NY Bill Proposes Fat Tax On Games, DVDs, Junk Food 793
eldavojohn writes "GamePolitics is writing about a proposal to tax things that make your kids fat. The logic from its author: 'Almost all experts agree that the primary reasons [for the obesity epidemic] are increased consumption of larger quantities of high calorie foods, snacks and sugar sweetened beverages... and lack of physical activity as vigorous play is replaced by sedentary activities such as watching more television, movies and videos and playing video games. This bill would raise revenues from modest surcharges on the very food products and sedentary activities that are linked to the lifestyle changes involved in the explosion of childhood obesity in the last 20-30 years.' Not as explicit as Japan's fat tax but we're getting there."
tax break for celery (Score:4, Funny)
Will the money be spent fighting fat? (Score:5, Funny)
What's next, Wii subsidies?
Nonsense! (Score:3, Funny)
"Almost all experts agree that the primary reasons [for the obesity epidemic] are increased consumption of larger quantities of high calorie foods, snacks and sugar sweetened beverages... and lack of physical activity"
So wait...you're trying to tell me that the first law of thermodynamics is true? Lies!
Re:Money Grab (Score:5, Funny)
And I say, let them eat cake.
The time will come... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:tax break for celery (Score:5, Funny)
No. Because celery is pretty neutral. Tax breaks will be available for products that actively help make you thinner, such as crystal meth etc
Re:Totally bogus... (Score:5, Funny)
They prefer the term "Concierge".
Funny this should come out... (Score:4, Funny)
Judging by a large portion of the people I work with, and the cruft found between their keyboards when they whine their keys aren't working correctly, I'd say the study is spot on.
Re:Nonsense! (Score:3, Funny)
"Almost all experts agree that the primary reasons [for the obesity epidemic] are increased consumption of larger quantities of high calorie foods, snacks and sugar sweetened beverages... and lack of physical activity"
So wait...you're trying to tell me that the first law of thermodynamics is true? Lies!
This is why Congress really needs to repeal the Laws of Thermodynamics. Sadly, it seems that most members of both parties are in the pocket of Big Thermo.
Re:Money Grab (Score:5, Funny)
Hey, what kind of bandwidth do you get in your militia bunker? Mine sucks, but it's probably because I shot the cable guy because he looked like CIA.
Re:tax break for celery (Score:5, Funny)
That's why you smother it in peanut butter, which comes from the ground.
DOUBLE HEALTHY!
Re:How about a Crap Tax? (Score:3, Funny)
In practice, it would penalize those who don't sneak out in the middle of the night and crap on their neighbors' lawns.
I got an idea... (Score:1, Funny)
Tax marijuana instead (Score:5, Funny)
2) Regulate and tax it
3) PROFIT!!!
There's not even a ??? step to worry about with this one.
When Fat is Outlawed... (Score:2, Funny)
When fat is outlawed, only Outlaws will be fat.
Re:Money Grab (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Have you noticed? (Score:4, Funny)
Kids don't play outside anymore. When I was a kid, my friends and I would go ride our bikes, go build a tree fort, play hide and seek, or play a million and one other games we made up on the spot. Sometimes we fell down, sometimes we got hurt, and once in a while we even learned something.
When I was a kid, me and my friends would work on the family farm or in a coal mine. Sometimes we fell down, sometimes we got hurt, and once in a while we even learned something.
Now get off my lawn!
Re:Money Grab (Score:2, Funny)
This madness must stop and stop now! I will not pay one red cent in new taxes anywhere!
The people with the guns and jails think otherwise...
Re:Money Grab (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Money Grab (Score:3, Funny)
I have seen some studies where they found that how good a certain food tastes is completely subjective. My father is diabetic (genetic, not weight induced), so our family tends to eat very little sugar and related foods. This means that when I was little, we NEVER had sodas in the house. In fact, it wasn't until I was playing at a friends that I first tried it, and I couldn't stand the taste of it. I thought it was absolutely revolting.
You can see the same trends if you look at different cultures. People who grow up with certain foods acquire a taste for that type of food. French people acquire tastes for wine, bread and cheese while Greek people acquire tastes for seafood, olive oil and pastas. Unfortunately North America (US/Canada) has adopted junk food as their national food.
The big problem is that junk food tends to be a little more "seductive" and the taste of it is acquire quite a bit easier and quicker than some of the healthier foods out there. Now a days if you travel back east where the good food is, you can still get the traditional meals, but you will also see America's prime exports such as McDonald's everywhere.
The problem with junk food is not a taste problem, it is a cultural problem.
Re:ass-backwards (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Money Grab (Score:4, Funny)
Most of those things are not provided by taxes, but by the fact that relatively few people want to live there.
Re:Money Grab (Score:3, Funny)
At least I have 2 Senators.
One of whom consumes as much TV time as 50 other US Senators ;)
The most dangerous place to be in Washington is between Charles Schumer and a TV camera......
Re:When Fat is Outlawed... (Score:3, Funny)
Well on the plus side at least they'll be easy to recognize...
And catch...
Re:Money Grab (Score:3, Funny)
Act like it. Tell you child "NO", and then stick to your guns
Unfortunately, the last time I tried to use firearms to obtain compliance from the kids I had to spend a few hours at the police station filling out paperwork ;)