I guess it was just a matter of time before the gov. had to intervene to protect even more people from themselves.
Should fattening foods be taxed?
Posted: 04:00 PM ET
FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:
Slapping a tax on fattening foods could help pay for health care reform while also combating the nation’s growing obesity epidemic. A new study by the non-partisan Urban Institute says a 10-percent tax on fatty foods could raise more than $500-billion over the next 10-years.
They liken it to the steep taxes on tobacco, which helped dramatically reduce the number of smokers in this country.
However, taxes alone won’t do the job when it comes to battling obesity. The study also recommends banning advertising of fattening foods to children and better labeling these products. (Don't most children get their eating habits from their parents, since they buy the stuff?)
Restaurants and beverage groups have already waged a multimillion-dollar media campaign against any new taxes on food or drinks. They say it’s no time to add taxes on “the simple pleasures we all enjoy” and argue this tax would be unfair since it soaks the poor.
I guess they are saying the poor, obese folks are too stupid to know that an apple is cheaper and more healthy than a donut. If was poor, or obese, I might be insulted. Here come da ACLU.
Should fattening foods be taxed?
Posted: 04:00 PM ET
FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:
Slapping a tax on fattening foods could help pay for health care reform while also combating the nation’s growing obesity epidemic. A new study by the non-partisan Urban Institute says a 10-percent tax on fatty foods could raise more than $500-billion over the next 10-years.
They liken it to the steep taxes on tobacco, which helped dramatically reduce the number of smokers in this country.
However, taxes alone won’t do the job when it comes to battling obesity. The study also recommends banning advertising of fattening foods to children and better labeling these products. (Don't most children get their eating habits from their parents, since they buy the stuff?)
Restaurants and beverage groups have already waged a multimillion-dollar media campaign against any new taxes on food or drinks. They say it’s no time to add taxes on “the simple pleasures we all enjoy” and argue this tax would be unfair since it soaks the poor.
I guess they are saying the poor, obese folks are too stupid to know that an apple is cheaper and more healthy than a donut. If was poor, or obese, I might be insulted. Here come da ACLU.