Way to reduce the healthcare PROBLEM - 200% tax on fast food.

[Freeper]

HopeHoops  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Aug-24-09 01:53 PM
Original message
Way to reduce the healthcare PROBLEM - 200% tax on fast food.
   
All of the revenue would go toward funding healthcare and the prohibitive cost of the nasty shit would reduce the health problems that are making healthcare cost so much.

Sin taxes put the burden on those who use the products that cause the problem. Tobacco, alcohol, junk food - why not?

Thoughts?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6380555

Typical of the left if they can't legislate what people do, they want to tax people into compliance.

tridim  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Aug-24-09 01:56 PM
Response to Original message
1. My only issue with this.. What exactly is "fast food"?
   
Where is the line drawn?

Is a Deli fast food?

I'd say its juts like rich is anyone who makes more than you clowns do fast food would be any food except that which you eat.

OneTenthofOnePercent  (324 posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Aug-24-09 01:57 PM
Response to Original message
2. Yes! sin taxes!
   
How progressive.

actually it is a "progressive" aka liberal idea.

Zodiak  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Aug-24-09 02:01 PM
Response to Original message
9. Thoughts?
   
This would perpetuate the myth that liberals are just nanny-staters wanting to impose their ideals on everyone. And I'd agree with them.

Healthcare costs so much not because of sick people, but because the health insurance companies and every other private enterprise involved in healthcare must make an obscene profit.

Smoking, drugs, fatty food, etc. have ALWAYS been around....and people will always die of something that costs a lot of money, whether they are living a healthy lifestyle or not. The question is WHEN they will die.

That is not a myth liberals are nanny state driven.

stopbush  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Aug-24-09 02:09 PM
Response to Original message
15. It's another regressive tax idea.
   
Rich people wouldn't pay added taxes when they lunch at their upscale restaurants and 19th-hole eateries, but Joe Blow who grabs a dollar menu item for lunch because that's all he can afford gets screwed.

So, the $12 burger with the $7 side of fries isn't taxed because it's served on linen, while the bag-n-go crowd takes the hit.

Now if it was a tax on caviar and champagne we would have a good idea. 

michreject  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Aug-24-09 02:13 PM
Response to Original message
18. Lemme see how that would work
   
Put the tax on fast food.

People dislike the tax so they don't go there.

Fast food joints lay off 20 million people.

20 million people can't get jobs.

20 million people go hungry.

20 million people get sick because they can't afford healthy food.

They put a massive drain on the health care system.

You know that's a brilliant idea. Out ****ing standing.

 

walldude  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Aug-24-09 02:37 PM
Response to Original message
29. You want a real "sin tax"? Tax ****ing churches.
   
Enough of finding ways to add taxes to people who already can't afford them. Tax people who pay no taxes at all. Why the **** should some church get off free?

Wonderful idea alienate the black folks that you need to support your candidates. 

Cleita  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Aug-24-09 02:39 PM
Response to Original message
31. Sure let's tax the poor some more.
   
Edited on Mon Aug-24-09 02:41 PM by Cleita
All those "sin" taxes are a tax on the poor. Let's start taxing the rich again with a 90% income tax. I think the guy who makes $100,000 an hour can get by on $10,000 an hour.

Yeah because 90% of the money you make being taken from you at gunpoint upholds the freedoms so many have died for. 

MindPilot  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Aug-24-09 02:50 PM
Response to Original message
54. There should be a $50 fee every time someone post a silly idea.
   
Then Skinner wouldn't have to hold a fundraiser every few months.

Skinner would be the richest man in the world then.

Ron Green  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Aug-24-09 03:23 PM
Response to Reply #57
97. Finally, a truly helpful post.
   
Government policy ought to encourage better eating by everyone, and putting the squeeze on junk food merchants is part of the answer. There are some shrill posters on this thread who don't seem to understand that junk food is addiction and slavery of the many by the few. I swear, there's a point at which "progressives" and libertarians are on the same side, and that's a place I don't ever want to be.

Junk food is addiction and slavery? Ok maybe you can claim that some folks show addictive behavior towards junkfood I will give you that point to be nice, but slavery?

tkmorris  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Aug-24-09 03:19 PM
Response to Original message
88. How about we tax stupid instead?
   
Republicans are always trying to tell people who they are allowed to ****, and now we have so-called Democrats trying to tell people what they can eat, drink, or smoke. Enough already.

Good idea, DU will be funding 99% of the budget in the US then.

[Ralph Wiggum]

walldude(1000+ posts)
Mon Aug-24-09 02:37 PM
Response to Original message
29. You want a real "sin tax"? Tax ****ing churches.
   
Enough of finding ways to add taxes to people who already can't afford them. Tax people who pay no taxes at all. Why the **** should some church get off free?

Now this point gets brought up a lot at the DUmp.  But they're never specific.  Exactly how would you tax churches & solve the health care problem?  Removing the tax exempt status by itself wouldn't accomplish a ton.

[jtyangel]

Here, let's make this easy...anyone going into the fast food joint come with their medical papers shower their cholesterol level within the past month and be ready to be weighed. Anyone in the obese category get tagged with the tax, anyone with high cholesterol(obese or not) gets taxed, but us poor slobs who actually moderate our food intake be allowed to partake our occasional burger without paying for the healthcare of the above via our 'treat'. But we all know they wouldn't do that since then the dummies would most likely feel this tax most directly and we all know they never actually want to put the overindulgence tax where it actually belongs(on the overindulgent).

***and no, I don't advocate this, but just meeting a stupid idea with another stupid idea that at least makes more sense then the first stupid idea***

[thundley4]

Everyone divides their weight in pounds by their height in in inches. The result multiplied by their AGI is added to their income tax.

[jukin]

I've got a better one. We take all of the food stamps away and have those people come into food banks with only DUmbass approved foods.  We bulk buy these for big discounts thereby saving the food stamp program billions.  We then use this 'savings' to buy the insurance for those on the dole.  If you are habitually on the dole then you have proven that you cannot take care of yourself and these people should be strictly controlled under our protective custody.

[The Village Idiot]

Everybody gets a vote but it never says the government can't sell extra votes @ $10 per. Imagine how much money could be raised as millions of people bought several extra votes.

[Freeper]

Everybody gets a vote but it never says the government can't sell extra votes @ $10 per. Imagine how much money could be raised as millions of people bought several extra votes.

Well the democrats already get extra votes for free.

[lastparker]

I've got a better one. We take all of the food stamps away and have those people come into food banks with only DUmbass approved foods.  We bulk buy these for big discounts thereby saving the food stamp program billions.  We then use this 'savings' to buy the insurance for those on the dole.  If you are habitually on the dole then you have proven that you cannot take care of yourself and these people should be strictly controlled under our protective custody.

This is an idea I've had every time the prime-rib purchasing person in front of me at the store whips out the state aid card to pay.  They should only be allowed to chop at a costco-like warehouse where the foods are generic: healthy, but economic.  Like I buy.

[Freeper]

This is an idea I've had every time the prime-rib purchasing person in front of me at the store whips out the state aid card to pay.  They should only be allowed to chop at a costco-like warehouse where the foods are generic: healthy, but economic.  Like I buy.

what kills me is after they pay for the food with the food stamp card they pull out the gold mastercard to buy the beer and cigs. 

[thundley4]

Does anyone else avoid going shopping around the 3rd of each month?

[crockspot]

What an excellent idea, then there won't even be burger flipping jobs. 

[JohnnyReb]

What an excellent idea, then there won't even be burger flipping jobs. 

Then they become carrot diggers....and all the illegal aliens are out of work ...and go home.....everyones health improves and healtcare cost take a hellva dive..........%^$#@ Say ....what ?????

I gotta quite taking afternoon naps. My dreams are becoming nightmares.

[GOBUCKS]

1. My only issue with this.. What exactly is "fast food"?

Cheetos

[diesel driver]

Does anyone else avoid going shopping around the 3rd of each month?

Try being a cashier at Walmart here in VA at 5 minutes past midnight on the first of the month, when those EBT cards automatically renew....

I had people pile so much stuff on the belt at the checkout, it wouldn't move!  Most had been in the store so long, the frozen foods they had in the cart had started to thaw!

One night, I had a couple that came thru the checkout with 2 carts piled up with food, over $250 worth.

Two hours later, they came thru AGAIN with 2 carts, this time $270!

Our tax dollars at work....

[jtyangel]

what kills me is after they pay for the food with the food stamp card they pull out the gold mastercard to buy the beer and cigs. 

That's usually because the 'husband' and 'wifey' are living together but not reporting his income. Seen it time and again, the couple doesn't marry just so the mother can continue getting assistance. Every noticed how many younger couples with kids are now perpetually engaged or use the term 'wifey' and other code terms for one another which means they technically aren't married, just playing house on tax dollars and the guy's unreported income. I would say this is the biggest kind of fraud going on right now in this arena.

[Splashdown]

what kills me is after they pay for the food with the food stamp card they pull out the gold mastercard to buy the beer and cigs. 

...while chatting on their iPhone.

[GOBUCKS]

That's usually because the 'husband' and 'wifey' are living together but not reporting his income. Seen it time and again, the couple doesn't marry just so the mother can continue getting assistance. Every noticed how many younger couples with kids are now perpetually engaged or use the term 'wifey' and other code terms for one another which means they technically aren't married, just playing house on tax dollars and the guy's unreported income. I would say this is the biggest kind of fraud going on right now in this arena.

One reason nearly all "minority" children are illegitimate.

[NHSparky]

Tax fast food at 200 percent, and the DUmmie unemployment rate goes from 95 percent to 100 percent.

[Gwitness]

Now this point gets brought up a lot at the DUmp.  But they're never specific.  Exactly how would you tax churches & solve the health care problem?  Removing the tax exempt status by itself wouldn't accomplish a ton.

Well..the problem is...they really do not know how the "church tax exemption" works..........only income from the offering plate and property that is used for worship is not taxed.....everything else is.

[thundley4]

That's usually because the 'husband' and 'wifey' are living together but not reporting his income. Seen it time and again, the couple doesn't marry just so the mother can continue getting assistance. Every noticed how many younger couples with kids are now perpetually engaged or use the term 'wifey' and other code terms for one another which means they technically aren't married, just playing house on tax dollars and the guy's unreported income. I would say this is the biggest kind of fraud going on right now in this arena.

I think I'd prefer that to the father just being a biological donor and leaving the woman to raise several kids by different fathers.  I know it's still fraud, but at least the kids have two "parents" there.

[MrsSmith]

1. My only issue with this.. What exactly is "fast food"?

Cheetos

 

[JohnnyReb]

Cheetos

Since I'm having a few right now....would Nacho Cheese Doritos qualify as fast food?

My fingers are getting kindda yellow.

[Chump]

Enough of finding ways to add taxes to people who already can't afford them. Tax people who pay no taxes at all. Why the **** should some church get off free?

Churches get their revenues from people, e.g. donations and tithes.  Those people have already paid taxes on their income.  So, you're asking that people's income be taxed twice, the second time being when they donate their money to a non-profit entity involved with private charity.

And you wonder why I wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire?

[MrsSmith]

Churches get their revenues from people, e.g. donations and tithes.  Those people have already paid taxes on their income.  So, you're asking that people's income be taxed twice, the second time being when they donate their money to a non-profit entity involved with private charity.

And you wonder why I wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire?

Oh, no no no...only RELIGIOUS non-profit entities...any other non-profit, like a political one, they should retain their no-tax status.  That would teach those greedy, evil fundies!!!  [/DUmpMode]

Of course, since those greedy, evil fundies give a higher percentage of income than any other group, it'll also kill food pantries, homeless shelters, private assistance to the poor and ill...but Pres. O will make that all up!  Really!   

[jtyangel]

One reason nearly all "minority" children are illegitimate.

It isn't just minorities doing it, GoBucks. I live in Ohio, I'm assuming you do too, and I see it a LOT around here with all kinds. The most prevelant reason I have seen for those we'd consider of middle class means is so the female can get the Pell Grant to go to college. Great, huh?