[Monkeyleg]

Boy, these guys are moving faster on food than they did on cigarettes or black guns.

I love this part:
"And in New York state, Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (D) has proposed six anti-obesity bills, including one that would tax not only fatty foods, but also modern icons of sedentary living -- movie tickets, video games and DVD rentals -- and use the resulting $50 million for nutrition and exercise programs."

The story's a bit too long to post on THR, so the link is here (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39239-2003Aug9.html)

[critter]

"We have seen the enemy and he is us!"

(1) Sheeple people who do not take responsibility for their own actions 'cause it is ALWAYS somebody else's fault!

(2) Pol's who want cradle-to-grave governmental control over every part of our lives. The ultimate socialists!

We live in troubling times!

[Iain]

For godsake!

People should take responsibility for their own actions in areas like this. Having said that something needs to change on this issue, the US might have the most obese population in the world, but no country is accelerating in this regard faster than the UK.

The problem is that fatty food is very often cheaper than ''healthy foods'', but what needs to change is public spending habits (market forces) as opposed to ''taxing'' these foods. Taxing the fatty foods will probably not cause the healthier ones to drop in price and so the people that get hit are the ones that have to buy the cheaper foods.

Despite that, what is needed is basic nutritional education at school, to a higher standard than that which I was given less than ten years ago.

[Monkeyleg]

St Johns, I wonder if it's just a matter of cost. A few years back I read a study done on women who lived in Mexico and those who emigrated from Mexico to the US. The authors found that those who had come to the US tended to gain weight much moreso than those in the home country. The conclusion was the difference was because of changes in foods.

Anyone who's ever made real Mexican food knows that it can be a very lean diet. Some corn tortillas, a bit of beef or pork, some potatoes, chiles and spices, and you've got a great meal.

Your nutrition class must be something new. I went to school in the 50's and 60's and we didn't have any classes that taught us how to eat. I think the school administrators figured that by the time you got to school, your parents already taught you how to do that. ;)

[El Tejon]

Fight fatties! Tax couches!!!:D

[Iain]

Monkeyleg - I agree, the diet available to us in the Western world can be as bad as you want to make it.

Nutrition at school was very basic - you know that food wheel with the carbs, meats, vegetables, fats etc. I hate to say it but I was lucky, I was taught to eat sensibly at home. Some kids were given a few quid by their parents for school dinner and they spent it on chips every lunch time, don't imagine their home education was much of anything.

i'm not suggesting a $50 million programme, but you already have Home Economics classes or the like don't you? Is just a matter of including a little extra. Some very intelligent people I knew at university had to have it explained to them, by me, that Coke has a significant number of calories and five cans a day is not going to help with weight loss. Weird no?

[Bruce H]

I would like to see the Assemblyman, a bullwhip, and lots of participants wanting a turn. IDIOT

[Art Eatman]

When I wuz a sprout, a trip to the drive-in for a hamburger and a milkshake was considered a special treat. A reward, sorta. And, of course, a chance for Momma to get out of the house and not have to cook supper. :)

We had some nutrition instruction in the Sixth Grade. In Junior High, an experimental program had boys taking six weeks of Home Ec and then of Typing and I disremember the third. The girls similarly took woodworking and metal working...

I dunno. We just grew up knowing that the balanced diet was a Good Thing. Some meat; some green veggies; some salad, and the usual "carrots are good for you", etc.

I think a lot of the problem stems more from convenience than a lack of knowledge. And, for sure, "junk" foods are truly packaged in a convenient manner...

At least Coca Cola has some calories. :) I ran across some "Maple Flavored Syrup" and read the label. Artificial sweetener; maple flavoring (?); water, and cornstarch. Duh?

Art

[Skunkabilly]

So basically it's ok if Mr Tyrant gets his cut.

[TallPine]

Coming soon to your town:

1) A cheeseburger (unless it is "pre-ban") may have only two of the following components:

Meat
Cheese
Bun
Mayonaisse

2) Furniture manufacturers to develop "smart couches" that only allow 15 minutes of use per individual per day

3) "One bun a month" limitation on fast food purchases

4) Corporate Average Fat Efficiency (CAFE) quotas to be applied to food manufacturers


Isn't goverment wonderful ???? :barf:

[Skunkabilly]

With my metabolism I can't even eat cheese, mayonaise :barf:

My life dream to break 120 lbs :banghead:

[Iain]

Skunk - read my thread on strategies and tactics (your favourite forum I hear)

[Futo Inu]

No, BAN couches and loveseats. Evil, evil, evil. There is no purpose for a couch other than to faciliate and accelerate the process of digesting glucose into dangerous adipose tissue, and increasing cholesterol, high blood suger, and other unhealthy body processes, when a flat-bottomed hard chair serves the same purpose of allowing TV-watching. In short, couches have no purpose other than to KILL (very similarly to "assualt weapons" vs. regular rifles, come to think of it).

Tallpine - assault cheeseburgers - lol. And I can just see the smart couches with a spring loaded doohickey that launches your azz across the room when your 15 minutes are up. Better not fall asleep watching TV - lol.

[alan]

How about a carefully planned and staged attack on "assault legislators"?

[Waitone]

Ortiz is famous for his statist initiatives.

How much you wanna bet the goober is one of those "assault lawyers?"

[Preacherman]

There is no purpose for a couch other than to faciliate and accelerate the process of digesting glucose into dangerous adipose tissue, and increasing cholesterol, high blood suger, and other unhealthy body processes, when a flat-bottomed hard chair serves the same purpose of allowing TV-watching. In short, couches have no purpose other than to KILL (very similarly to "assualt weapons" vs. regular rifles, come to think of it).
Funny... I can remember, as a teenager, finding another energetic, fun, calorie-burning and sociable use for couches...

:evil: :neener: :p

[Correia]

Preacher, you really are the strangest Priest I have ever met. :D I mean that in a good way of course. :D

Actually I love seeing laws like this. The stupider the better. Wakes people up and brings them to our side.

[Deepdiver]

How about an "arse tax"??

..use a gauge like they do to measure your carry-on suitcase on the airlines.. you know the ones, built out of stainless steel tubing, with a sign that says "if it fits in here, you can carry it on".

...we could use an "arse gage", so that if your arse "fits in the gage, you owe no tax", otherwise, fork over some greenbacks cuz you are in violation of the Federal Arse Standards!!

"And in New York state, Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (D) has proposed six anti-obesity bills, including one that would tax not only fatty foods, but also modern icons of sedentary living -- movie tickets, video games and DVD rentals -- and use the resulting $50 million for nutrition and exercise programs."

...these boys need to relax......sit back and have a cigarette, maybe!!!

[4v50 Gary]

I can see reasonable restrictions on mayonnaise. That is the French curse on the culinary world and about it's only utility is devil egg sandwiches, tuna sandwiches, potato or macaroni salads and cole slaw. Other than that, no one should be allowed to have more than a 1 quart jar per month. Guess what else? You must exchange your old jar to buy a new one too. We can't have people stockpiling it.

As for Hamburgers, Whimpy will be asking, "I will pay you Tuesday if you buy me a veggie burger today." Popeye will never be the sane. ;)

[Standing Wolf]

Trust me on this, please: the famous Häagen-Dazs diet can help.

[jimpeel]

In all things political, follow the money.

This is not about your health. It is about your longevity. Dead taxpayers pay taxes only once. Live taxpayers pay every day.

It is also about milking these businesses for all the money they can get. It is shameful that these leeches in government are allowed to get away with these schemes under the guise of protecting us from ourselves. There was a time when the trees would have been rife with their hanging corpses.

If the courts have ruled that the government has no duty to protect any individual from any other individual, where does government claim the authority to protect us from ourselves?

[4570Rick]

Do you have to apply logic and common sense to everything?:p

[Kharn]

We're doomed, I think our government is on that one last swirl around the toilet bowl before going down the tube (or is it that one last second in the deep fat fryer before the timer beeps?)...

Kharn

[longeyes]

Providing the public with information about food, yes. Saving us from ourselves, no.

I can already see President Schwarzenegger leading us in daily push-ups and jumping jacks.

[Iain]

Hehe, can imagine the kids doing exercises at the same time as the oath of allegiance with Schwarzenegger on video link shouting ''Come on, get on with it tubby children'' (in an Austrian accent)

[Kharn]

St Johns:
Watch Kindergarden Cop, you'll find a few good one-liners of his relating to children. :evil:

Kharn

[Iain]

''Who's your daddy and what does he do?''

[Skunkabilly]

I am Det John Kimball! I'm a cop, you idiot!

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

In all things political, follow the money.

This is not about your health. Correct.It's about longevity.Incorrect, or at most only part of the picture. It's about raising taxes.

It's easier to disenfranchise a group and tax 'em to death than it is to hike existing taxes. Smokers, fat people, owners of black rifles, and visitors from out of state are all fair game.

- pdmoderator

[KC]

Wow...my head exploded. We are being told by the rulers that we are not sufficently competentant to watch what we eat, but we are capable of endlessly voting for them.

How about, "Ban spoons: Do it for Rosie O'Donnel"?
Or how about, "They can have my gun when they take Rosie's spoon."


KC

[FPrice]

"and use the resulting $50 million for nutrition and exercise programs."

Based on what I have seen and heard about the Tobacco settelement funds, don't count on it. This would be just another contribution to the general fund.

[jimpeel]

Incorrect, or at most only part of the picture. It's about raising taxes.Close, but no cigar. It's about gleaning taxes. Longevity is a prime factor in that goal.

[Futo Inu]

"How about an "arse tax"??

..use a gauge like they do to measure your carry-on suitcase on the airlines.. you know the ones, built out of stainless steel tubing, with a sign that says "if it fits in here, you can carry it on".

...we could use an "arse gage", so that if your arse "fits in the gage, you owe no tax", otherwise, fork over some greenbacks cuz you are in violation of the Federal Arse Standards!!"

- OMGROTFLMAOTOR!!!!!!!!

[Kharn]

Will there also be Go and NoGo arse gauges, or just the Field arse gauge?

Kharn