Contrary to popular belief, not all people who buy chips, soda, and other junk foods are fat.
When my boyfriend and I had no work, the first thing we'd pick up from the store were chips and mac and cheese because it was all we could afford. If they take away the ability for people in that position to eat they're going to have a lot of hungry and angry people.
Not to mention this is just another stupid idea to try to get the government more money. Seriously, how is taxing food going to stop obesity? It isn't. Obesity is now being linked to genetics which is why people who are obese don't lose weight with diet and exercise.
Also, what about people who struggle with depression? The first thing I grab when I'm depressed is a tub of ice cream and some chips. Guess what? I am not fat. I'm 5' 8" and 115 lbs.
And besides, food has gotten expensive enough as it is, at least where I live.
Not exercising is equally bad for you too so how about mandating exercise? Nationalization of gyms with a registry you check in and out of when you exercise. Embedded heart monitors to make sure you are actually doing it and police at gyms to enforce exercise.
Mandatory annual physicals. Body % taken and tax levied based on your "fat score". Brackets and all.
You're welcome to not exercise and eat McD's but you won't have any income after all the taxes.
I think it's a great idea. It totally makes sense, and I love the way it's presented here - tax on luxuries, not necessities. Fast food/junk food shouldn't be the staple that it is in our country.
No judgement on what is junk food and what isn't. Just do it based on carbon use during production. Meat and dairy will probably end up being highly taxed. Eggs and oils less so. Just a guess.
I think that while that a fat tax might be a good idea, real, nutritious, GOOD FOR YOU food needs to be readily available and affordable to everyone, not just the richest.
Where I live a family on assistance, or even "working poor" can quite easily afford a meal at a fast food restaurant... these same people might not qualify for assistance through the food bank to get fresh fruit and veggies, meats, eggs, or milk. There is also a problem in the placement of these restaurants -- in poorer neighborhoods in my city citizens without access to a car can walk to a variety of fast food places, but grocery stores (not just convienience stores like 7-11) are NOT in these neighborhoods, making the cost to get fresh foods more expensive than just what the store charges.
Having access to stores which have reasonable prices for good food, subsidizing the cost of food WITH fat tax (if instated), and making the choice not to eat or get to work, to eat or pay rent, to eat or to clothe your children, or to eat or have adequate heat would likely go a LONG way towards changing eating habits.
Instead of a food tax why not get rid the farm subsidies that make "junk" food possible and cheap. Quit subsidizing corn that they make high fructose corn syrup out of and that is in everything we eat in the USA. There is no reason we need to be subsidizing the likes of ADM and Cargill. It would also transfer the tax away from direct income taxes we pay to subsidize agribusiness and make it an "opt in" tax on less healthy fake foods.
I'm sad to say, until today, I looked at the wisebread blog as a sign of intelligence. Today, it is a symbol of ignorance. Paul, I'm completely disappointed that you would write such a thoughtless, emotional (vs rational) piece that completely disregards common sense and instead points to a Machiavellian ends justifying means.
Your appeal to emotion breaks down into the warm fuzzies you feel since "we tax other things already" and "if we tax junk food, we'll pay for things we want".
So, let me ask, who gets to decide what is and is not junk food? For starters, we as a nation have too many competing interests in this game to make those decisions effectively. Are you completely unaware of the recent "healthy choices" initiative that would've marked garbage like Fruit Loops as a "healthy choice"? Do you get to decide, Paul? Do you get to decide for me too? Or does someone else get to decide for you?
This article should be offensive to anyone with a shred of human decency and common sense. A half-hearted appeal to emotion to institute a regressive tax that will hit those people most in need of healthy food is just plain ridiculous. Or do you honestly think that some rich fat cats will pay these taxes that will subsidize healthy food? If you could break from your sense of self-satisfaction for a second and consider that your idea essentially says "Let's make food more expensive for poor people" perhaps I'd consider you intelligent.
Sure, I eat more junk food than I need to, but I'm also on the road 5 days per week. Do I HAVE to stop at a sit down restaurant every time I want to eat? You gonna hit me with a tax on my coffee because I bought it at McDonald's? How about the grilled chicken sandwich on a whole wheat bun from Chick-fil-A served with a side of fruit? What if my doctor puts me on a low carb diet (he did last year)? The definition of "nutritious" may be different in a few years -- remember how the "food pyramid" changed? Do we have to alter the legislation once that change is made?
I tire of everyone thinking the government will solve society's problems. Besides, do you honestly think the money will be spent properly? If you do, I have a bridge to nowhere I'd like to sell you.
It's interesting to see a different point of view on this, but I completely agree with the other 3 comments - how ridiculous is it to assume the government knows what's good or bad for me? Essentially, we're on a slippery slope to losing our ability to make our own choices.
The more the government stays out of my personal life the better. Besides, the so-called "experts" continue to debate what is good or bad for you (like they should be making the decisions in the first place). One week "wine is horrible for you!", the next week "it has amazing benefits!".
I can't wait for them to decide that everything over 1000 calories is going to cost you $3 more. Just enough to buy 995 calorie meal. Better yet, perhaps we should have mandated exercise.
Personal decisions are to be kept that - personal. Including food and beverages.
Sometimes it's not about eating junk food, but it's about what you can afford. Many students need cheap fast food in order to get by although it's not necessarily the healthiest choice. It would not be fair to start taxing such things.
Who decides what constitutes junk food? Who decides what is healthy? It's easy to say that some half pound bacon double cheeseburger is unhealthy, but what about a grilled chicken sandwich from the same fast food restaurant? This kind of legislation is a very slippery slope and I'm not comfortable with where it could lead.
Yup, you were right I disagree with you almost totally on the fat tax. I thank you for sharing your opinion though. I don't think it's right for the government to tax cigarettes and liquor extra in the first place even though I don't buy either. The biggest problem I have with this type of tax is who decides what is "junk" food and what isn't? It just opens up too many possibilities for lobbyists and government to make a mess of it. It would be entirely possible for lawmakers to say beef in general is junk food because the pork industry lobbied for it. I doubt it would really get that far but, who knows.
Instead of raising yet another freaking tax why don't the Fed's cut the subsidies for corn syrup (and all the farm subsidies)?
Cut taxes on imported sugar. Instead of pulling more money out of the consumer (and having the gov’t take its ‘cut’ due to handling expense/bureaucracy), then giving a fraction of it back in subsidy form; why not just cut taxes.
Cut spending too.
I have stored away all the hand-sewn costumes my mother-in-law made the oldest each year: monkey, kittycat and doggie. Has her younger sister worn any of them? Only the monkey costume for her baby year. After that, even tho she was too young to have an opinion, her older sister had ideas about what she should be.
Makes me wonder why I am keeping these things. Our local consignment shop had a costume swap, but the didn't take any homemade costumes.
I think it all depends on the person. I personally love to get gift cards, and sometimes choosing the right store shows just as much thought as choosing the right gift.
The thing is, we are too hung up on ourselves. Gifts are what they are...free. If someone wants to give you a gift and they choose a gift card, be happy they wanted to give you anything at all! We should be more thankful for what we do receive and less selfish because we didn't get exactly what we want. Hate to be the one to tell you, but its not all about you!
In addition to those five reasons, Halloween falls on a Saturday this year. Many who would usually forego a costume on a weekday, will pony up last minute, considering it is a weekend. This is especially prevalent among the college student population.
Good article. As debit card issuer we try to educate our cardholders on purchase security and using credit versus debit. We do not charge a fee - nor do we charge a fee for cash back - but we feel that the less you use your PIN the better.
It is a challenge because the the name of the transaction "debit" versus "credit" I wish we could some action (either grass roots or regulatory) that would eliminate this issue. Any lawyers out there? I am sure you could bring a case against retailers that force you to cancel and then start over... I am sure you will find plenty of confused cardholders willing to join you.
Why don't we call the transactions something they are like PIN and Signature instead of credit and debit... Or some other name... Maybe Wisebread can run a contest for the best name change... I will even throw in a 50 gift card to the winner.... anyone?
I am confused as how mortgage companies can add 13-15 days (yes that what mine is doing - to cover post closing days) of interest to my payoff balance. They said anything extra will be credited to me after closing. But they have already added that amount to my new loan amount and I will be paying for it monthly for the life of my loan approx $1800, the amount of the interest is much lower than that but I get stuck paying more for it?? How can that be, is there a way around all those days and having it tacked to my new loan amt? Thanks
We just used our coupon last night and it was great! You do have to look at the fine print, and we definitely tipped on the total amount, not just on what we paid. The waiter was wonderful, he didn't treat us any differently than any other customer. This also was a very nice restaurant in our area, so I went ahead and bought a few certificates for Christmas for friends as well. This is not a scam, it's a great way to enjoy restaurants that you normally couldn't afford.
I personally believe that the gift of reading is wonderful for recipients of all ages. I have stopped purchasing books for the most part but when I receive a gift card for a book store, I get to buy those titles I covet but would not normally buy for myself. Is the gift card impersonal? Perhaps it is but I am happy that people remember me and am not slighted that they didn't go out to hand pick something which I may have no use for, may not be to my taste and may cause the giver more insult when I don't use or wear it or need to exchange it.
sometimes it is the best gift, when you choose the right shop! Antique jewelerry gift card for my dance-sisters, book shop gift card for the bookworms, ... then they can choose the best gift , one they really want!
Love the ideas. I do a Jeans for Genes day fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation every year. The kids at the private shcool where I teach each pay .50 to wear jeans instead of thier uniform and all the money goes to fight CF.
I'm going to extend the Jeans for Genes idea this year and make a quilt from my family's discarded jeans (I've been saving them for YEARS, waiting to figure out how to use them.) The quilt will be auctioned off at a fundraising event that we host every spring. I'll probably make a few of the things from this list to throw into the auciton as well. Thanks for the good ideas!
You gave very good advices! I probably would have worked much longer if I had been doing what I loved to do. Unfortunately, I wasn't as lucky. So, eventhough I had a good job, I decided to retire early.
I have been enjoying life since, especially after I finished taking care of some family things that I wasn't interested in doing but would be good to get them out of my mind.
Contrary to popular belief, not all people who buy chips, soda, and other junk foods are fat.
When my boyfriend and I had no work, the first thing we'd pick up from the store were chips and mac and cheese because it was all we could afford. If they take away the ability for people in that position to eat they're going to have a lot of hungry and angry people.
Not to mention this is just another stupid idea to try to get the government more money. Seriously, how is taxing food going to stop obesity? It isn't. Obesity is now being linked to genetics which is why people who are obese don't lose weight with diet and exercise.
Also, what about people who struggle with depression? The first thing I grab when I'm depressed is a tub of ice cream and some chips. Guess what? I am not fat. I'm 5' 8" and 115 lbs.
And besides, food has gotten expensive enough as it is, at least where I live.
Not exercising is equally bad for you too so how about mandating exercise? Nationalization of gyms with a registry you check in and out of when you exercise. Embedded heart monitors to make sure you are actually doing it and police at gyms to enforce exercise.
Mandatory annual physicals. Body % taken and tax levied based on your "fat score". Brackets and all.
You're welcome to not exercise and eat McD's but you won't have any income after all the taxes.
Land of the free, indeed!
I think it's a great idea. It totally makes sense, and I love the way it's presented here - tax on luxuries, not necessities. Fast food/junk food shouldn't be the staple that it is in our country.
No judgement on what is junk food and what isn't. Just do it based on carbon use during production. Meat and dairy will probably end up being highly taxed. Eggs and oils less so. Just a guess.
I think that while that a fat tax might be a good idea, real, nutritious, GOOD FOR YOU food needs to be readily available and affordable to everyone, not just the richest.
Where I live a family on assistance, or even "working poor" can quite easily afford a meal at a fast food restaurant... these same people might not qualify for assistance through the food bank to get fresh fruit and veggies, meats, eggs, or milk. There is also a problem in the placement of these restaurants -- in poorer neighborhoods in my city citizens without access to a car can walk to a variety of fast food places, but grocery stores (not just convienience stores like 7-11) are NOT in these neighborhoods, making the cost to get fresh foods more expensive than just what the store charges.
Having access to stores which have reasonable prices for good food, subsidizing the cost of food WITH fat tax (if instated), and making the choice not to eat or get to work, to eat or pay rent, to eat or to clothe your children, or to eat or have adequate heat would likely go a LONG way towards changing eating habits.
Instead of a food tax why not get rid the farm subsidies that make "junk" food possible and cheap. Quit subsidizing corn that they make high fructose corn syrup out of and that is in everything we eat in the USA. There is no reason we need to be subsidizing the likes of ADM and Cargill. It would also transfer the tax away from direct income taxes we pay to subsidize agribusiness and make it an "opt in" tax on less healthy fake foods.
I'm sad to say, until today, I looked at the wisebread blog as a sign of intelligence. Today, it is a symbol of ignorance. Paul, I'm completely disappointed that you would write such a thoughtless, emotional (vs rational) piece that completely disregards common sense and instead points to a Machiavellian ends justifying means.
Your appeal to emotion breaks down into the warm fuzzies you feel since "we tax other things already" and "if we tax junk food, we'll pay for things we want".
So, let me ask, who gets to decide what is and is not junk food? For starters, we as a nation have too many competing interests in this game to make those decisions effectively. Are you completely unaware of the recent "healthy choices" initiative that would've marked garbage like Fruit Loops as a "healthy choice"? Do you get to decide, Paul? Do you get to decide for me too? Or does someone else get to decide for you?
This article should be offensive to anyone with a shred of human decency and common sense. A half-hearted appeal to emotion to institute a regressive tax that will hit those people most in need of healthy food is just plain ridiculous. Or do you honestly think that some rich fat cats will pay these taxes that will subsidize healthy food? If you could break from your sense of self-satisfaction for a second and consider that your idea essentially says "Let's make food more expensive for poor people" perhaps I'd consider you intelligent.
Sure, I eat more junk food than I need to, but I'm also on the road 5 days per week. Do I HAVE to stop at a sit down restaurant every time I want to eat? You gonna hit me with a tax on my coffee because I bought it at McDonald's? How about the grilled chicken sandwich on a whole wheat bun from Chick-fil-A served with a side of fruit? What if my doctor puts me on a low carb diet (he did last year)? The definition of "nutritious" may be different in a few years -- remember how the "food pyramid" changed? Do we have to alter the legislation once that change is made?
I tire of everyone thinking the government will solve society's problems. Besides, do you honestly think the money will be spent properly? If you do, I have a bridge to nowhere I'd like to sell you.
It's interesting to see a different point of view on this, but I completely agree with the other 3 comments - how ridiculous is it to assume the government knows what's good or bad for me? Essentially, we're on a slippery slope to losing our ability to make our own choices.
The more the government stays out of my personal life the better. Besides, the so-called "experts" continue to debate what is good or bad for you (like they should be making the decisions in the first place). One week "wine is horrible for you!", the next week "it has amazing benefits!".
I can't wait for them to decide that everything over 1000 calories is going to cost you $3 more. Just enough to buy 995 calorie meal. Better yet, perhaps we should have mandated exercise.
Personal decisions are to be kept that - personal. Including food and beverages.
Sometimes it's not about eating junk food, but it's about what you can afford. Many students need cheap fast food in order to get by although it's not necessarily the healthiest choice. It would not be fair to start taxing such things.
Who decides what constitutes junk food? Who decides what is healthy? It's easy to say that some half pound bacon double cheeseburger is unhealthy, but what about a grilled chicken sandwich from the same fast food restaurant? This kind of legislation is a very slippery slope and I'm not comfortable with where it could lead.
Yup, you were right I disagree with you almost totally on the fat tax. I thank you for sharing your opinion though. I don't think it's right for the government to tax cigarettes and liquor extra in the first place even though I don't buy either. The biggest problem I have with this type of tax is who decides what is "junk" food and what isn't? It just opens up too many possibilities for lobbyists and government to make a mess of it. It would be entirely possible for lawmakers to say beef in general is junk food because the pork industry lobbied for it. I doubt it would really get that far but, who knows.
Taxes on beer and wine don't make people consume less nor wood a "fat" tax. Plus, I don't want to pay more taxes i'm over taxed now.
Instead of raising yet another freaking tax why don't the Fed's cut the subsidies for corn syrup (and all the farm subsidies)?
Cut taxes on imported sugar. Instead of pulling more money out of the consumer (and having the gov’t take its ‘cut’ due to handling expense/bureaucracy), then giving a fraction of it back in subsidy form; why not just cut taxes.
Cut spending too.
I have stored away all the hand-sewn costumes my mother-in-law made the oldest each year: monkey, kittycat and doggie. Has her younger sister worn any of them? Only the monkey costume for her baby year. After that, even tho she was too young to have an opinion, her older sister had ideas about what she should be.
Makes me wonder why I am keeping these things. Our local consignment shop had a costume swap, but the didn't take any homemade costumes.
I think it all depends on the person. I personally love to get gift cards, and sometimes choosing the right store shows just as much thought as choosing the right gift.
The thing is, we are too hung up on ourselves. Gifts are what they are...free. If someone wants to give you a gift and they choose a gift card, be happy they wanted to give you anything at all! We should be more thankful for what we do receive and less selfish because we didn't get exactly what we want. Hate to be the one to tell you, but its not all about you!
In addition to those five reasons, Halloween falls on a Saturday this year. Many who would usually forego a costume on a weekday, will pony up last minute, considering it is a weekend. This is especially prevalent among the college student population.
Good article. As debit card issuer we try to educate our cardholders on purchase security and using credit versus debit. We do not charge a fee - nor do we charge a fee for cash back - but we feel that the less you use your PIN the better.
It is a challenge because the the name of the transaction "debit" versus "credit" I wish we could some action (either grass roots or regulatory) that would eliminate this issue. Any lawyers out there? I am sure you could bring a case against retailers that force you to cancel and then start over... I am sure you will find plenty of confused cardholders willing to join you.
Why don't we call the transactions something they are like PIN and Signature instead of credit and debit... Or some other name... Maybe Wisebread can run a contest for the best name change... I will even throw in a 50 gift card to the winner.... anyone?
I am confused as how mortgage companies can add 13-15 days (yes that what mine is doing - to cover post closing days) of interest to my payoff balance. They said anything extra will be credited to me after closing. But they have already added that amount to my new loan amount and I will be paying for it monthly for the life of my loan approx $1800, the amount of the interest is much lower than that but I get stuck paying more for it?? How can that be, is there a way around all those days and having it tacked to my new loan amt? Thanks
We just used our coupon last night and it was great! You do have to look at the fine print, and we definitely tipped on the total amount, not just on what we paid. The waiter was wonderful, he didn't treat us any differently than any other customer. This also was a very nice restaurant in our area, so I went ahead and bought a few certificates for Christmas for friends as well. This is not a scam, it's a great way to enjoy restaurants that you normally couldn't afford.
I personally believe that the gift of reading is wonderful for recipients of all ages. I have stopped purchasing books for the most part but when I receive a gift card for a book store, I get to buy those titles I covet but would not normally buy for myself. Is the gift card impersonal? Perhaps it is but I am happy that people remember me and am not slighted that they didn't go out to hand pick something which I may have no use for, may not be to my taste and may cause the giver more insult when I don't use or wear it or need to exchange it.
i have read some of these and i thought that they were well written, particularly the one there one partner is self employed
sometimes it is the best gift, when you choose the right shop! Antique jewelerry gift card for my dance-sisters, book shop gift card for the bookworms, ... then they can choose the best gift , one they really want!
Love the ideas. I do a Jeans for Genes day fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation every year. The kids at the private shcool where I teach each pay .50 to wear jeans instead of thier uniform and all the money goes to fight CF.
I'm going to extend the Jeans for Genes idea this year and make a quilt from my family's discarded jeans (I've been saving them for YEARS, waiting to figure out how to use them.) The quilt will be auctioned off at a fundraising event that we host every spring. I'll probably make a few of the things from this list to throw into the auciton as well. Thanks for the good ideas!
You gave very good advices! I probably would have worked much longer if I had been doing what I loved to do. Unfortunately, I wasn't as lucky. So, eventhough I had a good job, I decided to retire early.
I have been enjoying life since, especially after I finished taking care of some family things that I wasn't interested in doing but would be good to get them out of my mind.