CNN's Cafferty Suggets a 'Fat Tax'
Decrying the rise of obesity in America, CNN's Jack Cafferty on Tuesday all but argued for a "Fat Tax" in the U.S., on foods high in saturated fat.
The CNN commentator, during the 4 p.m. hour of The Situation Room, pointed to Denmark's record of taxing fatty foods, sweets, alcohol and tobacco, and lauded the health of their citizenry. "Whatever Denmark's approach, it works," sounded Cafferty, before excoriating America for being so obese. Video below the break. Click here for audio.
Although he put the question to the audience of whether or not America should have a tax, Cafferty was obviously leaning toward one. "As a nation, we get fatter and fatter every day, and quite frankly, it's disgusting. Plus, it's not like we couldn't use the extra tax revenue, right?" he suggested.
Anchor Wolf Blitzer chipped in a bit of support for his argument, saying that a tax on cigarettes already exists in the U.S., "and that's pretty dangerous as well."
A transcript of the segment, which aired on 4:19 p.m. EDT, is as follows:
JACK CAFFERTY: Hold the cheeseburgers. Across the pond in Europe, Denmark is becoming the first country in the world to impose a "Fat Tax" on foods that are high in saturated fats. That includes cheeseburgers, and pizza, and butter, and milk and cheese and oils. Some Danes stocked up on all these yummy groceries before the tax went into effect this past weekend.
How much the "Fat Tax" is depends on how much saturated fat is in any given food, but it comes out to about $3 for every 2 pounds of saturated fat. Officials say the goal is to increase the average life expectancy in Denmark, since saturated fats can cause heart disease and cancer.
Denmark has been a leading country when it comes to tougher stands on unhealthy foods. They have higher taxes on sodas, cigarettes and alcohol beyond what's required by the European Union. And they've increased taxes on ice cream, chocolate and sweets by a whopping 25%. Also, it's illegal for any food in Denmark to have more than 2% trans fats.
Critics say there's a "Big Brother" aspect to all of this, that the government has no right telling them what they should or shouldn't eat. Others suggest that any tax hikes on fatty or sugary foods should be accompanied by measures to make nutritious foods more affordable.
Whatever Denmark's approach, it works. Danes are downright skinny compared to us Americans: In Denmark, only about 10% of the population is obese. Here in the United States, one-third of all adults and nearly 1 in 5 children are obese. As a nation, we get fatter and fatter every day, and quite frankly, it's disgusting.
Plus, it's not like we couldn't use the extra tax revenue, right? Anyway, here’s the question: Should there be a tax on foods high in saturated fats?
(...)
WOLF BLITZER: There's a tax on tobacco, and that's pretty dangerous as well, Jack. You're going to get a lot of e-mail on this one.
CAFFERTY: Well, and that tax on tobacco has curbed the amount of cigarette smoke in this country. A lot fewer people smoke cigarettes now than did when you and I were young.
BLITZER: That's good for all of us. Thanks, Jack. Thanks very much.
- Matt Hadro's blog
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Comments
Hey, Jack, I've got a better
Submitted by MikeB on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 6:47pm.
Hey, Jack, I've got a better idea. Let's simplify the tax forms by adding two check boxes; one for Conservatives, and one for Liberals (or Progressives or Communists, whatever they are calling themselves now), and making only two tax brackets.
If you check the Conservative box, your income tax rate is 10% from dollar one. If you check the Liberal box, your tax rate is 95%, also from dollar one. That way, liberals can pay their "fair share" - whatever that is - and pay for all the social programs they want to impose on the rest of us. Oh, and once those tax monies are used up for that fiscal year, the programs and the agencies that administer them are shut down until the next fiscal year.
Somehow, I don't think Jack and the rest of their sort would like to have to fund their ideas.
Yeah. And I thought liberals
Submitted by rbosque on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 7:03pm.
Yeah. And I thought liberals don't want gov't telling them what to do to their bodies?
That is actually a very
Submitted by Gat New York on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 7:18pm.
That is actually a very progressive idea. It separates the have from the have-nots.
The people who have a brain and the people who do not and think it is good karma to give the government all the money they ask for.
In the case of Cafferty there should be a tax for having a fat mouth.
naaaah
Submitted by KornKing on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 10:09pm.
Need a dumbass tax
meet me at the mission at midnight
Oh, maaaaan!
Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 11:06am.
you stole my gag! Genius. Pure Genius! :-)
what??
Submitted by kata on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 7:18pm.
The fat tax JUST went into effect in July and the ice cream tax is barely even a year old. Fastest nationwide diet program evah!
Holy @*!# who writes this drivel.
Several problems here - the first is that the people who get hit the hardest is people on a fixed income. The second problem is, if you're really looking at this from a health standpoint is, who is to say that a person who chooses not to spend extra money on one "bad food" automatically chooses a good one in it's place?
McDonalds has discovered that even though they have implemented the new Happy Meal Standards of including the fruit choice, and even making it the default choice - only 11% of parents are actually choosing the apples. The only way you're going to steer people the way you want them to eat (or act) is to make it the ONLY choice.
wonder what happens....
Submitted by dmacleo on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 7:08pm.
when a fat woman can't afford an abortion due to higher food taxes...
That's kind of like the old
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 7:35pm.
That's kind of like the old "irresistible force meeting an immovable object."
Utter chaos.
At any rate, Jack is safe unless someone comes up with a fathead tax.
Sorry I couldn't resist. <hangs head in shame>
chaos is good word
Submitted by dmacleo on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 8:47pm.
so fitting lately...
hey jack.....off
Submitted by Walker01049 on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 7:28pm.
How about a fat lip?
I think we need an "Ugly Tax."
Submitted by Newsbubba on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 7:32pm.
That way liberals can pay the bulk of our taxes!
Hell, between Roseanne Barr, Rosie O'Donnell, Joy Behar, and Janet Napolitano, we could cover Medicare for the next 50 years.
Michael Moore could
Submitted by Bodini on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 11:26pm.
wipe out the national debt!
I cannot beleive that Denmark..the land of yummy cheeses is
Submitted by Paarl on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 7:35pm.
doing this when we are now learning that foods high in dietary saturated fats do NOT cause obesity ....it is clear that cheap refined carbohydrates and over consumption of sugar is the cause of obesity and the metabolic syndrome: obesity, type 2 diabetes , heart disease.
Dairy foods and meat fat can have some issue with respect to those have arterial issues but NO ONE ever got fat eating standing rib roasts or rack of lamb.....observe at the next buffet or family bar b que.....the fatties load up on the macaroni and potato salad....not roast beef and steak.....
Ground zero of the obesity issue is sugar and cheap carbs like potato chips etc.....go ahead eat that standing rib roast with gusto...it is GOOD for your health and weight...
Paarl of Rhodesia
each week: 2 dozen eggs, 1 lb of cheese..1 pint of sour cream..1 qt of whole milk yogurt...beef/lamb/pork 2/3 times a week
fish once a week...chicken once a week....
i am 5 9" 165 and I lost weight on the above diet...45 lbs over 1.5 years
Great job Paarl
Submitted by Boudin on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 8:37pm.
But I didnt see the ration of beer listed above?
i forgot the lager..but only a bit..i have switched to distilled
Submitted by Paarl on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 7:25am.
alcohol...Wild Turkey...Scotch...etc...in the that diet I forgot the half and half..2 qts per week..
Paarl of Rhodesia
a cow's best friend !!
Food for Thought
Submitted by IrateNate on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 9:31pm.
A census taker once tried to test me.
I ate his liver, with some fava beans and a nice Chianti....
I'll say it people, we are DOOMED!!.....
Submitted by FistsforLiberty on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 7:35pm.
As long as the media is commie left wing. the sheep will follow.
If the food tax doesn't work,
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 7:45pm.
Cafferty's next suggestion will be a notarized "weigh in" attached to each person's income tax return, with a table for the surtax to be added.
Oh, wait!! Obesity is a problem among the poor, who don't pay taxes!
How about a list of foods that can't be bought with food stamps?
Yeah, that's the ticket!! "Shared sacrifice!!" (Whose idea is that?)
Weigh in VS P' in*
Submitted by cajun2 on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 8:05pm.
To the media, I suppose it depends on the group..
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/09/07/alcu-sues-florida-for-drug-testing-welfare-recipients/
Like starting with Jackass' fat head? He would go bankrupt.
Submitted by drsamherman on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 7:47pm.
Jackass is already morally and intellectually bankrupt, why not go financially bankrupt next? His head has so much fat, it probably would be at a 99.9% rate.
GMTA, Dr. Sam....
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 9:21pm.
See my comment above re "fathead"
Good company, MB!
Submitted by drsamherman on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 9:23pm.
If you like good barbecue, this may get spooky....
Solution
Submitted by IrateNate on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 9:29pm.
Just how much fuel could be produced if you rendered the fat from his head?
Hmmm...rendering the fat from the heads of progressive idiots...I believe you may have solved our energy dependence problem!
Here in Georgia, we have a tax on the stoopid
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 8:32pm.
LOL - We call it the Georgia Lottery.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
The money quote by jack....
Submitted by MidAmerica on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 9:47pm.
Plus, it's not like we couldn't use the extra tax revenue, right?" he suggested.
The Liberals are floundering about looking for any tax increase to save Liberalism. The engine of Liberalism is money, lots and lots of other peoples money.
"Whatever Denmark's approach,
Submitted by stratman on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 9:12pm.
How's Denmark's Islamic problems working out for them, Jack?
Politically incorrect...
Submitted by shooter on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 9:41pm.
This may non-PC, but if there is a need for such a tax, why not just tax fat people?
I mean, if someone is more than 30 BMI, tax them -- not specific foods and everyone else.
_________________________________________
"An armed society is a polite society" -- Robert A. Heinlein
Elections
Submitted by Boudin on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 9:55pm.
The dimwits want to be able to get re-elected
Hey Jack, lets tax men who
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 12:13am.
Hey Jack, lets tax men who are going bald. Everyone knows balding men are sexual deviants of low intelligence.
A Fat Tax is that what you're suggesting?
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 12:14am.
How about a Boozer Tax? Every time you stumble out of a bar, you have to pay half you day's wages to the guberment?
We could bankrupt Randi Rhodes!
Submitted by drsamherman on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 9:08pm.
Put that hag into permanent penury and maybe she would finally have to shut her trap. Good idea.
You think she's miserable
Submitted by stratman on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 10:25pm.
You think she's miserable now, wait until the delerium tremens begin after you've cut off her "medicine".
I suggest a "Fat Tax" for fat headed liberals. This joker...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 2:46am.
would be high on the list.
how about a tax on stupidity !!! Should keep the fed's coffers
Submitted by Paarl on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 7:27am.
filled to the brim...while simultaneously keeping liberals in poverty...
paarl of rhodesia
How About
Submitted by packman on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 7:55am.
a "bald-headed idiot loud mouth" tax?
"...Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread..." ~Thomas Jefferson
What about a "fathead" tax?
Submitted by KyWriter on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 10:44am.
Cafferty would be bankrupt.
It seems...
Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 11:11am.
I remember that according to government (or some other officious body) standards Arnold (the Terminator, not the pig) would have been considered "fat".
Just sayin'.
Opps
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 12:43pm.
Opps, wrong thread
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Since when?
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 12:42pm.
"Well, and that tax on tobacco has curbed the amount of cigarette smoke in this country. "
Oh, really, since when? I'd like to see, you know, a little EVIDENCE to back up that claim. You are, supposedly, a journalist, are you not?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.