Seizing Natural Climate Change by Politicans!

[Papa Bear]

I do to! But only because I want to! At least your not spading him!
Neuter would have been a better choice!

[Conrad]

It's funny you should state" What's next hamburgers!" Papa Bear

Here in Alberta, Canada they are considering a "Fat Tax" Taxing fast food and junk food, because it is the major cause of obesity. This theoretically would deter people from eating fast food and junk food. there by creating a healthier population.

It's just another case of the government creating new taxes for their coffers under the premise of doing something good for me. Because in my 44 years I have not been able to think for myself and make choices that are right for me.

[fooddude]

Being the "Fooddude", I have strong opinions on the fat tax idea. It's horrible! Despite my desire to educate people on how eat healthy, and to bring the critically ill in my hospital back to life with nutrition, I was careful in my choice of words. It's my job to "E-D-U-C-A-T-E" people, not force them to eat healthy. That type of thing cannot be legislated. Well, it can, but in my opinion, wrongfully. It's a way to make (pardon the pun) the government fat ($$$). People should have the choice on what to eat. Quite frankly, if everyone was healthy, not obese and completely fit, my private practice would have to close. No people means no business! (actually less, because most of my business is medically or sports performance related, not obesity related, but I digrerss).

Fat Taxes and the like have been shown ineffective in their "stated" outcomes. People still smoke, gun laws have been ineffective in reducing the use of illegal handguns (it was rarely the legally obtained handgun involved in illegal activities (I am a licenced to own a handgun, but choose to not take ownership of one) and I'm sure there are dozens of other examples I cannot think of or even ever heard of.

The only thing that works is education. It is up to the individual to make a decision that affects their health. Only when someones decisions affect others should some sort of legislation be in place, and even then, it needs to be carefully done as to not take away the "offenders" rights to their unhealthy activities.

FAT TAX? Cheesburgers in Paradise will make Jimmy buffett even more wealthy!

[Papa Bear]

I could agree with you more! It is pervasive in our society, but a part of human nature to control others! The "Do Gooders" as my father called the will someday ruin the world as he also used to say! Personal freedom and choice I guess is good in only one place in life, just ask a liberal! Anyway you can lead a fat guy to a hamburger, but you can't stop him from eating unless he wants to!

The government learned from smoking that it is better to tax a sin than ban it!

[littleleemur]

I just read an article in the NY Times about how logic and reasoning are the new dirty words. It seems that parenting is one too.

At the Toronto Zoo they have peacocks roaming free. There were 2 boys chasing this poor bird around throwing empty soda cups at it and trying to pull out its tail feathers. The dad was only a few feet away just sitting there watching them. No discipline, nothing! So I walked over and told the kids to stop & they ignored me. I walked over to the dad and tell him that his kids are misbehaving and that he should really be doing something about it, at which point he goes ballistic on me! A friend called the zoo security and we were the ones who were given a speach about being "rude & obnoxious"! I don't think those kids or his dad had anything said to them about abusing animals, but were apologized to instead! There were lots of people around and no-one said anything, they just pretended nothing was happening!

What happened to the days when you could just grab the kid by the ear and drag them to their parents and some parenting would actually be done?! Have we reached the time when the government has to be a parent? And tax is the babysitting fee?

[seasnake]

At the Toronto Zoo they have peacocks roaming free. There were 2 boys chasing this poor bird around . . .

All you can hope for is that the bird will turn around and peck someone's eye out (preferably the father's) so that everyone learns a nice lesson . . .