Taxing Overweight People

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Marco Wanderwitz, law maker in the German state of Saxony has proposed that overweight people should be taxed in order to compensate for the burden they put on the country's universal healthcare system. If a country has universal healthcare, does it make sense and is it desirable to tax people who are overweight and/or unhealthy?

I think that it is wrong to do that because people are not always overweight due to their own actions, such as some children.

[The Dark Lord]

I think that it is wrong to do that because people are not always overweight due to their own actions, such as some children.

We had one of these recently didn't we?

I completely disagree with the above post, if someone is fat because they eat too much, it's their own fault. If your a smoker then you struggle to get a new lung so if your fat then you shouldn't get a new heart if you've eaten yourself to your condition. However, if your fat due to medical reasons then you shouldn't be taxed.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

We had one of these recently didn't we?

I completely disagree with the above post, if someone is fat because they eat too much, it's their own fault. If your a smoker then you struggle to get a new lung so if your fat then you shouldn't get a new heart if you've eaten yourself to your condition. However, if your fat due to medical reasons then you shouldn't be taxed.

That thread was about taxing food with high fat.

[The Dark Lord]

That thread was about taxing food with high fat.

either way fat people are being taxed more than thin people

[Fact]

I don't think that you can start taxing people for being overweight. It would probably become really inconsistent and cause more problems than it solved. Making people pay money for being overweight won't really solve anything - it'll just mean you have lots of poor, fat people.

[The Dark Lord]

I don't think that you can start taxing people for being overweight. It would probably become really inconsistent and cause more problems than it solved. Making people pay money for being overweight won't really solve anything - it'll just mean you have lots of poor, fat people.

or it could encourage people to get into a healthy condition

[Korashk]

I don't think that you can start taxing people for being overweight. It would probably become really inconsistent and cause more problems than it solved. Making people pay money for being overweight won't really solve anything - it'll just mean you have lots of poor, fat people.
Japan has a obesity tax. You don't see many obese Japanese. Correlation FTW.

[Sith Lord 13]

Japan has a obesity tax. You don't see many obese Japanese. Correlation FTW.

Correlation =/= causation.

[Fact]

Japan has a obesity tax. You don't see many obese Japanese. Correlation FTW.

Correlation my ass?
I think that's more about genes to be honest. I don't see many obese Chinese either. All the Chinese girls in my school are built small and bird like, their frames aren't built for fat.
Also, their food and culture is completely different over there, which would have a lot to do with it.
Japan may also have an intolerance for obesity BECAUSE of the lack of obese people - they're the minority.
So, the fact that there is a tax on obesity probably isn't because Japan's economy was being ruined by fat people.

[Korashk]

Correlation =/= causation.
...I know

[The Dark Lord]

Correlation my ass?
I think that's more about genes to be honest..

You think its genes that there are more fat americans than people in the 3rd world?

Japan may also have an intolerance for obesity BECAUSE of the lack of obese people - they're the minority.

gay people are a minority in Britain, does that make us intolerant?

So, the fact that there is a tax on obesity probably isn't because Japan's economy was being ruined by fat people.

This has nothing to do with economic conditions, people would be taxed to discourage them from eating themselves to an early grave

[Sith Lord 13]

You think its genes that there are more fat americans than people in the 3rd world?

In the third world, it's more about food supply.

[The Dark Lord]

In the third world, it's more about food supply.

exactly

[Fact]

You think its genes that there are more fat americans than people in the 3rd world?


gay people are a minority in Britain, does that make us intolerant?


This has nothing to do with economic conditions, people would be taxed to pay for the extra health care that they inevitably require and to discourage them from eating themselves to an early grave

Red: No, I'm saying that the fact that many Japanese and Chinese people are not obese is due to their genes. You can be genetically fatter or thinner than average. American doesn't really come into this all that much?

Green: Again, Britain has little to do with what Japan does? I'm not saying that whenever there's a minority everyone suddenly becomes intolerant, I'm saying that Asian cultures tend to have much more strict regimes than eastern countries e.g. China's one child law. So it wouldn't surprise me if Japan was similar and had a "you're fat: you pay" law.

Purple: Yes, it does have to do with the economy... If they have to receive health care, they're costing money, therefore it's economically related.

[The Dark Lord]

Red: No, I'm saying that the fact that many Japanese and Chinese people are not obese is due to their genes..

could you source this please

e.g. China's one child law. So it wouldn't surprise me if Japan was similar and had a "you're fat: you pay" law.

No, that's sterotyping.

Purple: Yes, it does have to do with the economy... If they have to receive health care, they're costing money, therefore it's economically related.

"So, the fact that there is a tax on obesity probably isn't because Japan's economy was being ruined by fat people. "

this was one of your posts^^^

I doubt the reason behind the tax would be that they are in the minority, using your logic George Osborne will be introducing a gay tax, a black tax, an asian tax and a scottish tax tomorrow, seeing as they are groups in the minority in britain

[Fact]

could you source this please



No, that's sterotyping.



"So, the fact that there is a tax on obesity probably isn't because Japan's economy was being ruined by fat people. "

this was one of your posts^^^

I doubt the reason behind the tax would be that they are in the minority, using your logic George Osborne will be introducing a gay tax, a black tax, an asian tax and a scottish tax tomorrow, seeing as they are groups in the minority in britain

I'm sorry, I hate sourcing. How am I supposed to prove that people of oriental descent are built more 'slight' than others? I find it common sense having seen a lot of Japanese and Chinese people that they are generally noticeably shorter and of thinner build than most western people generally are.

I wasn't stereotyping, I was making a reference to different cultures.


I re-read the economical part. Originally, I made a statement, you tried to contradict but agreed at the same time (which is a contradiction in itself :P) and this continued etc. I'm not separately quoting each part it's easier for you to scroll up if in doubt.

Your theory on general minorities being taxed is not what I was getting at - all your minorities relate more to ethics, religion or heritage. I was more thinking about the fact that there are just less fat/obese people.

Gah I've totally lost what I was talking about. You always unnecessarily confuse me!

What I'm really trying to say, is:

Obese Japanese people would be costing the Japanese government more money than the average person(I'm presuming here they have to pay for it because I have no interest/knowledge in Eastern government/politics) because there are less obese people in Japan than there are people who are normal weight or lighter.
Therefore, the Japanese government would tax them because they were costing the government more than the average person with regards to health care.
However, in places like Britain (relating back to the original post) people who are overweight/obese are now becoming (or are) a MAJORITY. Consequently, costing the government a substantial amount of money per person on average. Due to this, the government would want to tax these people because they were causing a lot of strain on the government.

I hope you can see the difference?
Britain: tax to improve the economy
Japan: tax to keep people in check

[The Dark Lord]

I'm sorry, I hate sourcing. How am I supposed to prove that people of oriental descent are built more 'slight' than others?

Don't make a claim, you can't back up

I find it common sense having seen a lot of Japanese and Chinese people that they are generally noticeably shorter and of thinner build than most western people generally are.

I wasn't stereotyping, I was making a reference to different cultures.

Your doing it again



Obese Japanese people would be costing the Japanese government more money than the average person(I'm presuming here they have to pay for it because I have no interest/knowledge in Eastern government/politics) because there are less obese people in Japan than there are people who are normal weight or lighter.
Therefore, the Japanese government would tax them because they were costing the government more than the average person with regards to health care.

Should people with children who receive a state funded education have to pay higher taxes then?

However, in places like Britain (relating back to the original post) people who are overweight/obese are now becoming (or are) a MAJORITY. Consequently, costing the government a substantial amount of money per person on average. Due to this, the government would want to tax these people because they were causing a lot of strain on the government.

No, someone people use public services more than others. What if an obese person only uses the NHS, but a thin person uses the education system, legal and the NHS surely they should pay more tax as they are causing a lot of strain on the gov't?

I hope you can see the difference?
Britain: tax to improve the economy
Japan: tax to keep people in check

nope, the purpose of the fat tax would be universal: to discourage people from becoming fat

[Fiction]

I have noticed that in general Chinese and Japanese people are smaller too. You only have to look at Japanese teen magazines to see how dangerously concious they all are of their weight. They advertise diet pills in Japanese magazines, how can that be a good thing? Do we want other countries to end up like this? With an increase in people suffering with anorexia? Cause believe me anorexia is no fun at all.

[Fact]

Don't make a claim, you can't back up



Your doing it again





Should people with children who receive a state funded education have to pay higher taxes then?



No, someone people use public services more than others. What if an obese person only uses the NHS, but a thin person uses the education system, legal and the NHS surely they should pay more tax as they are causing a lot of strain on the gov't?



nope, the purpose of the fat tax would be universal: to discourage people from becoming fat


I CAN back it up, I just don't want to. I shouldn't have to back up something that is obviously true.

I'm NOT stereotyping! I'm saying that it's plainly obvious and that I'm saying what I see!

About the state school thing, no. That's an entirely separate issue anyway because almost everyone has to pay tax that goes towards that regardless.

Okay, lets add the word 'unnecessary' to the word strain? Does that make my point easier to understand?
If you unnecessarily eat excessively and are therefore unnecessarily fat and you then have health problems, you're causing strain.
I wouldn't say you're causing strain on the government if you're just an every day person who want's to use the services you pay for...

And by discouraging people from being fat, you're saying the government money AND gaining money...
Win win for them much?

[The Dark Lord]

I CAN back it up, I just don't want to. I shouldn't have to back up something that is obviously true.

First law of scepticism: doubt everything

I'm NOT stereotyping! I'm saying that it's plainly obvious and that I'm saying what I see!

we'll have have to agree to disagree on this one

About the state school thing, no. That's an entirely separate issue anyway because almost everyone has to pay tax that goes towards that regardless..

everyone pays taxes for health care as well regardless whether they use them or not

Okay, lets add the word 'unnecessary' to the word strain? Does that make my point easier to understand?
If you unnecessarily eat excessively and are therefore unnecessarily fat and you then have health problems, you're causing strain.
I wouldn't say you're causing strain on the government if you're just an every day person who want's to use the services you pay for...

What if someone uses the courts "unnecessarily" often, should they have to pay more tax?


And by discouraging people from being fat, you're saying the government money AND gaining money...
Win win for them much?

the government also gets to announce how they have increased life expectancy and tackled a nation wide problem surely that's why people enter politics? who cares if the gov't win if Britain becomes healthier?

[Fact]

First law of scepticism: doubt everything



we'll have have to agree to disagree on this one



everyone pays taxes for health care as well regardless whether they use them or not



What if someone uses the courts "unnecessarily" often, should they have to pay more tax?




the government also gets to announce how they have increased life expectancy and tackled a nation wide problem surely that's why people enter politics? who cares if the gov't win if Britain becomes healthier?

Haha, yes. I like that law.

Sure, agree to disagree.

-

Yeah, if they use the courts then don't they have to pay for their lawyer anyway? So they're paying large sums of money out their own pockets for that.

I don't care so much about the government 'winning', I just don't like the idea of the population of a country being shown off by the "higher powers" like great possessions that they've cultivated themselves, because it's not like that.

[Fiction]

My point has been overlooked. Do we really want a huge increase in anorexia and other eating disorders?

[The Dark Lord]

Yeah, if they use the courts then don't they have to pay for their lawyer anyway? So they're paying large sums of money out their own pockets for that.

no, many people receive legal aid from the gov't


My point has been overlooked. Do we really want a huge increase in anorexia and other eating disorders?

would their really be any increase in anorexia if obese people were targetted in the tax system?

[Maverick]

Should people that do risky extreme sports be taxed too?

[mranderson]

We had one of these recently didn't we?

I completely disagree with the above post, if someone is fat because they eat too much, it's their own fault. If your a smoker then you struggle to get a new lung so if your fat then you shouldn't get a new heart if you've eaten yourself to your condition. However, if your fat due to medical reasons then you shouldn't be taxed.

u dont even no, most obese people had some traumatic thing happen is there life to make them fat, its not easy to get skinny, sugar is an addiction!

[TopGear]

I completely agree with Matthew on this, and really wish there was a tax on fat people in the US.

[The Dark Lord]

Should people that do risky extreme sports be taxed too?

They already are indirectly taxed by having to pay more for life insurance, but they wouldn't use healthcare more often than anyone else

u dont even no, most obese people had some traumatic thing happen is there life to make them fat, its not easy to get skinny, sugar is an addiction!

If that is the case, similarly to drugs and alcohol then they should be taken in moderation or never in the case of illegal drugs.