Note to any one who has read my past two posts, I tried to post something last week but it didn't come up on my blog, that's why there are two posts for today, November 12th.
You guys all know the new legislature of tax on smokers for the funding of healthcare, well recently I read an editorial claiming to tax something else to fight healthcare on all terms. The editorial pointed out that not only is it a tax but initially a way to make smoking less desirable for "nicotine enthusiasts". Smokers make up 13.3 % of adults according to the California Department on health. The tax can reduce smokers and increase funding for healthcare, aiding health on all levels.
The author then recalls her introduction of obesity as a serious health issue. Unlike smoking which is discouraged within public places, cars, and even the work place, obesity is not given enough attention. She is promoting a tax on snacks, if the tax has the same effect on smokers, it will correlated to obesity as well. Junk food is a major source of the weight on American healthcare , presently. According to the author, “ It finally would force junk food to contribute to healthcare instead of just weighing on the system”(1).
Her article was not only funny but true. Healthcare can be fought at many angles, and with one legislation working double duty, that just might be the trick. Obesity has been talked within the media, and within education, but the choices are still directed to the people. With taxes, the choice is threatened to pick the fructose filled, overly fried, and sugar coated snack to funding for healthcare. Tax on smokers was smart, but taxing on snacks is even better.
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4 comments:
I did this one too!!!
It is obvious just while driving down Platt going to and coming from school how easily bad eating habits can rule our lives. Fast food spots every where, fatty starbucks, and ice cream joints across the valley, no wonder obesity is sky rocketing. Although taxing snack food was a total joke, the Los Angeles writer/comedian who wrote the editorial brings up a huge issue which needs to be dealt with. We have to start pushing for healthy, because who knows where were headed now with all the crap we fill our bodies with. Realistically we would never get away with taxing snacks, but I am sure there are other ways we could work to better health and possibly lower healthcare costs at the same time. One can only hope!
It's a good thought...I'm just not sure how effective it would be. I mean, personally, I think the kids who are obese are so because their parents allow them to make poor health choices. Making that ice cream sandwich one more dollar just means the kid's going to beg for one more dollar. And let's face it, if the parents allow the whining, a few extra pennies isn't going to make them crack down on their kid.
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I can't imagine having a tax on snacks. yes, obesity is a major problem in our culture, but it isnt as serious or as deadly as the cancer that is caused by smoking. if i were to pick one of the two to tax i would tax the ciggarettes, simply because the illness they cause is more serious. Although i dont think we should start taxing snack foods, i do think that we need to take a closer look at child obesity and the impact it is having. one thing that can be done is serving healthier lunch at school; teaching children how to eat foods that are healthy but still taste good. so far the only thing we can do to reduce smoking activity is to tax the ciggarettes.
I read this article too! I do think that obesity should be taken into account more frequently. Although, there may not be as many deaths from obesity every year, it is still a HUGE problem in America and seems to continuously be rising. I think you made a good point when you said that eatting a lot isn't discouraged in public places like smoking is. However, I don't think there should be taxes put on foods from vending machines or what not since many people that eat out of them do not have an obesity problem. This tax should be looked into more in the coming time.
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