Share Your Thoughts On A Fat Tax
Friday, August 7, 2009
In 2008, Alabama instituted what some refer to as a "fat tax."
State employees who peruse the insurance plans available to them will be required to undergo medical screenings. Those who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high glucose will have to pay $25 a month more in health insurance beginning in January 2011, if they don't take steps to address their health problems.
And it's not just Alabama looking to take steps to rid their residents of their love handles.
New York, since last year, has been tossing the idea around of a similar tax - sometimes referred to as a "Twinkie Tax" - that would place tax penalties on items such as non-diet soft drinks.
Now that the hot topic of Universal Health Care is on the table, many believe that a "fat tax" will be one of the first means of paying for the program.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS IMPOSING FAT TAXES ON THEIR CITIZENS?
On the surface, this seems like a good idea considering that 72 million (1/3) adults in the U.S. are now overweight or obese; add to that the 32% of American children who are overweight.
Upon learning of the possibilities of fat taxes becoming a nationwide mandate, I took time to seriously contemplate the pros and the cons.
Overall, however, I see a major problem: one more way the government is telling us how we should live.
What it really boils down to is this: American's are willing to take responsibility for their health, so the government wants to jump in with a health plan. In turn for your free (said tongue in cheek) healthcare they control your diet; or, at the very least, make you pay extra for your goodies.
I personally think that Americans need a little lesson in tough love - meaning the government can butt out. If we can't control ourselves from eating all the unhealthy stuff out there, then let the thinning of the herd begin!
Let us fend for ourselves for a while and maybe common sense will make a comeback.
And if not, oh well....
I have my diet well under control considering my scare with gestational diabetes; but about once every three months, I allow myself a sweet little treat. And, quite frankly, I'm not to keen as paying a tax on that goody that serves the same as a governmental slap on my hand.
Besides, has anyone noticed that the arrogant men and women looking to punish the "bad people" have innertubes around their wastes and vienna sausage fingers?
Ha! How about we give this idea a test run on them first and see if actually works? I'll go ahead and put my money down on a BIG FAT ~FAIL~!
