tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post2474367885047661011..comments2023-09-16T12:06:04.504-04:00Comments on Economic Ramblings: Should Hamburgers and French Fries be heavily taxed?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826733025674909285noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-68998639680796621312013-10-13T15:08:36.212-04:002013-10-13T15:08:36.212-04:00The obesity rate in America is still very high, an...The obesity rate in America is still very high, and one of the main reasons is that fast food is so cheap and easy to get. If one was to tax fast food and lower the price of the more healthy foods, and increase the publicity of getting in shape, then the rate would definitely decrease by a large amount. The fact that it is more expensive to eat healthy and stay in shape than it is to eat badly and slowly kill yourself is the reason why people do it. If they were to tax the fast food places, and other unhealthy eateries heavily then it would help tremendously.Kennethnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-90980388382177188732013-10-06T20:23:52.067-04:002013-10-06T20:23:52.067-04:00This article really illustrates just how bad of an...This article really illustrates just how bad of an economic bind the united states are in. This article expresses this through the discussion of obesity. It explains how people are more willing to get a cheaper and more fattening food because they don't have the money to afford a healthy meal. Places like McDonalds and other fast food restaurants really benefit when the united states economy isn't doing well. Most people would rather sit down and eat a healthy meal if they could but the fact that they do not have enough money really decreases the amount of people that go out to a classy restaurant. Especially with the fact that there is always a dollar burger available at McDonalds.Matt Corrienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-60198135292130660572013-10-06T13:52:40.113-04:002013-10-06T13:52:40.113-04:00This article points out a big problem in the U.S. ...This article points out a big problem in the U.S. which is child obesity. The fact that from the 1970's to now the percent of children obesity tripled is not surprising to me. With new inventions like video games and TV it’s not surprising that children stayed indoors more often and performed less sports and activities that were considered active. Another reason explained in the article contributing to the obesity rate is price of foods. Many nutritional foods are more expensive than those foods considered unhealthy like fast food. I believe that the government is doing good by thinking of making a change to better this situation. The government should increase taxes on unhealthy foods and on fast food. This will create a greater demand for healthier foods since they are cheaper. Although doing this will not be as easy, I remember that when the mayor of NYC decided to eliminate X-large drinks and make 20oz. bottles of soda no longer available for sale the courts fought against it strongly and so did the people.Tiffany Pabonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-33505449997781605882013-10-05T14:52:04.829-04:002013-10-05T14:52:04.829-04:00I believe this article touches on a major problem ...I believe this article touches on a major problem that needs to be fixed in America. The prices of fast food compared to prices of healthy foods are absurd. It is ridiculous that I can buy three cheeseburgers at McDonalds for three dollars yet a small cup of fruit at the pace cafeterias costs four dollars. Prices lead people to simply buy cheaper food that is easier to get and supports obesity. I believe an excess tax on unhealthy foods needs to be passed to increase the purchases of healthy foods. Healthy foods also need to have their prices reduced as the high prices provoke people to buy sugary substitutes. Low income families should have the same access to healthy eating as upper class people do. This will help our life expectancy and decrease the amount of diseases that branch off of obesity like diabetes.Kenneth Reillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-26361497749249208162013-10-05T12:47:41.128-04:002013-10-05T12:47:41.128-04:00I think it would be a great idea to increase taxes...I think it would be a great idea to increase taxes on fast food. These inferior goods attribute to child obesity, which result in a host of health concerns for our nations youth. I think healthy foods should be made more affordable, so that struggling families are not forced to buy preservative packed chemically enhanced food. This trend of child obesity has a negative impact on our economy; not necessarily our GDP, but it negatively influences the HDI (Human Development Index). I think it is ridiculous that the Government has begun to enforce laws on the portion sizes of sugary drinks etc. in certain states. However, I do think that Government should assume some responsibility regarding this issue. I think that schools should be required to serve healthy food alternatives instead of just cheap fast food to students. Physical education programs in our schools should be required to educate our youth on the severe health effects of fast food, and inform students of what a healthy diet consists of. What I liked about this article was that it explained how inaccurate BMI measurements are for calculating fat mass. There are several inexpensive simple methods of calculating body fat percentage that can be done by physical education teachers; the cheapest method being caliper measurements, which have been proven by multiple studies to be just as, or more accurate than biometrical impedance analysis. This is an issue that needs immediate attention; if we do not start to control this issue the future of our nation will consist of obesity, disease, and shorter life expectancies.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02915629715407769513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-13648836022269184602013-10-02T12:01:46.775-04:002013-10-02T12:01:46.775-04:00This article does make a good point of making burg...This article does make a good point of making burgers and fries(fast foods)higher and price and reducing the price of a healthy alternative. I was just thinking that in doing that wont it be the same as just switching the circumstances from the poor to the affluent? Like, the rich white people usually have jobs that consume most of their time making it more likely to serve their kids fast food which are more convenient. The epidemic will still be evident in out society. I think we should just eliminate the fast food all together. Then there is not room for contraindications of any sort. Ashleen Ulyssenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-45635311664334987592013-10-01T20:24:42.642-04:002013-10-01T20:24:42.642-04:00I believe that unhealthy foods should be taxed hea...I believe that unhealthy foods should be taxed heavily in order for people not to buy them for there kids. With Child obesity more than tripling in the last forty years there has to be a problem with kids eating from all these unhealthy places. If the government did in fact put a junk food tax that would raise the prices high enough the demand would start lowering. With that in place people would looking for healthier alternative because it would be cheaper than eating junk foods.Kristoff Kolodkonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-45867484956785411232013-10-01T19:34:59.559-04:002013-10-01T19:34:59.559-04:00For some time now childhood obestiy has been an ep...For some time now childhood obestiy has been an epidemic in the United States and it is not getting better, only worse. I do not agree with this article when it says that BMI indications are not good in determining obesity since this method has been used for quite some time and although it is not a complete measure it gives a good indication of an obestiy scale. With that being said, I do belive that a tax, or higher prices on fast food will help this epidemic. But, as touched upon at the end of this article, it should be the parents that intervene to stop this probelm more so than the government. Parents should make healthier choices for their children and enourage and create an enviornment where they are getting physical activity. The fact that prices of healthier choices are higher is a problem that will be hard to fix considering how cheap fast food really is. I think people just have to be more conciouncious of what they eat and what they choose for their children. Awarness of the epidemic is also something that will make it better.Alexa Piccolinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-40826708611699963922013-10-01T18:06:34.537-04:002013-10-01T18:06:34.537-04:00Without a doubt in my mind fast food restaurants s...Without a doubt in my mind fast food restaurants should be taxed because its one of the main causes of obesity in America. Not only fast food restaurants but the parents of the obese children are at fault because they are the ones supplying their kids with these unhealthy foods.People choose fast foods restaurants because they are cheap but once they get taxed the prices will go up. And people of low income families have a higher rate of obesity so they will be searching for less expensive choices such as fruits and vegetables which are health foods. I found that in the article it states that with the rise in foods prices, with the exception of fruits and vegetables there had been a reduction in obesity in people. I also found out that obesity causes gallbladder disease which I had known before reading the article. I feel that taxing fast food restaurants would be a start to help cut down on the obesity in America, before he epidemic becomes too large to handle.Nicholas Beatonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-58147287117085526222013-10-01T12:07:05.755-04:002013-10-01T12:07:05.755-04:00A lot of people criticize Americans for being over...A lot of people criticize Americans for being overweight, but the fact is that fast foods are among the cheapest and most convenience food out there. Fast food restaurants such as McDonalds and Burger King are inferior goods, most people do not want to eat them, but they do because it's cheap. Demand have definitely increased since the 2008 recession. Foods that are not as unhealthy, are more expensive. The government should not only tax fast food joints, but also use the money earned to subsidies other food. If the prices were more or less the same, then the decision on what people eat would not have an economic factor.Dominic Gomeznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-75206146589944901012013-09-30T18:45:07.888-04:002013-09-30T18:45:07.888-04:00This article held a lot of facts about childhood o...This article held a lot of facts about childhood obesity, and how this has now become an epidemic in the United States. In the last 40 years alone, the childhood obesity rate has tripled. This is mainly due to falling food prices, increasing demand for sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks advertised on television aimed at fat children watching television instead of playing outside, lack of physical activity, and overall increased portion sizes. One should not have to eat until their plate is finished, they should eat until they are full. I believe that the only way to help this rising epidemic, is by posing a tax, or increasing the price of unhealthy food and lowering the price of organic food.Mary O'Sheanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-38580501800643193962013-09-30T14:54:07.018-04:002013-09-30T14:54:07.018-04:00There is one seemingly obvious solution to this is...There is one seemingly obvious solution to this issue. Since food is clearly price elastic and there is a direct correlation between the low cost of fast food and the increased rate of childhood obesity, if the prices of fast food were to skyrocket, childhood obesity would subsequently diminish. While people have the right to choose what they eat, they sometimes don't have the means to. This ties into the HDI; corporations are profiting tremendously but there is a drastic increase in childhood obesity (i.e. the quality of life is arguably lowered). Anthony Caronianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-14253454667513951302013-09-29T22:42:57.885-04:002013-09-29T22:42:57.885-04:00Child obesity is a huge issue in the United States...Child obesity is a huge issue in the United States. We are one of the only nations in the world that have such a huge problem with this issue. There is really nothing we can do to stop this crisis besides convincing people to eat healthy, and raising bad food prices. Fast food joints, burger shacks, and ice cream places should be taxed so it is more of a hassle to get food like that. For example, cigarettes are taxed heavily most places in the U.S so people will stop smoking. Child Obesity can use the same tactic.Rich Gordonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-48681062465348424362013-09-29T22:34:03.982-04:002013-09-29T22:34:03.982-04:00The price of food without a doubt affects the heal...The price of food without a doubt affects the health of Americans. With many people struggling to get buy and trying to support their family as best they can, they have to buy cheaper food. After reading this article, I discovered that cheaper food is worse for you per calorie opposed to real homemade food. This leads to childhood obesity which also affects that child's future. That child is now more likely to be obese because they were as a child. More people than ever are eating as fast food places rather than restaurant. This can be seen through the major increase in fast food stocks such as McDonalds and Wendy's. Overall, it is clear that the price and demand for food is a major factor behind obesity. Colby Stovernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-35503896434256565072013-09-29T21:53:36.671-04:002013-09-29T21:53:36.671-04:00This article has some really good points to it. I ...This article has some really good points to it. I find it interesting how the obesity rate has tripled in the last 40 years. I feel that our society has become very unhealthy in their choices of food. Of course the economy has an effect on this. If the prices of food were not so high then the rate would not be so high. Low income families would not feel the need to eat fast food every night because the price is cheaper. Although the unhealthy food is easily and cheaply produced, it is leading to this obesity problem. I also feel that the obesity rate has tripled due to the lack of exercise the youth is getting. This comes from the developing technology our world has become so used to. Instead of riding a bike, kids are sitting at home riding a bike through a video game and this is not giving them the exercise they need. In general I think the food prices and taxes should be adjusted making the healthy and organic food more affordable. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05406820814294211568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-64390584317269432472013-09-29T20:47:35.538-04:002013-09-29T20:47:35.538-04:00This article is a very good one about child obesit...This article is a very good one about child obesity and food prices. The article stated that in the last 40 years, the child obesity rate nearly tripled, that is a huge amount. I think the most recent increase is because of the economic recession , for the last few years the economy hasn't been doing to well, which means people had less income, more people were unemployed, and it made people spend thier money wisely. In a recession most people won't be going out to eat at fancy restaurants and eating healthy things, they will go for a cheap and unhealthy meal like Mcdonalds a lot more often then they usually would. Fast food is a good example of the income elasticity of demand, fast food purchases are at a higher rate when the economy goes down. This is another big thing with minorities and low-income people, because they don't have a lot of money to spend, the parents will feed their kids cheap fast-food meals to save money. I agree with the article that increasing the taxes on fast food and unhealthy products will stop obesity because if the product costs more people will have to allocate there scarce resource, which is money in this case, to feed there family healthier products.Anthony Rocconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-64559478485862937882013-09-29T19:52:12.250-04:002013-09-29T19:52:12.250-04:00This article makes a fair argument on whether to t...This article makes a fair argument on whether to tax or not tax certain foods and fast food restaurants. This isn't just about the government making money but it also has to do with the obesity issue we have here in the United States. Since the 1970's obesity has more than tripled from children ages 12-19. This statistic proves that obesity in the U.S has only increased and will most likely continue to increase unless someone does something about it. Increasing taxes on unhealthy food will make the demand for it decrease if the price increases on junk food. Maria Biondinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22959333.post-59932353740181474232013-09-29T16:03:36.616-04:002013-09-29T16:03:36.616-04:00 I definitely think that prices and convenience is... I definitely think that prices and convenience is a huge contributor to obesity. The fact that fat food restaurants are so cheap, quick, and easy is making it so simple for consumers to eat unhealthy. Who would want to go to the store and buy fruits and vegetables at a higher cost, with the added time for preparation when they could simply go to the drive through. I believe that costs should change. Unhealthy foods should definitely be taxed more than healthy foods. Americans tend to go with convenience and a bargain, and I think if they were saving money by eating healthier, more would be apt to do so.Jennifer Palladinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15187088070229910483noreply@blogger.com