Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : 5spl -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Libbyt who wrote (420)	1/6/2003 8:48:22 AM
From: LPS5	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2534

I concur completely, Libby. Those who complain about the tax implications of an increasingly obese, unhealthy America need first ask (or answer, as the case may be) why it is that the government has socialized many aspects of health care in the first place. Oppressing American fast food, soft drink, and confectionary companies with layers of regulation and/or government-instituted vice surcharges is both an economic injustice and a non sequitur of social logic. LPS5

To: Libbyt who wrote (420)	2/19/2004 8:34:01 AM
From: LPS5	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 2534

We knew it was coming, Libby. Britain considering 'fat tax' on unhealthy foods Wed Feb 18, 7:53 PM ET LONDON (AFP) - Britain's government is considering trying to tackle increasing levels of obesity by imposing a so-called "fatty food tax" on foodstuffs with poor nutritional value, according to a report. Other measures being considered include standardised labelling of fat and sugar contents in processed foods, The Times said. According to the newspaper, Prime Minister Tony Blair's official think tank has drawn up proposals to tackle consumption of unhealthy items such as burgers, potato crisps and soft drinks. In an as-yet unpublished document seen by the newspaper, the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit admitted that a rising trend towards fatness among British people was "largely outside the direct influence" of the country's health service. One plan could be to impose "improved regulated nutritional standards for common processed foods and drinks" to inform the public. "There might even be potential to consider fiscal measures -- a 'fatty food tax' applied to food not people -- or different VAT treatment for foods with poor nutritional standards," it said, referring to value added tax, a 17.5 percent sales tax imposed on certain goods in Britain. "This would be a signal to producers as well as consumers, and serve more broadly as a signal to society that nutritional content in food is important." Earlier this month, British doctors' groups urged the government to take swift action over the "terrifying health consequences" of the nation's obesity problem. A joint report by three leading medical groups warned that if nothing was done, a third of all British adults would be clinically obese by 2020, as well as a similar proportion of girls and a fifth of all boys. Also Thursday, a separate report said that Britain's government planned to place health warnings on alcoholic drinks later this year. Information about the number of units of alcohol contained within a drink as well as warnings about the effects of binge drinking will be introduced, the Daily Mirror said, quoting unnamed health officials. story.news.yahoo.com