The governor of New York want to put a tax on non-diet beverages and fruit drinks that contain less then 70% fruit juice. Now the story I read in the NYTimes gave a good insight to how this will be debated, the people who drive the distribution trucks and work in the factories will be backed by those poor souls who cannot go without their carbonated sugar water. The quote that it will effect poorer neighborhood more it quite to the point. Poor people can't afford to be unhealthy, I think that is a fair assessment looking at the cost of health care. If only young black children realized they have been targeted by ads like the sprite cool afro action figure. Much the same way cigarette ads supposedly tried to be cool to kids.
If people looked at this as a fight against diabetes rather then a way to raise revenue it might pass. They benefits of healthier children plus the added revenue of soda sales. The one thing people will always need soda for is to not have to drink straight booze, coke makes and excellent mixer. But perhaps this will lead to more bloody marys and screwdrivers being consumed in New York.
I always wondered when food companies will be attacked the same way cigarette companies were, when the amount of people dying from obesity is up there with cancer maybe we will see people at Nabisco or Kraft on the hot seat in front of congress. Oddly enough Phillip Morris owns Kraft Foods under the Altira Group umbrella.
The 'Fat Tax' idea also cam up when airlines were dealing with high fuel costs, they chose to focus on carry on, knowing any sort of charge per personal weight would draw a lawsuit. In Australia the problem has gotten some attention as Australians are known for being the traveling sort, this BBC article highlight the situation. The fact that higher insurance premiums can be charged to obese people is a slippery slope. For those skinny people who feel slighted by the current airlines extra baggage fees
I have an idea to get around this...
Skinny people should just start wearing as many layers of their clothes on the airplane rather then checking it in a bag, perhaps stuff a collapsible bag into your luggage so when you arrive at your destination you can disrobe and pack the clothes accordingly
December 17, 2008
Obesity just can't get a break
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