1. The average child saw 77 junk food advertisements on television every week. This is not good at all.

Posted at 2:05PM on Aug 22nd 2006 by Mr.Rehab

2. A really good idea. The higher the tax the higher their prices on the market therefore less people would buy. And also junk food ads on tv should also be regulated so children will not always see them.

Posted at 1:26AM on Aug 23rd 2006 by robyn haywood

3. Instead of taxing junk food, how about making foods that are good for you more affordable? Me try to eat healthy in my family, but often times it's more expensive - reverse the cost! Make the junk foods more expensive and the foods that are good for you/better for you more affordable so that EVERYONE can eat healthy! Not just the wealthy ones!

Posted at 2:09PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Ms. Marie

4. And next they will be taxing you computer time to cut down on?? If it is bad for you then either take it off the market, or quit eating it. We do not need the food police, there are many other greater needs that junk food patrol, It is a sorry excuse to get more money from people and we have enough taxes that are going for what? There are more people dying on the highway - than from junk food.And they are already taxing gas for more than the gas cost. Insane is what it is. We are suppose to be able to make our own determinations as a free??? society. With all the taxes they impose we are anything but free, and we don't need some idiot monitering what we should eat.

Posted at 2:13PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Kate Peterson

5. I thought that I lived in a free society- but that is not the case. Whatever happened to personal rights? If a person chooses to smoke or drink- as long as it doesn't affect others- why shouldn't they be allowed to do so? Why should it even be taxed at all? As for taxing junk food- doesn't the same apply? I hate spinach- so why doesn't the government give it to me for free in hopes that I will eat it?
Sooooooooo, can't drink, can't smoke, can't eat, and sex will kill you as well! Frankly- living a long life is no longer all that important to me if I am not allowed to live it as I see fit.

Posted at 2:28PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by kate

6. Taxing food? What else will the Big Brother advocates want taxed? This is counter to any liberty minded nation or populace. We are already living under the greatest multicultural police state ever in existence except the time when the federal government, aided by the Northern traitors, waged war against the free people of the South. No more taxes and no more Big Government. If you keep letting them tax/extort, you will get more of the same. I will be RESPONSIBLE for what I eat. How about taxing people who over spend their credit card limit? That is pretty hazardous to our financial and mental health, right?

Posted at 2:30PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Fred Edens

7. Why should my family be punished? My children receive treats but they are limited. My husband and I also enjoy snacking but are nowhere near overweight. What people need is a little bit of exercise and self control, not extra taxes.

Posted at 2:32PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by A Hopkin

8. I agree with Ms. Marie. Why is an apple as expensive as a box of macaroni and cheese? Sure an apple would be a wiser choice for mother to feed her children, but a box of macaroni and cheese will feed a lot more children.

Posted at 2:45PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Linda Carroll

9. I agree with the person that says make healthy food cheaper that junk food. I guess that would be to easy. I am the same way. In order for my whole family to eat healthy it is pretty expensive. Try something that makes sense like lowering cost of healthy food instead of makeing junk food more expensive.

Posted at 2:47PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Jill

10. One cannot teach an old dog new tricks. I have a daughter who is grossly overweight, but no one, not even her doctor can tell her to cut down on the quantity of food she inhales. She has destroyed her body and is well on her way to an early demise. She has absolutely no self control as to what or how much to eat. Then she has her doctor prescribe anything she sees advertised on reducing her cholesterol. She is taking more meds than anyone I have ever known who is really ill. I am her mother and hate to see this happen, but what am I to do?

Posted at 2:49PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Vivi

11. Good positive socialism, but unfortunately creating a moral hazard, as the government now profits from bad choices people make, same with cigarette taxes.

Posted at 2:52PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Jonny Frank

12. I cannot believe "Ms.Marie" wrote "Me try to eat healthy in my family."

Marie, stick to the Big Macs and deep fried fat.

Posted at 2:56PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Jim

13. I too agree with the person that says make healthy food les expensive to buy. I feel that if the Gov. did this it will enable the public to buy more of it,thus we can eat healthier.

What next are we going to not be allowed to do? Pretty soon the Police will knocking on our doors to see what we are making for dinner.

If is not to their specifications, we can be arrested.

Who Knows

Posted at 3:06PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Dooores

14.
Ok here is the deal. This is just another way for the Government to make more money off unsuspecting victims. See it was our Government you know and the FDA who allowed Rumsfield or Powell to introduce MSG in to every damn bagged and processed food in our Food Supply. Studies have shown that it is as addictive as Cocaine and alters the mind and leaves Leisions on the Brain. It also causes serious Obesity...GEEEEEES Look at Fructose, it cuts off the sensors in the brain that tell the body it's full. It does not take a person with a really high IQ to see whats going on. Look i am in no way Condoning how people abuse Food, and it is extremely sad to see people even my loved ones fall to Obesity. But Clearly if Our Government were soooooo Concerend about our well being they would limit The amount of highly Addictive Substances put in our food supply and Commercials that program Kids, Adults and Seniors. Why dont we see more advertisiments on non GMO Corn or whatever vegetable. If we know what healthy is, why do we promote the opposite? WHY, it's all about the Bucks. Just like Big Pharma and on and on, Big Biz is Killing US Yeah More Taxes, hey it helped the Smokers quit right. Damn Retards GEEEEEEEEES

Posted at 3:08PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by OZ

15. Did you guys miss the part that this is being suggested in Australia? Get a grip. The US would never pass legislation that would inhibit capitalism by imposing a special tax on junk food. We still have tobacco on the market and alcohol and folks spending thousands on plastic surgery. Don't be so quick to get your panties in a wad.

Posted at 3:10PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Christine

16. To the person that made fun of the man/woman that said Me try to eat healthy. I think she just made a mistake in hitting the keys thats all.

Why did u have to comment on it? Shame on you.

Posted at 3:12PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by DoloresTo

17. Aha! Now the Western governments can find work for all those displaced Taliban enforcers. They had effective techniques for dietary law compliance--bombs, throat slashing, stoning, etc.

Posted at 3:14PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Jimbo

18. Let me see if I have it right..... Tax the junk food so people will eat better, and not eat the junk food. I think I understand. So, we add $5 to a Big Mac and therefore.... no one wil buy it! Instead they will buy a salad or such.

Now Mcdonalds has a choice..... stop making Big Macs and concentate on salads and "healthy" food. Ergo, soon must eliminate some employees in U.S., soon faced with going out of business as no one will buy any Big Macs. Why not just make making junk food illegal and arrest all those bad people who do so?

"Stop the World, I want to get off"

Posted at 3:15PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Dale Horn

19. I agree with Ms. Marie. Make the junk food more expensive and not so easily attainable and health food more affordable. I have a low income job and I can't afford most of the good healthy foods out there. It's the governments way of population control. We eat junk because it's cheaper and die sooner. Well, it's a thought anyway.

Posted at 3:28PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Dikki

20. An "LAT" would be far more equitable than a direct tax on "junk" food.

Many consume copious quantities of food deemed "healthy" by Big Brother, and still tend toward morbid obesity. Beer, Linguine Alfredo, Lobster Newberg, bacon, foie gras and Eggs Benedict will have the same effect as the crap marketed in foil bags. Ahhh ... let's not forget spirits.

Once a year, require all to hit the scales in the office of the "Registrar of Avoirdupois".

All found overweight compared to accepted standards would be required to pay a tax based on the amount of the excess over "average" weight.

The "LAT", or Lard Ass Tax, being paid by all fatties is much more fair than a tax on those eating junk food because it's cheap.

Posted at 3:37PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Arlo J. Thudpucker