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Should soft drinks and fast foods have added tax to cut weight gains?
Ann Arbor Examiner ^ | March 11, 2010 | Kevin Fobbs

Posted on 03/11/2010 10:03:45 AM PST by Kfobbs

According to a report released Monday by the Archives of Internal Medicine, there is a growing epidemic across developed nations like the United States. The study recommends that one possible sure fire method for slowing the escalation of obesity in America would be to add a “surcharge” ie.added taxes or fees.

Ann Arbor, America are you ready to may more in order to eat less? Mitchell H. Katz, MD; Rajiv Bhatia, MD, MPH, author of the study is betting that Americans might be willing to “put their money where their mouth is.”

Oh really. Perhaps the notion of paying more in order to consume less sugar-sweetened beverage “to discourage their use and/or to fund interventions that promote alternative beverages,” may prove ideal in...

(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: fattax; foodnazis; governmentcontrols; healthychoices; nannystate; obesity; personalliberty; taxes
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1 posted on 03/11/2010 10:03:45 AM PST by Kfobbs
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To: Kfobbs

what about diet drinks?


2 posted on 03/11/2010 10:04:09 AM PST by Perdogg ("Is that a bomb in your pants, or are you excited to come to America?")
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To: Kfobbs

I recall that they threw GHW Bush out for breaking a “no new taxes” promise...


3 posted on 03/11/2010 10:04:40 AM PST by a fool in paradise
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To: Kfobbs

Has taxing the hell out of cigarettes caused everyone to stop smoking?


4 posted on 03/11/2010 10:05:23 AM PST by NMEwithin
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To: Kfobbs
I understand that "how things are" is very different from "how things are supposed to be" -- but I was under the impression that US law requires that taxes be used for purposes of revenue, but cannot be used to control behavior.

Clearly, that ship sailed awhile ago, but it might be nice to bring it back. I'm tired of the social engineering.

5 posted on 03/11/2010 10:06:10 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (We're all heading toward red revolution - we just disagree on which type of Red we want.)
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To: Kfobbs

The purpose of the tax is increased revenue. Obesity is the excuse.


6 posted on 03/11/2010 10:06:34 AM PST by csmusaret (Sarah Palin thinks everyday in America is the 4th of July. Obama thinks it is April 15th.)
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To: Kfobbs

Lightened pocket book...

Lightened body...

Where’s the corelation ???


7 posted on 03/11/2010 10:07:58 AM PST by Tennessee Nana
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To: Kfobbs

That’s discrimination! Now only rich people can be fat. I want a tax credit for soda and french fries!


8 posted on 03/11/2010 10:09:00 AM PST by poobear
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To: Kfobbs

“My body, my choice.”

Isn’t that what freaked-out liberals chant?


9 posted on 03/11/2010 10:10:10 AM PST by rbosque (11 year Freeper! Combat Economist.)
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To: NMEwithin

Actually it has. Around 20% of the adult population now are smokers as opposed to around 75% in the 50s and 60s. I’d say it also has to do with the ever growing demonization of smokers. When fat begins to be demonized like smoking is, then people will be screaming, “Tax the hell out of fattening foods”.


10 posted on 03/11/2010 10:11:02 AM PST by beckysueb (Scott Brown is a start. Lets keep it going.)
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To: csmusaret

It seems the real obesity problem is the government growing fatter by the day at the taxpayer’s expense.


11 posted on 03/11/2010 10:15:25 AM PST by eggman (Grab a mop Mr. Gibbs! Your boss is making another mess.)
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To: NMEwithin

Actually, yes it has but that is NOT what they really want. They just want to tax. The more that quit is the less in tax revenue.


12 posted on 03/11/2010 10:17:14 AM PST by packrat35 (Democrat Healthcare is a 9-11 Attack on the Constitution)
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To: beckysueb

Taxes have had an impact but I’d suggest the largest impact is the social stigma of smoking now and the knowledge about its health impact.


13 posted on 03/11/2010 10:23:44 AM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Kfobbs

Everyone knows the money will just go into the general fund, so Dems can fund ACORN and the like.


14 posted on 03/11/2010 10:25:06 AM PST by airborne ("Peace, Love, Dope" has now become "Hope, Change, Obama" !!!)
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To: rbosque

“My body, my choice.”Isn’t that what freaked-out liberals chant?

And this very conservative person also says that - I will eat what I want to eat when I want to eat it and the rest of the world can take a flying leap!


15 posted on 03/11/2010 10:27:11 AM PST by Grams A (The Sun will rise in the East in the morning and God is still on his throne.)
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To: Kfobbs
Every time the govt adds a new tax, I deduct a corresponding amount from my budget for "charitible donations.".

I guess if coke and pepsi had made higher donations to the dems, this bill would have never been suggested.

Follow the money.
16 posted on 03/11/2010 10:27:37 AM PST by FrankR (Those of us who love AMERICA far outnumber those who love obama - your choice.)
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To: Kfobbs

Medical professionals may talk like this, but I think once the goverment gets involved, it’s all just a way to collect more revenue and try to control people’s lives. Tobacco taxes have been justified to discourage smoking and to promote a non-smoking lifestyle. I’ve noticed, though, the the last couple of times the tobacco tax went up here, they didn’t even talk about that any more. It was simply because the state needed more money and they targeted a group that no one is going to cry much about.

For all their lecturing about a healthy lifestyle, and their willingness to use government coersion to make it happen, I’m not really sure all health care professionals are on board for this, as far as their own lives are concerned. My father-in-law spent considerable time in the hospital a while back, so we were there a lot. The hospital had a “canteen,” a huge vending area in which almost all of the selections amounted to junk food. Nearly all of the nurses were on the rotund side. They even had soda machines — soda, not water, not juice — in each ward of the hospital. You didn’t even have to go downstairs to get that Coke.


17 posted on 03/11/2010 10:40:49 AM PST by Southside_Chicago_Republican ("During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." --Orwell)
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To: Grams A

Exactly!


18 posted on 03/11/2010 10:50:10 AM PST by rbosque (11 year Freeper! Combat Economist.)
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To: Kfobbs

How about fewer politicians to cut tax gains?


19 posted on 03/11/2010 10:52:15 AM PST by illiac (If we don't change directions soon, we'll get where we're going)
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To: NMEwithin

No, obviously. And that’s what they’re counting on; that people will continue paying taxes, increase after increase. Addiction is their friend.


20 posted on 03/11/2010 11:36:17 AM PST by DPMD (~)
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