Would a weight tax help us all here in the UK

Question

Given Mr Brown's obvious green credentials and a will to help all of the world, why not set a threshold limit for people's weights?

Larger people are obviously a greater drain on the world's scarce resources, and a potential source of income for this government.

People above the limit would pay more tax, and people below it could apply for "tax credits" if they could understand how to.

What do you think?

Answer 1

I'm not British, I am a fat American....I would argue that overweight people cost society and government LESS, not more. They tend to drop dead at a younger age from heart attacks. When this happens, theres no run up in health care costs, since the only treatment rendered is an ambulance ride to the morgue. They don't live long enough to collect retirement benefits, which saves society money.

I would also refute that we use more resources. I'm overweight, I weigh twice what my younger brother weighs. He can eat four to five times what I eat at a single meal. The difference is he does manual labor, I spend 11 hours a day strapped behind a steering wheel, so my body doesn't burn all of what I eat. I think for a lot of us, physical activity or lack thereof is more of a factor than how much food a person consumes. Americans are heavier than the rest of the world for two reasons. One, our food is over-processed. For instance, all the bread we eat has had the grain taken out of it, the digestive process has all ready been done before we even open the bag of Wonder bread. Two, we don't get enough exersice. People here jump in their cars and drive two blocks instead of walking. There was a Yahoo news article the other day about city dwellers being thinner than suburban dwellers. People in the city just do more walking, because their neighborhoods are better set up for it.

Answer 2

Tired trucker has the right idea and you are in danger of believing your own propanda. May you weigh 40 stone  

Answer 3

tax people with small brains like you, but then they wouldnt get much revenue would they? Why do I bother answering such a silly question but I get 2 points I suppose

Answer 4

I like this idea, the obese do need a carrot (not a burger!) and stick(of celery not rock!) approach lol

Answer 5

well what a cool question

but why stop larger people what about peolpe with large noses

or big feet or tall people ,small people the list could go on and on

or why not tax people for using yahoo or msn ?

Answer 6

Don`t you think people have paid tax on there good all ready or shall we just go for natual selection. Tall slim blonds only. How does that sound.

Answer 7

Sounds very reasonable because Obesity does cause extra strain on NHS resources, something that obese people do not pay extra for unlike smokers. It could be called "fat of the land" tax or even "excess baggage" tax.

Taxing people for their excess weight may well encourage them to eat less, after all no-one likes paying more in taxation. I do feel though that a proviso would need to be put in place for those whose excess weight is due to a diagnosed medical problem.