but needed. The taxes should be subsidizing whole food farmers. And if people yell at you for wanting to save their lives, take it with a grain of salt. I'll stand by you every time.

overboard101

I can't believe the posts on this subject, this is one man's opinion, and I agree, and a lot of people share the same opinion~~~~ like organic farmers and anyone able to digest the realities of our current whole food versus processed food conundrum. This is not a forum to see how rude you can be when someone posts their opinion. You should be ashamed of yourselves, you are no more than bullies hoping to find a following.... THIS MAN'S OPINION IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT!!!!

overboard101

So in the UK our National Health Service is paying out loads of money to help people who have obesity related diseases. The savings that could be made if people were all a healthy weight would be huge. I like the idea of putting a small tax on things like chocolate, and using that to subsidise healthier food choices like fruits and vegetables. Taxes on tobacco may not stop people smoking, but at least there is money in the NHS to fund 'stop' smoking initiatives, and to help those who suffer from lung cancer.

:drinker:

yeah, voice of reason!

laus_8882

Wtf is it with a country that can't give the poor decent healthcare?

To the original question, I think Australia has a tax on all prepared food. It's called the gst. Never really thought about it because it's only 10%, but if you're eating a $500 meal then gst and the obligatory tip (ffs, waiters get paid like $20 an hour here; why do I have to tip them???) do add a bit of heft to final bill. We're still really, really, really fat! It would be much smarter to invest money in helping the poor than to tax them to death. In my very expensive inner city suburb I am, quite honestly, one of the fattest people around. Which is cool. Has to be someone I guess. When I go out to the western suburbs I quickly become a midsized fat person, and even svelte on occasion. Poor people weigh more. Do something about chronic poverty and help the poor get thin.

Then deal with the middle class fatties who are polluting the nice leafy suburbs of the world.

For what it's worth, I think it's absolute madness that healthcare is such a huge issue in the US. My god, here in Aus even the peasantiest peasants are covered by the public health system. For those of us who want a little comfort in private hospitals and the ability to choose our surgeons/when we'll get hacked up or, you know, just want to elevate ourselves above the peasant classes we can get private insurance. My insurance was awesome when I was sick. I got to go to a private hospital in an even posher suburb than I live now and enjoy a huge private room with all the narcotics I wanted.

I WAS THE FATTEST PERSON NOT JUST IN THE HOSPITAL, OR THE SUBURB, BUT THE ENTIRE SURROUNDING AREA. My god, you know you're among breeding when everyone's slim.

Monny287

Too nanny state for my liking. We have the right to choose what we eat and when we eat it. I don't care if other people want to eat junk. I exercise my choice NOT to eat junk. Plus, I don't think a tax is really going to help. People are still going to buy junk food. Why? Because it tastes good. Unless they're making a conscious effort to get healthy, the taste of potato chips and a Big Mac is going to win out over healthy food.

So in summary, a tax would infringe on your right to choose what you eat while simultaneously not stopping anyone from choosing what they eat? Wow, you win at logic.

I would only be in favor of this if it were very tightly written (impossible with the state of Congress) and any addition funds went direct back to states to fund physical education programs and health education in public schools. But nothing that concise would ever make it out of appropriations.

Hmmm...I did contradict myself there, didn't I? XD I should learn to re-read my posts before I press "submit."