America is facing many problems today, one being Health Care. Who is in favor of taxing unhealthy foods? Read?
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Mar 12, 2011
In America right now we are facing several difficult problems and arguably a tremendous crisis. A few to mention are the state of the economy (measured by stock prices), the budget of the government, the potential costs of healthcare, as well as education and foreign policy issues. My question is not about foreign policy issues or education though I believe the later is extremely important to our economy as well. My question is whether or not you think my proposal is practical. Basically my proposal is to have the GOVERNMENT STEP IN and put taxes on unhealthy foods. For example, at Meijer’s Grocery Store there are many breakfast cereals to choose from. Some contain up to 20 grams of Fiber and 10 grams of protein with 2 grams of fat that being unsaturated. Then there are cereals that contain up to 25 grams of sugar (simple kinds that will be later stored as fat) as well as 1-2 grams of saturated fat as well. The healthy cereal is Kashi Crunch High Protein and Fiber Cereal vs. the unhealthy Cocoa Puffs Cereal. Now, I for one used to eat unhealthy cereals but once I got that fiber in my diet I lost 6 lbs and my genetics are not even favorable. I do not have a fast metabolism though I exercise frequently. Therefore, if the government steps in and rises the price of unhealthy cereals it is obvious that more people will buy the healthier cereals. In case for some economic defying reason this doesn’t happen, there is still more money being spent by the consumer that is flowing in the economy. If the more probable occurs and people start buying the healthier cereals and for that matter other products, 2 things will happen. Number 1, America as a whole will become less obese, I know its not that simple but it will definitely play a tremendous role. Now, what are the economic benefits of this. Well first of all less people will be obese so less people will have the risk of certain cancers, heart disease, and diabetes. The companies that manufacture unhealthy cereal will at first lose money but then will have the incentives to produce more healthier cereals. This as a whole would save up to a quarter trillion dollars of our government budget and ease this state of depression America is in. How will it be done? We will have a new profession established called the health screeners who will have the job of certifying healthy foods and eliminating bad ones. These health screeners will also make sure that companies are not simply boosting the Nutrition Facts on the back by adding artificial proteins and fibersbut rather decent ones and that they are not putting so much artificial or normal sweeteners. Not to mention this would create so many new jobs. Now what if Americans stop buying all together? Well, they can’t because food is always a common necessity.
So in conclusion if we take such government enforced (I am not sugar coating) methods we as a country will become a more healthier community and therefore we will be able to greatly reduce health care costs, which will let more of the budget be spent on other things like education, reduce the deficit, and not to mention get everyone covered on Healthcare whether it is government or private healthcare.
Ok, so my question is who thinks this is a good idea?
47 seconds ago – 4 days left to answer.
TheEvilOrange:
That was an incredibly idiotic answer to say the least. First of all, how do you know you have more success. All I said in my proposal was that I wanted to increase FIBER not SUGARS. Low Carbohydrate diets are not a very good solution because we all need carbohydrates to function especially fiber. I talked about redicing sugar in case…just reminding you because you didn’t read carefully. I agree that health in foods is somewhat subjective. What are you trying to tell me about Triglyceride Levels. Don’t think you can confuse a Bio Major. I know those increase with Saturated Fats and I clearly proposed a reduction in those.
I understand that you don’t appreciate taxes and government control so come up with counter arguments rather than fallacious, idiotic accusations. How do you have more success than me. I’m an All-American Athlete who plays 4 sports and when I lost weight I my BMI went from 20.5 to 20. When I got a fat content measure my fat content was 6%.
JUST AN FYI THEEVILORANGE,
I clearly said Sugar is bad and Fiber is good.
Don’t try to teach me!
Notice how everyone else gave acceptable answers but you. I disagreed with some but they were not impolite though some did assume things.
Crusader, you answer was better and more reasonable since you used examples though you were impolite. I agree that health is subjective and you made a good point about saying not all people are the same health-wise. Maybe I can revise my plan to target people who have obesity problems. Perhaps as soon as someone goes to the hospital due to problems like obesity we can then choose that as an instance to get involved. Since they were not accountable for themselves we should take it into our own hands and start making them pay more, just like car insurance.
Ahhh, looks like we have Fallacy Committer #2: Congratulations Min Man 60, you gave me another completely idiotic answer. First of all, stop diverting attention from the main point by talking about illegal immigrants. That was not my question. Second of all, those who exercise and have injuries have such a lower percentage of injuries than those who are obese and get in trouble. Your argument is proposterous. I see that you do not like government regulation but give some valid counter arguments, be polite, and stop committing fallacies.
pdooma, I never knew about Corn Subsidies. You unlike several others actually gave me ideas to make my proposal better. You will get the best answer
Crusader, you answer was better and more reasonable since you used examples though you were impolite. I agree that health is subjective and you made a good point about saying not all people are the same health-wise. Maybe I can revise my plan to target people who have obesity problems. Perhaps as soon as someone goes to the hospital due to problems like obesity we can then choose that as an instance to get involved. Since they were not accountable for themselves we should take it into our own hands and start making them pay more, just like car insurance.
you see guys, opposition doesn’t hurt my ideas, it allows me to change them, moderatize (not a word) them, make them more acceptable to more people. I don’t have a problem with opposition, its much better than the simple…"hmmm that sounds like a really good idea…now answer my question"…and with that Crusader gets the best answer…though I have still not given up on my ideas
Crusader1189
Mar 12, 2011
First of all, terrible idea merely because it is not the job of government to make sure a person eats ‘right’ or exercises.
Second, assuming that we did follow this lunatic idea, whose standards would we use? Some people consider red meat ‘unhealthy’. I’m darn well not paying a high tax so I can have a hamburger or steak every now and then. Are we going to parse down things like white flour versus wheat flour? Will someone who likes wonder bread pay an extra tax on it because whole wheat bread is ‘better’ for you? Will there be carrot credits people can buy to eat more sugar or salt?
Third, people’s bodies aren’t the same. I occasionally over-eat. I eat a lot of sugar, salt, and grease but I am skinny, in good health, and rank below my chronological age physically. While some people I know (I won’t identify them solely because it is not my place to on a public forum) eat healthy and maintain small portions but struggle with weight and health issues. Yet your plan would punish me for no reason.
Nope. I reject it out of hand. You and no one else has a right to dictate to a population how they will eat no matter what ‘common good’ or cause it may promote. I’d probably allow a "just say no to dough-nuts’ PSA campaign but we don’t need thousands of IGNORANT JERKS like Reichs-Marshall Bloomberg going around the country outlawing French Fries.
Edited to add:
A bit rude perhaps, and sorry.
I believe rather passionately that we must eradicate the notion that every problem and every ‘problem’ in the world is another project for the government to correct. Governments are instituted among men to ensure domestic tranquility, provide for a common defense, and build decent roads and schools. That should be about it. People must be allowed to make poor choices and they must also be allowed to suffer the consequences for those choices. The only exception to that is when those choices harm someone else and even then, we must only allow government to tread very tenuously into the situation, remedy it, and get out. Health care is a prime example of why we should keep government out of our business. Government begins regulating it, prices go up. Government regulates MORE and prices go up. People drop out of the system or can’t afford it and rather than government realizing it caused the problem, it says well let’s just take it over which doesn’t solve the problem at all.
I understand your passion and desire to help people become lean, mean, fighting machines like yourself but IF you’re REALLY passionate about it, you’ll find away to reach people one at a time. You’ll convince one person to eat healthy, then the two of you will convince 4 and the 6 will convince 12 etc. etc. until enough people eat healthy that those who make bad choices barely impact the system at all. Then you will be given a Congressional Medal and government will have never been invovled at all. That’s the way Americans have always done things and that’s the way we should. Let’s stop saying "there should be a law" and improve the world without government.
UnoU
Mar 12, 2011
Not me.
I dont want the Government to decide which kind of food is good or bad for me. I want the Government out of my life as much as possible.
pdooma
Mar 12, 2011
How about we stop the corn subsidies which makes high fructose corn syrup so cheap? It is like sugar on steroids. So they want to tax the cereals, what they’ll do is take that tax money to pay for MORE corn subsidies, which makes that junk food even cheaper.
Just stop the corn subsidies. Stop the tarrifs on cane sugar. We can actually eat real food again.
shair00
Mar 12, 2011
My friend government control is NEVER a good option. We as Americans have the right to chose and that should not be controlled by taxing anything….
KHBunny
Mar 12, 2011
I mean, it’s great an all that he wants to make America skinny, but he shouldn’t tax unhealthy foods.
He shouldn’t control what we want to eat or smoke whether it be healthy or not. That’s what I like to call freedom, and I want it to stay that way.
It just feels like another way of trying to control us. And I don’t think it’s right or fair.
TheOrange Evil
Mar 12, 2011
Stop using taxes to push your moralizing nutritional agenda. Let people eat what they want and pay for the consequences.
P.S. A heart-healthy diet is not one that is high in carbohydrates. Cereal and milk have lots of sugar and lots of other carbohydrates that spike blood sugar and leave a person feeling hungry a few hours later. There are lots of HEALTHIER ways to get fiber without all the sugar and carbohydrates that metabolize quickly and turn into fat (which contributes to high triglycerides, by the way). Don’t you see? We all have our ideas about what "healthy" is. Maybe I should tax you for being a carb hog since I am on a low-carbohydrate diet and have had a LOT more success than you.
60 min man
Mar 12, 2011
sort of like rations in cuba you mean, only allow the public to have what you want them to have and make everything else so expensive those manufacturers go out of business and then we cannot collect taxes on said products? is that what you mean? people who exercise cost us alot of money for knee/sholder type injuries. how about we tax health clubs too. i mean if we can ask the rich to pay their fair share, why not the healthy people. if it is really about helping people, it should not matter if they smoke or drink or are lazy. those people will need care just like the healthy. and honestly, they can afford it since they are not using their money on bad food and drinks. and how much could we save if we keep the 8-12 million illegals from abusing the system? lets start there.
PJ
Mar 12, 2011
Sounds good – but I think it will be too complicated. Taxing soda pop like beer would be pretty easy though.