http://www.slate.com/id/2233119/
This article is all about the possibility of instituting a fat tax on the American public. It does a really good job of expressing the government’s side of the story but what about citizens affected by this? For one thing, if we are going to be on a national healthcare plan, obese people are more likely to develop medical conditions, therefore costing the government more money. On the other hand, what right does the government have to tax you on your weight? Shouldn’t that remain a personal issue? Well, to be fair, the article states that deductions will be given to those who are a healthy weight or achieve a certain goal weight. What it comes down to is that overweight people will pay more.
Although we think we are making strides in prejudice in this country we find that minorities still feel they aren’t treated equally. Blacks and Hispanics make less than whites with similar educations. And now we are beginning to accept discrimination of obesity? I can see the government’s side of the story, it makes cents. However, where do we go from here? With proposals to tax soda like cigarettes because they are unhealthy is really putting social pressure on the overweight. How is this discrimination okay? I wonder what type of social repercussions this sort of accepted discrimination will have? Will it spur more prejudice towards the obese? It definitely goes against the contact hypothesis that states if we want groups to reduce prejudice there must be a social norm favoring equality, which a fat tax clearly wouldn’t do.
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This is a great article. I totally see both sides but it makes me think, where will the line be drawn? Will they tax women because they are prone to breast cancer, or African-American’s because they are prone to diabetes? If so, then will the discrimination towards women and African-American’s be felt all over again in a different arena? Anti-fat discrimination boggles my mind. To put all overweight people in a group as all being unhealthy is strange. Not all thin people are healthy due to genetics or lifestyle choices. People just don’t care about that because if you are thin you look like the majority of the population therefore you appear to be conforming to what is an acceptable appearance in our society and are free from being stigmatized.
ReplyDeleteBetty Jean, I agree with you on the matter that it seems like anyone that is prone to anything health related could be subjected to more taxes. However, I disagree with you in that you say that the majority of people look thin.
ReplyDeleteLooking at current obesity and health rates, we are drastically becoming more overweight and obese. Overweight people are the majority in this country. The question, however, isn't whether sodas and unhealthy foods could be subjected to higher taxes. It's become about how to fund our healthcare by any means necessary.
Now, I love soda too, and if it becomes an extra cent an ounce, it would cost me an extra $1.44 for a 12 pack of soda. This is essentially another poor tax that as a college student and to many poor families out there as an unfair expense, however, part of the reason I feel people have gotten fat and obese is because soda and fast food are the cheapest foods to consume.
I think it is unfair to pay taxes on soda and fast food but I do not think it's irresponsible for a doctor to tell his patients not to drink soda or eat junk food.
I really liked this article. I also liked your comment about how the article doesn't provide the side of the people that are affected by this tax. I don't know how many other articles that are out there that look at both sides, the government's side and the side of the people who are affected by this tax. It would be interesting to look at an article that provides both of these sides.
ReplyDeleteKyle: very good point about the cost of soda and fast food. That's exactly what I was thinking the whole time I was reading this article. I was at the grocery store just last week getting some football game munchies. I wanted grapes and my boyfriend wanted cookies. A bag of grapes: $4.78. A package of chunky chocolate chip cookies: $1.99. I'm glad I'm not the only person that sees a problem with this. I can feed my family of 3 for about $250 a month if I go cheap, fatty, and empty calories. If I want to eat and feed my son fresh fruits, veggies, and fish, my grocery bill a month is more like $450. If I had that kind of money it wouldn't be an issue but I don't and having to choose between healthy food + skipping a bill for the month and any food + having all of my bills paid is pure insanity to me. I think the cost differential is completely avoidable. I think that when you factor in the average income of families across the country and how many people are on welfare or receive food stamps, it makes sense that the obesity rate is increasing. If you can't afford to feed your family well, you put what you can on the table so that you don't have to hear the sound of grumbling bellies. All I have to say is if we're going to tax soda and fast food or whatever then for goodness sake, lower the cost of the GOOD-FOR-YOU foods at the same time so people won't starve.
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