Wednesday, July 02, 2003

The panel on Brit Hume’s show is discussing the lawsuits against fast food. Mort Kondracke is suggesting that the government tax fatty foods and use the revenue for medical research.

What?!

That is a terrible idea for a number of reasons:

1.  Who determines what is fatty food? FDA? The food industry?

2.  Obviously the main target is fast food, but will that include all restaurants?

3.  What about groceries items like cheese, milk, yogurt - things that are healthy and recommended, especially for kids?

4.  What about the healthy forms of fat? Olive oil?

5.  Who regulates the policy?

I could go on. The main reason why it’s a bad idea? I don’t need the government stealing any more of my money or telling me what I can and cannot eat.

If I choose to eat fast food, then I run the risk of gaining weight. As a matter of fact, I’m a little overweight. Why? Because I love food - all kinds of food - especially junk food. The government taxing me more for my chips and dip is not going to stop me from eating those chips and dip any more than my lack of willpower will stop me from eating chips and dip. Or Freedom Fries. Or Chick-Fil-A. Or McDonald’s. Or whatever else may be taxed.