Fat tax?? What next, Big Brother?

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Incorrect, because even though they go out, they go out with catastrophically expensive cases.

I'm not sure either way, but is there any proof to this? A massive heart attack is pretty cheap when the ambulance arrives and the guy is dead.
On the flip side, those that live longer and get other issues such as memory problems (can't spell alz....), do suck off the government. We're paying medicare and social security, as well as supporting nursing homes...not to mention the MASSIVE amount of elderly people that are taking 10 or more meds a DAY.
I am just not sure either way is more expensive than the other...any one have stats on this?

[BigSKINBauer]

Originally Posted by jsarno

I'm not sure either way, but is there any proof to this? A massive heart attack is pretty cheap when the ambulance arrives and the guy is dead.
On the flip side, those that live longer and get other issues such as memory problems (can't spell alz....), do suck off the government. We're paying medicare and social security, as well as supporting nursing homes...not to mention the MASSIVE amount of elderly people that are taking 10 or more meds a DAY.
I am just not sure either way is more expensive than the other...any one have stats on this?

yeah, we would definitely have to see some numbers but i think in general a fat person does eat (no pun) at the economy more than a healthy person. Fatty foods lead to diabetes and many other health related problems before a massive heart attack that finishes it.

However, i don't have too much of a problem with taxing fatty foods. It leads to greater production of healthier foods by companies. Now it is a personal judgment call on what you think about that.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Incorrect, because even though they go out, they go out with catastrophically expensive cases.

And healthy people just fall over and die on the streets without using the system once.LOL But allot of unhealthy people do not make it to age 65 to get medicare.

[saden1]

I find it odd that we give income tax breaks only to raise taxes on goods and services. We get tax breaks for owning a home but you pay state property tax. I'm I the only one who finds our tax system crooked? They give you a break only to turnaround and fleece you from another angle. Or increase fines or tax the hell out of a product most people don't like.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by saden1

I find it odd that we give income tax breaks only to raise taxes on goods and services. We get tax breaks for owning a home but you pay state property tax. I'm I the only one who finds our tax system crooked? They give you a break only to turnaround and fleece you from another angle. Or increase fines or tax the hell out of a product most people don't like.

We're back on the same wave length again. I 100% agree with you here.
For as many bad taxes there are out there, what about the death tax? Even after you die, they want taxes out of you. Jeesh.

I would really LOVE for the government to call me up and offer me a job to do nothing but look at the "budget" and trim the fat. This mean everything...$500 pens, $10,000 toilet seats etc. I know I could find all sorts of money.

[firstdown]

Hey you guys keep this going I have to leave work and stop by KFC to pick up dinner and 7/11 to get a 12 pack to chase it down.

[JoeRedskin]

As to the fat tax, it is, like so many other taxes an incentive to act in a healthy manner and/or to forward a legitmate public goal - good public health.

Gov't consistently uses taxes and tax breaks to create incentives. The classic is the Mortgage Interest tax break - used as an incentive to home ownership. Why should renters subsidize those who buy homes? There are a multitude of breaks for kids, healthcare and etc. - Again, why should single people subsidize those who choose to have kids?

Since its inception, taxes have been used both as a revenue generator and as a means of discouraging behavior deemed bad for the public in general and encouraging behavior deemed good for the public in general.

Are there inefficiencies? Yes, of course their are. As Schneed said, there are 40 million people. And before you go gripping about 10k toilet seats etc. Can you show me where that is the norm? Compared to the fact that you can safely and reliably (on a daily basis) send a letter cross country for 40 cents, count on the government to ensure certain quality standards in the foods you buy, maintain interstates other avenues of travel, etc. etc. etc. I would suggest that the inefficiencies are greatly outweighed by the innumerable day to day benefits that are insured by the existence of the federal, state and local governments.

(If you want an efficient government, throw fairness out the window. Fairness costs money and we, as a society, have said that we are willing to pay that premium. It's cliched but true - Mussolini made the trains run on time).

[MTK]

If salt intake was becoming a national epidemic like obesity is, then hell why not, tax that too.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

If salt intake was becoming a national epidemic like obesity is, then hell why not, tax that too.

Agreed.

Jsarno, it's fine that if you want to smoke, you should be able to smoke. If you want to eat big macs and milkshakes for breakfast lunch and dinner, you should be able to.

But while you're doing that, is it fair for me to pay the same amount towards Medicare as you?

While you're doing whatever you want, exercising whatever freedoms you want, I'm paying for Medicare that you'll probably use twice as much as I will. That's the REAL unfair part in all of this. What people fail to realize is that their health choices do actually financially impact the rest of us. That's the very nature of a risk pool. So doing whatever you want and damn the consequences is actually a pretty selfish way to behave.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Agreed.

Jsarno, it's fine that if you want to smoke, you should be able to smoke. If you want to eat big macs and milkshakes for breakfast lunch and dinner, you should be able to.

But while you're doing that, is it fair for me to pay the same amount towards Medicare as you?

While you're doing whatever you want, exercising whatever freedoms you want, I'm paying for Medicare that you'll probably use twice as much as I will. That's the REAL unfair part in all of this. What people fail to realize is that their health choices do actually financially impact the rest of us. That's the very nature of a risk pool. So doing whatever you want and damn the consequences is actually a pretty selfish way to behave.

Well, I hope that is rhetorical, because I do not smoke, nor drink, nor do I like fast food places.
By taxing a burger won't change what you and I are already paying. In fact, it won't do a thing...that's the point. It's just another way to tax everyone and it in no way will reduce the tax burden on the every day tax payer.
The people that do smoke and eat horrible foods already pay high premiums for insurances such as life insurance and medical insurance that require physicals.
So while I see your point, and frankly, I agree with most of it about the unfair part, this is in no way a solution to change things.
If you can guarentee me the tax will go to something useful, or reduce the tax burden on the hard working american, I'll go for it. But this is just another way for the government to steal money from the hard working man. I hope no one is nieve enough to think this is about anything but money. If we allow this to take place, then they will think they have a free ride to tax whatever they want. Like I said, it's a slippery slope.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Agreed.

Jsarno, it's fine that if you want to smoke, you should be able to smoke. If you want to eat big macs and milkshakes for breakfast lunch and dinner, you should be able to.

But while you're doing that, is it fair for me to pay the same amount towards Medicare as you?

While you're doing whatever you want, exercising whatever freedoms you want, I'm paying for Medicare that you'll probably use twice as much as I will. That's the REAL unfair part in all of this. What people fail to realize is that their health choices do actually financially impact the rest of us. That's the very nature of a risk pool. So doing whatever you want and damn the consequences is actually a pretty selfish way to behave.

So I guess we should tax poor people more because they use more social programs more than others.