Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan
Well, I never said that. But by your own admission, in spite of the fact that there are more obese people than smokers, smoking is still a much bigger problem. 17 times bigger, actually.
|
Will it be a much bigger problem in 10 years? 20? 50?
Like I said, my generation is the 'obese' generation. And my generation is still 15-30 years of age. The human body does not get sick the instant someone becomes overweight, or obese.
Its a gradual process that takes time. And can be reversed, by educating the people. Not taxing them.
Quote:
|
In any case, I'm not sure I understand your point. Taxing cigarettes is bad because fat people are unhealthy too?
|
No, a 'sin tax' is bad because it won't help reduce the problem.
Quote:
|
For one thing, it's a false analogy. People are fat for all kinds of reasons. Smokers who die of lung cancer are pretty much always sick because they smoked.
|
No, people are fat because they eat too much.
The 2-5% that have genetic problems don't count. Because they're just like the 2-5% of smokers who live to the age of 90 and die from old age.
Quote:
|
Secondly, it doesn't address the core issue--that money to offset the drain on social resources presented by smokers has to come from somewhere. Taking it from smokers--who in any case choose to smoke--seems like a logical and fair alternative to raising taxes on everyone.
|
Yeah.
So take money from obese people to pay for all the treatments they receive.
Setup a screening station, and screen every single person in the US. If they're obese, tax them more.
Or just tax fast food.
Same thing really.