San Fran Mayor wants to tax pop!

[Lacrosse Boy]

I could be wrong, but I don't think Refurb was trying to say that he personally considers obesity to be the "major" problem right now, but rather this is the new target that is being focused upon with intensity. Today: pop. Tomorrow: cookies and chips.

I am against taxation to control what people do, and how. Economic arguments may be made (it's perfectly rational that if you want to have government in charge of healthcare that you then want to control the expenses government has to spend on taking care of people) but the real motivations here are moral: bettering people's health (by taxing cigarettes, soda, and any other thing elites don't like) and expanding government oversight into all areas of our life (because government is the best thing we have to help everyone).

[cinder]

I could be wrong, but I don't think Refurb was trying to say that he personally considers obesity to be the "major" problem right now, but rather this is the new target that is being focused upon with intensity. Today: pop. Tomorrow: cookies and chips.

I know what he meant, and it was a poor example. To think that today we tackle obesity and tomorrow someone REALLY wants to go after amusement parks..it's just a poor example.

Rather, we should tackle the problem as a whole, and not the little pieces of the puzzle.

There is an article in the paper today in regards to companies having to reveal their caloric counts...more of that and less taxing is the key. Education is power.

[Tiggerlives]

There is an article in the paper today in regards to companies having to reveal their caloric counts...more of that and less taxing is the key. Education is power.

I think the best thing to happen in the last decade in regards to healthy living is forcing fast food companies to list their caloric content.

I guess I see taxation as having an impact in the total consumption numbers, but I don't think it's the be-all, end-all and will magically curb obesity in America. but even if it's just a dent in the fender of an oncoming truck....it's a dent.

While not the best solution, by far, this program, in particular, looks like it would be using much of the tax to fund exercise-initiative programs for children as well as educational material.

The funds for such educational programs do have to come from somewhere, no?

But you've already seen outrage at trying to 'control' the moral behavior of the people. How well would a 'health tax break' go over if, say, the government provided a tax breack to those with gym memberships who could prove they passed mandatory health standards? I don't think that'd fly, either.

And while education is the key, there is so much behind-the-scenes mularky going on in the food industry (all, not just junk) that you have to consider the fact that these companies know exactly what they are doing in getting us addicted to their products.

[club33az]

We are not addicted to their products. At least not in the sense that a drug addict is. Sorry. We just aren't. I think it's more along the lines of "Hey, it's cheap, it's easy, let's eat it." People are not addicted to it, though.

exercise-initiative programs for children

Do the adults not count?

[Tiggerlives]

We are not addicted to their products. At least not in the sense that a drug addict is. Sorry. We just aren't. I think it's more along the lines of "Hey, it's cheap, it's easy, let's eat it." People are not addicted to it, though.

We are. If you don't believe studies from the likes of Princeton that clearly demonstrate this, I don't know what else can be said.

Check out this book if you're intrested in finding out more about the matter: The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite. Written by the former head of the FDA, the man behind the Clinton admins campaign for proper food product labeling.

Suffice it to say, in a capitalist society you work towards getting people to buy more and more of your product. What motivation would a company have to NOT create combinations that are addicting to their consumers, especially given such lax regulation?

[club33az]

Have you ever taken cocaine? Have you ever taken an illegal drug? I have. There's no comparison.

Have you ever seen someone coming down from drugs, trying to break their addiction? Someone you love? I have. Again, any comparison you are trying to make with studies from Princeton and their work with lab rats is laughable.

[Tiggerlives]

Again, any comparison you are trying to make with studies from Princeton and their work with lab rats is laughable

While I am sorry you have had to go through that, I am not sure how objective scientific data based on similiar brain-chemical releases does not trump subjective experiences based on the emotional responses of seeing a loved one suffer.

Have you, or anyone, completely given up junk food? Just because you don't know a junk food addict, doesn't mean they don't exist and that the food, itself, doesn't work in much the same manner as cocaine.

[Lacrosse Boy]

I see it from both sides here. My sister is bulimic. Sad, but true. Quite simply, she's an addict. It reminds me of my uncle who is alcoholic. Not to the same degree, because my sister is still able to function, go to classes, work, and be a productive member of society, whereas the alcoholic or crack addict has a much more difficult time maintaining this due to the much greater effects those substances have on the brain and body.

[refurbmike]

I know what he meant, and it was a poor example. To think that today we tackle obesity and tomorrow someone REALLY wants to go after amusement parks..it's just a poor example.

Obviously, the NEXT item would not be amusement parks. But you cannot seriously tell me that once the obesity issue is "taxes into correction", that people will just sit back and be content. They'll go after the next problem and start trying to rectify that with punishments and the like. As I pointed out, this is not the beginning of the snowball, yet the middle. And yes, if uncontrolled, I can see amusement parks somewhere on the horizon. Just look at how people are trying to regulate attractions and suing theme parks. The joke about having to wrap everybody in bubble wrap is not new and is a result of the attitude displayed in this thread: that the government needs to regulate and control every aspect of our lives to make the world an absolutely safe and healthy place to live in.

[SNJ]

fuiuadlgfdgadghshgdjhgdj