Merica does it right!

[Coito ergo sum]

The rule of law and freedom of expression are socialist ideologies (you give to the group now to share a benefit in the future - which may not even arise)........but because no one writes a cheque for them the Rightwingers don't think they cost money.

errr....once more, in English?

[amused]

There's a well established history of recouping the costs that industry transferred to the public - cigarettes and environmental cleanups being two obvious ones. Soft drinks are a well established cause of obesity - they make up the singe largest source of calories in the average American diet. Fast food meals with 2,000+ calories on a single plate are easily identified as a contributor to obesity. Sure, you can eat that stuff, but I'm not obligated to support your poor choices, so pay a higher tax into the healthcare system when you do eat that crap. Got a BMI above a certain level - yup, pay more tax into the healthcare system.

[Coito ergo sum]

There's a well established history of recouping the costs that industry transferred to the public - cigarettes and environmental cleanups being two obvious ones.

It's not rational unless there is some evidence as to the amount of the cost. Obviously, though, there is plenty of history behind "cigarettes bad" therefore tax the fuck out of them.

Soft drinks are a well established cause of obesity -

False. Not "well established," other than the clearly established link between an excess of calories and obesity. There is no greater link between soft drinks and obesity than there is between fruit punch, milk, and orange juice and obesity.

they make up the singe largest source of calories in the average American diet.

False. But, you've just hit on the fact that it's the "too much" consumption that is the cause of obesity, and not soft drinks qua soft drinks.

Fast food meals with 2,000+ calories on a single plate are easily identified as a contributor to obesity. Sure, you can eat that stuff, but I'm not obligated to support your poor choices, so pay a higher tax into the healthcare system when you do eat that crap. Got a BMI above a certain level - yup, pay more tax into the healthcare system.

I'm not obligated to pay for your poor choices either, so if you choose to play sports where you have a risk of injury (which is any sport), then you should be taxed. If you choose to drive a car, then pay a tax - there is a link between driving and health care costs. If you choose to live a sedentary lifestyle and not do enough jogging/walking, then you should pay a tax, since there is a demonstrable link between being sedentary and being obese. Deal?

[Coito ergo sum]

We should tax individuals by body fat percentage --

That would make the most sense. No sense penalizing an athlete for drinking a Mello Yellow.

We should place a bioelectrical impedence scale at the entrance of each restaurant, and the patron pays a tax based on body fat percentage.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/1 ... lp00000009

[Coito ergo sum]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/1 ... lp00000009

Sounds like a reasonable approach.

Incidentally, I find that mocking "life on the moon" pictorial very disheartening. It's just so disappointing to see how little respect the idea of space exploration gets. Sad, really.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/1 ... lp00000009

Sounds like a reasonable approach.

They lived in a lala land the entire campaign. "Insult everybody and still win, we have a plan!"

[Gawdzilla Sama]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 6315.story

[amused]

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&tbo=d&scli ... 66&bih=576

One source after another showing that soft drinks are the single largest source of calories in the US diet...

We already pay a tax to drive a car, it's called insurance.

Sure, I'll pay a premium if my sport of choice is identified as high(er) risk.

[Azathoth]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 6315.story

Mitt Romney too moderate. Compared to the Taliban maybe

[Gawdzilla Sama]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 6315.story

Mitt Romney too moderate. Compared to the Taliban maybe

Tea Baggers are pretty much animals rather than citizens.

[macdoc]

dumb animals evidently

Fail: Anti-Obama teen wants to move to Australia because we have 'Christian, male president'

by: Petra Starke, Social Media Reporter
From: News Limited Network
November 08, 2012 4:20PM

Teenage Republican upset at Obama win
Tweets she wants to move to Australia
Deletes account after being called dumb


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/news/fail-anti-o ... z2C1ZWFyWz

http://www.news.com.au/news/fail-anti-o ... 6513148219

[Azathoth]

I still cant work out what they want. One minute they are calling for anarchy the next they are calling for heavy restrictions on things. Make your mind up fuckwits. You cant have both

[Coito ergo sum]

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&tbo=d&scli ... 66&bih=576

One source after another showing that soft drinks are the single largest source of calories in the US diet...

We already pay a tax to drive a car, it's called insurance.

Sure, I'll pay a premium if my sport of choice is identified as high(er) risk.

Doesn't make sense, since the first link said that carbonated beverages represent 7% of the American diet, and intuitively things like "bread" would seem to represent a larger portion of calories. WebMD disagrees -- http://forums.webmd.com/3/food-and-cook ... esource/32

But, in any case - let's assume it's true. So what? It's not the soft drink qua soft drink that makes people fat -- it's the "too many calories" bit that makes people fat.

This is the thing that people have always feared would come to be if we nationalize health care -- all of a sudden your diet becomes the business of the government. And, obviously, so too would your lifestyle.

People who have lots of sexual partners contract more sexually transmitted diseases than monogamous partners. So, ought we tax sluts? Why not? Just as it's not your responsibility to pay for somebody who drinks big gulps, is it your responsibility to pay for players who like to poke everything that moves?

Every aspect of human lives becomes up for grabs, and the question just becomes: which activities, foods, lifestyles, etc., can we demonize and scapegoat?

[Coito ergo sum]

dumb animals evidently

Fail: Anti-Obama teen wants to move to Australia because we have 'Christian, male president'

by: Petra Starke, Social Media Reporter
From: News Limited Network
November 08, 2012 4:20PM

Teenage Republican upset at Obama win
Tweets she wants to move to Australia
Deletes account after being called dumb


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/news/fail-anti-o ... z2C1ZWFyWz

http://www.news.com.au/news/fail-anti-o ... 6513148219

Shocking. An idiot posted something stupid on the interwebz. Only in America, right?