Fat Tax

Baddiel

I was just wondering do the general public think fat people should be taxed. We have heard that of Minister of health rant o about how persistant drunkard should pay for all their own healthcare so why shouldn't fat people?
A tax on fat people would lead to fat people eating less and could contribute to diet schools which will inevitably lead to a leaner nation.

Gordon

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102690

Bah price rises humbug

Lemming

Originally posted by Baddiel
I was just wondering do the general public think fat people should be taxed.

Not everyone who is fat is responsible for their condition (genes, etc). Also consider what is "fat"? If we decide to go by the clinical view of what any given person is /supposed/ to be given their age, measurements, sex, then a large amount of people are guilty of being clinically "fat".

But what about body fat levels? Oh dear .. ANOTHER angle to consider ..... it is entirely possible to not be "fat" from the age/sex/etc. aspect, but what if your body fat level is above what it's /supposed/ to be?

but then again /supposing/ you should be x, y, or z is pointless since it's a guideline and not a scientific rule of law.

We have heard that of Minister of health rant o about how persistant drunkard should pay for all their own healthcare so why shouldn't fat people?

Alcohol is a drug. 'Fat' isn't.

A tax on fat people would lead to fat people eating less and could contribute to diet schools which will inevitably lead to a leaner nation.

So what you're talking about here is exploitation to create a new form of revenue. How noble ......

Theboinkmaster

I think fat tax is quite a good idea

Fat people consume more petrol when travelling in cars, buses etc therefore contributing to enviromental damage.

Fat people are less fit and therefore are automatically excluded from certain professions (firefighters, gardai etc).

Fat people have more health problems and are cluttering our hospitals.

Obviously pregnant women wouldn't be taxed, although I guess the idea of 'fat' is very subjective, guess only obese people should be taxed, most obese it's there own fault, I mean you see them on jerry springer at 600lbs but they could have done something at 300lbs, 400lbs etc

I don't think this tax is exploitive, just the government encouraging a more healthy society.

Think about it - how many people here have seen an obese person in MacDonalds (and sometimes ordering everything on the menu and a Diet Coke)

We need to encourage people to be physically fit just as we encourage them to be better educated, and since fat people are inherently lazy then taxing them would be the only way.

Chevano Riley

Originally posted by Theboinkmaster
how many people here have seen an obese person in MacDonalds (and sometimes ordering everything on the menu and a Diet Coke).

as an ex-McWorker, thats so on the button.

"20 nuggets, big mac, supersize fries, and a supersize diet coke" *smiles proudly when saying 'diet'*

Sangre

Originally posted by Theboinkmaster
I think fat tax is quite a good idea

Fat people consume more petrol when travelling in cars, buses etc therefore contributing to enviromental damage.

Fat people are less fit and therefore are automatically excluded from certain professions (firefighters, gardai etc).

Fat people have more health problems and are cluttering our hospitals.

Obviously pregnant women wouldn't be taxed, although I guess the idea of 'fat' is very subjective, guess only obese people should be taxed, most obese it's there own fault, I mean you see them on jerry springer at 600lbs but they could have done something at 300lbs, 400lbs etc

I don't think this tax is exploitive, just the government encouraging a more healthy society.

Think about it - how many people here have seen an obese person in MacDonalds (and sometimes ordering everything on the menu and a Diet Coke)

We need to encourage people to be physically fit just as we encourage them to be better educated, and since fat people are inherently lazy then taxing them would be the only way.

Omg...I dont even know where to begin...

Taxing fat people, because they weigh down cars and buses? That is just moronic. What next, a tall tax or a muscular tax?

So what if fat people cant do a certain profession, no one can do every job. Stupid or uneducated people cant be doctors etc, lets tax them aswell. Oh dont forget the handicapped....they cant do anything :rolleyes:

We should also tax stupid people because they take up more school time, with their damn inability to comprehend...damn them!!

Also you can be 'fat' and be physically fit, take sumo wrestlers for one. Because you are overweight does not automatically mean you are unfit.

And yes, this tax would be extremely exploitive, ever think about the person who had become fat, due to the death of a loved one, or an another tragic loss. Not to mention genes and/or certain diseases.

Sigh.......please think before you type.

Sangre

Oh btw, I prefer the taste of Diet Coke, and so do a lot of people I know...so there goes that brilliant observation.

Chevano Riley

Originally posted by Sangre
Oh btw, I prefer the taste of Diet Coke, and so do a lot of people I know...so there goes that brilliant observation.

i only know two people who prefer the taste of diet coke and theyre both extreme morons. draw your own conclusions.

Sangre

That smart people dont like hanging out with you?

Chevano Riley

Originally posted by Sangre
That smart people dont like hanging out with you?

love, don't hate.

seamus

Yes, exploitation.....

Just to add to the "How do you determine who's fat?" question.....what methods would you use?

Weighing...well, plenty of power athletes (body builders, rubgy players) have a BMI (Body-Mass Index) that would seem to indicate they they are morbidly obese, so that doesn't work.

Body fat levels.....well, as someone else said, plenty of people have higher than average body fat, and are fitter than most. Plus women tend to read with pretty high body fat after pregnancy for example.

Fitness......Just as many thin people are as unfit as fat people. My housemate for example. Smokes and eats meat (only meat). Does no exercise. Looks like Kate Moss on slim fast.

Of course, you could get an independant consultant (a doctor for example) to take all things into account and determine if someone is 'fat'. But wait, that'll cost money, which kind of negates the point of taxing 'fat' people in the first place :rolleyes:

Chevano Riley

they could do the jiggle test from the simpsons.

"now mr simpson, im just going to tap your belly and see how ong it takes to stop jiggling. *taps*....... .... .... nurse, cancel my one o'clock"

Victor

The idea is to tax fatty / sugary foods, not the people.

Originally posted by Theboinkmaster
Obviously pregnant women wouldn't be taxed,

Would this be because they are not fat? Duh!

Señor Juárez

are you overweight yourself sangre??

and btw, all sumo wrestlers have a life expectency of 40 years or less... they ALL die of heart attacks and high cholesteral related diseases, so dont go and try to claim that they are fit.

Silent Bob

Originally posted by Sangre
We should also tax stupid people because they take up more school time, with their damn inability to comprehend...damn them!!

Damn straight!!

DapperGent

Originally posted by Sangre
That smart people dont like hanging out with you?

Good man Sangre.

Taxing crappy unhealthy food, sugary food, fast food joints and food with bad fats is smart.

Taxing obese people is dumb. Dumb like the dumbest man in Dumb Town. After his frontal lobotomy.

rymus

tax the fat and tax the stupid...

and tax the fat, stupid people twice!

Sangre

Originally posted by marclar
are you overweight yourself sangre??

What possible difference would that make to the arguement? No really, the cráp some of the people have said on this thread is just amazing. Serioulsy, if there was a stupid tax, these guys wouldn't be posting here as they could no longer afford a computer and/or interweb.

And no, I am not obese at all, although I find your comment pathetic and sad really. Would you ask someone working for Trocaire if they were emaciated and living in a 3rd world country? And no.....I am not a fat people activist....at all.

Sangre

Oh yeah, if you don't accept the sumo wrestler, how about the prop in rugby? HE has to be extremely fit, and is usually overweight, take Shane 'Chubby' Byrne, that guy never stops running.

Originally posted by Chevano Riley
i only know two people who prefer the taste of diet coke and theyre both extreme morons. draw your own conclusions.

What the hell kind of conclusion am I supposed to draw from that? That stupid people drink diet coke? I mean, what you've just said is so mind-bogglingly stupid I just don't know what to think. I thought I was just tired and I was reading it wrong but in actual fact you've posted utter tripe. Count your lucky stars there is no stupid tax.

Señor Juárez

Originally posted by Sangre
Oh yeah, if you don't accept the sumo wrestler, how about the prop in rugby? HE has to be extremely fit, and is usually overweight, take Shane 'Chubby' Byrne, that guy never stops running.

tbh sangre, we both know that the chance of this tax coming into being is VERY, VERY small. very small indeed.

for the record i think that there is a difference between the overweightdness of a sumo wrestler,and a prop in rugby. thats just me tho.

monument

Originally posted by Baddiel
I was just wondering do the general public think fat people should be taxed. We have heard that of Minister of health rant o about how persistant drunkard should pay for all their own healthcare so why shouldn't fat people?
A tax on fat people would lead to fat people eating less and could contribute to diet schools which will inevitably lead to a leaner nation.

I thinking (hoping) that Baddiel is just using the "fat tax" as an example of what's wrong with making drunk people pay for their own healthcare, are you?

Victor

Originally posted by Sangre
And no, I am not obese at all,

So you are fat?

Anorexeric
Underweight
Normal weight
Overweight (fat)
Obese

Lump

If you tax fat people shouldnt you tax everyone that is too short...... too skinny...... Too tall........I see an areian (Spelling?) race forming here FFS.



John

LoneGunM@n

I have to say that having read this thread I have never been so annoyed/insulted in my life!! :mad:

I myself am overweight!! I have no problem in saying it!! I eat healthy, attend the Gym 4/5 times a week & have tried every diet known to man kind, but yet I am still overweight!! Then there are plenty of my friends who are always eating sh1te and never exercise and yet they are stick figures. They just have a faster acting metabolisms than I have!!

I find the disparaging comments made to be nothing more than intolerance.

I totally agree that there should be a tax on foods with a higher content, but it is unwise to believe that by taxing [thus increasing the prices of fatty foods] foods that it will lead to a reduction in the number of overweight/obese people. Just look @ the situation with cigarettes. Taxes increase = little/no effect on the overall numbers of smokers!

Sangre

Originally posted by Victor
So you are fat?

Anorexeric
Underweight
Normal weight
Overweight (fat)
Obese

Gawd no ......i hope

Check out 'know your nerds' if you must loike...tbh

Pigman II

Hell, forget about RAISING taxes on fatty foods! What we need to do is LOWER taxes. Actually I take that back. What we should do is subsidise the fast food industry completely and give the junk food away for free!

That way all these fat blobs of self-destruction who want to pollute their bodies (and my line of sight) until the become the grotesque lardpiles that they are can get the job of killing themselves done a lot quicker and cheaper.

Chevano Riley

Originally posted by Pigman II
Hell, forget about RAISING taxes on fatty foods! What we need to do is LOWER taxes. Actually I take that back. What we should do is subsidise the fast food industry completely and give the junk food away for free!

That way all these fat blobs of self-destruction who want to pollute their bodies (and my line of sight) until the become the grotesque lardpiles that they are can get the job of killing themselves done a lot quicker and cheaper.

this should be a popular opinion...

Sangre

Originally posted by Pigman II
Hell, forget about RAISING taxes on fatty foods! What we need to do is LOWER taxes. Actually I take that back. What we should do is subsidise the fast food industry completely and give the junk food away for free!

That way all these fat blobs of self-destruction who want to pollute their bodies (and my line of sight) until the become the grotesque lardpiles that they are can get the job of killing themselves done a lot quicker and cheaper.

Totally agree.

ella minnow pea

afaik underweight people have just as many health problems as overweight - eg.collapsed lungs, etc - so should we tax the anorexic as well then

Sangre

Don't forget old people.

Tazzle

As a side note, the sugar substitute in diet coke and many other things has a laxative effect if consumed in a large amount. Don't do it kids. It also tastes like piss.

Baddiel

Originally posted by ella minnow pea
afaik underweight people have just as many health problems as overweight - eg.collapsed lungs, etc - so should we tax the anorexic as well then

This point is very unsubstantiated. One of the main reasons of taxing fat people is to try and make people eat less. If we taxed anorexic people aswell they would end up starving to death!

Gordon

Actually I've never seen a fat junkie. How about a tax on healthy people because they 'have their health' so therefore can afford to spread their love around a bit?

Baddiel, therefore we should tax bulemic people also.

Baddiel

Here us normal people pay enough taxes and why the hell should we pay more, so some big fatty can become more obese

GuanYin

Baddiel, you're just a troll.

And a very uninformed one at that.

If you make an arguement against overweight people being a drain on society, then you have to take bulemia and anorexia into account aswell, as treatment of these disorders is equal. Not just psychological treatment either, but muscle atrophy, respiratory and heart distress and gastrointestinal problems.

The fact of the matter is, the tax proposed is on foodstuffs with high fat content.

This as a tax would be fine, so long only luxary items are taken into account as dairy products and such were unaffected.

This may or may not have an effect on the overweight population of the country. The fact of the matter is, lack of healthy exercise is as much to blame and our culture (and indeed our facilities) does not lend towards this. Taxing food will have no effect on the obese population of our country, seeing as in most cases it is metabolism related or otherwise health related.

de5p0i1er

Thanks for giving the Government another idea on how to rip us off, Muppet.

Lump

Wooooo LETS HERE IT FOR CHEWING GUM TAX YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!! I Love it, and ATM slip taxes....


Im my opinion, if the government enfoced the litter laws and stopped trying to make more money it would be a lot better. Who on boards has actually witnessed a garda telling some little shít to clean up after him/her self?


I normally put my gum in the bin, I normally dont get a atm print out, but if I did, I keep it...... THATS WHY YOU GET THEM...... or is it? Maybe we should have a stupid people tax?




John

Ivan

Oh ffs. Please god tell me this is all some kind of sick joke.

I dont think this issue is worth any further discussion.

de5p0i1er

Originally posted by Lump
Wooooo LETS HERE IT FOR CHEWING GUM TAX YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!! I Love it, and ATM slip taxes....


Im my opinion, if the government enfoced the litter laws and stopped trying to make more money it would be a lot better. Who on boards has actually witnessed a garda telling some little shít to clean up after him/her self?


I normally put my gum in the bin, I normally dont get a atm print out, but if I did, I keep it...... THATS WHY YOU GET THEM...... or is it? Maybe we should have a stupid people tax?




John

If there was a stupid ppl tax the government members would be bankrupt.

As for the litter laws I've seen ppl throw litter in front of Garda and they took no notice of them. they just don't want to work for there money.

Lump

Hmmmm, why should we pay for their laziness? Bloody cops..... and if anyone pulls the they are catching criminals, real criminals lark well its not that hard to tell someone standing infront of you when on the beat to pick up some litter or to fine them...... Anyway, If it comes to that I'll Aquire some cum from where I work




John

the fnj

Closed.

Baddiel and Pigman II are both banned for a week.