I'm all for it personally. Seems like the most logical way to help ppl without infringing on their freedom.

Insurance in america isn't guaranteed and not obligated by a buisness to provide. If a person wants insurance they can have it. They just need to be fit if they want it for free. If not, then they have to pay. Seems fair to me.

> Little Paul wrote:

> it goes for fat but not for cigs or alchohol. They cost MORE before they die.<

So far I have given the government, over a period of ten years, *

It's the right idea. As with cigarettes, tax fast food overly high so the healthy alternative becomes more attractive / cheaper.

Don't tax the target group itself, tax the service / consumer good. Tax it baby, tax it good! Tax it baby, like you should!

It's very unfair and oppressive to the poor. In America, it's actually the working class that is getting overweight, because they need to rely on foods that are less nutritious and cheaper (McDonalds). For wealthier individuals, we can pay for more expensive, healthier foods.

Justinian; choice is;
let them get fat and obese, and have bad life quality, which expensive social security would have to pick up

or

tax the unhealthy services and goods, make them non cheap, create opportunity for healthy and relatively cheaper food. Perhaps by funding the healthy food by the amount you save from unneeded social security.

RR: you're oversimplifying it.

It's both the quality and quantity of the food. If cheap fast food is a big portion of your diet you will get fat, even if you don't stuff yourself full every meal. Contrary, you'll not get fat fast on huge stacks of rice and grilled chicken.

And you're seriously mistaking about there not being healthy food in restaurants. Eat less fat sauces (probably what your ranch thing is) with whatever meat you're having. Less fried or baked stuff. Eat vegetables for gods sakes. Cooked or steamed potatoes.

Also, it's not only restaurants you see. It's the shitty supermarket microwave 1 portion food cartons as well. Cooking yourself isn't all that much trouble, and at least you know what you put in it.  The lazier you are with selecting and preparing what you put in your mouth, the crappier it will be along with the effect on your fisical condition.

ZoZ,
I disagree because just because you tax the fast food chains and make it more expensive to eat there, does not mean it will have an impact on people's weight. Your suggestions sound more like going on a diet than a restaurant that serves these things. It comes down to the decisions the individual makes. You can find just as unhealthy food in a more expensive restaurant. So is it fair that the fast food chains are punished???

Why not just exterminate all of the silly humans, and hope that evolution creates a more superior race who do not need to eat.

bah
who needs healthy food

just give a loaf of bread and buy fish + buy some lettuce and ketchup

and run a bit XD

but jesus christ...
my friend (i live in canada) went to USA for like 2 weeks...
holy shit... he gained like 10+ pounds D=
seriously XD what the hell... D=

hm... what food do they have in the US that they don't have in canada? I would really like to break this stereotype that americans are fat and that we only eat fatty foods.

>>2 loafs o' bread, 2 - 3 packs o' sliced turkey, a jar o' peanut butter, a jar o' jelly, a bag o' apples, a bag o' potatoes, oatmeal, tuna, a 24 pack o' bottled water, 2 half gallons o' milk, a bag o' oranges,  2 bags o' (whatever type) salad, 6 pack o' yogurt <<

OK but what do ye eat after Wednesday?, with a chest full of booty?

Nolio, they REDEFINED obesity since 1990, they call scallywags obese in 2008 who were not considered obese in 1988 at th' same body mass.   Same reason AIDS "spiked" in th' 1990s...

To those o' ye who suggest taxin' unhealthy foods I ask this:

What about in countries like th' United Kingdom, where processed foods be much cheaper than unprocessed?
Load the cannons!
For example here be two versions o' th' same sandwich which I eat fer dinner every workin' day:

Sandwich One:
Tesco Value White Bread (loaf) 50p
Tesco Value Thinly Sliced Turkey Ham (200g pack) 99p
Tesco Value Soft Spread (500g tub) 19p
Tesco Value Tomatoes (6-8 pack) 79p

Total cost: