Tax Junk Food/Regulate Contents?

[Michael-5]

Weedlab said:

Well, there are many negative consequences related to people's bad eating habits, and unfortunately they can be externalized. Contrary to what some of them may think, their actions do affect others when you look at things at the macro level. I believe that is part of the reason for this ban in the first place. However, I do not support coercing people to do the 'right thing'. From my experience it just doesn't work. People need to discover legitimate reasons on their accord.

I used to consume copious amounts of the stuff when I was in undergrad, and then I was hit with acid reflux. That was the start of other health issues. I traced everything back to my diet and through trial and error I learned what was best for me. Now I do not consume any form of junk food - nothing processed, no fizzy drinks, and I check the label on everything I eat. If I can't pronounce it then I don't bother with it. That's just one example. Most people I know respond to incentives like what I mentioned, but coercion usually brings about the opposite effect.

You do realize that Americans have an obesity rate of 33%? This is nearly 3x the Obesity rate in Germany, nearly 4x the obesity rate of Itally and over 10x the obesity rate of South Koreans and Japanese.

People (specifically Americans, Canadians, English, and Australians) can't discover legitimate reasons to eat healthy on their own.

Wouldn't it be better if you never had that acid refluc in the first place? If food, all food, had more reasonable portions of fat, sugar, and salt, you'd probably be a lot better off. I don't think the best way to stay healthy is for people to get obese and then realize their mistakes. It's better to not make those mistakes at all.

After all, everything is moderation, except moderation itself, is a good thing right? So why not moderate addatives in food?

Weedlab said:
Oh and ... personally, I think instead of implementing a ban focus should be placed on the type of foods available. Calories are cheap, but nutrition is expensive. People often complain about eating right because it is too expensive, especially when you can buy enough food to feed a family for under 10 USD in McDonalds. The gov should focus on making the 'right' food cheaper - be it through subsidies or other means.

This is completly false. A Big Mac Combo is about $7 and that barely feeds 1 person for 1 day. I live off $20 a week for food (I cook a lot), and I can tell you that you can feed a person for about $2 a day no problem. Eating healthy is cheaper then eating crap.