Well, we finally have been cited as the inspiration for reforms in England. Prime Minister David Cameron is suggesting a “fat tax” on foods to combat obesity and to avoid becoming like the United States — a nation of fat people. He appears to be unaware that we prefer to call ourselves a Rubenesque nation.
Denmark recently added a surcharge to foods containing more than 2.3% saturated fat. That would include butter, milk, cheese, pizza, meat, oil and processed food.
Cameron, however, asked citizens to look across the pond to ponder the cost of not taxing the fat.
“But frankly, do we have a problem with the growing level of obesity? Yes. Do we have a kind of warning in terms of – look at America, how bad things have got there – what happens if we don’t do anything? Yes, that should be a wake-up call.”
You’re welcome. This pays us back for the years of pointing to England as what happens if you do not take care of your teeth.
There was a time when Prime Ministers were bigger than life. Winston Churchill could literally eat David Cameron for lunch and have room for a Home Secretary and an after-dinner mint.
It is also short sighted. With global warming, sea levels are expected to rise. Rather than reduce pollution causing global warming, we have decided to simply make our people more buoyant by increasing their percentage of body fat. In contrast, England — an island nation — will remain composed of “sinkers” who will disappear under the waves of Britannia with only their workout tapes and low-fat wrappers marking the surface of where their once proud nation once stood. As we float and bob on the surface of the water, we will look across the pond with great satisfaction that our fat saved our civilization.
This is precisely why so many English people died without lifeboats on the Titanic. Had they followed our lead — rather than ridiculed our people — they would have popped up like corks in the Atlantic.
Churchill cut a different and more buoyant image. This is why he told the leaner Hitler “We are waiting for the long-promised invasion. So are the fishes.” Hitler was a sinker and Churchill knew it.
They have forgotten the original verse to Rule Britania:
The nations, not so fat as thee,
Must, in their turns, to waves fall;
While thou shalt flourish fat and free,
The dread and envy of them all.
“Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
“Britons never will be slaves.”
Source: Guardian
Blouise, My vitamin D was normal when they checked it last time, I try to get a little sun everyday but not too much. Actually, I am grateful that I feel this good in my advanced years.
SwM,
I do feel sorry for my dentist but he makes enough off of Tex’s teeth to continually buy new toys for his office. I swear, dentists love their diagnostic toys, their new drills, new super, duper, surround-sound x-ray machines, their new chairs the levitate one to heaven …
SwM & anon nurse,
Did either of you experience the Vit. D craze.
Horrors upon horrors, two years ago my Vit. D level was the lowest my doctor ever saw! I was in grave danger of developing god knows what. She was sooo worried and I went on massive doses. Now a new study has come out and too much Vit. D is a grave danger so I’m back to normal.
To compensate for the loss of fear over Vit D, I had to get a shingles shot. It’s always something.
SwM & anon nurse,
I’m thinking of “snapping” and becoming a serial ax murderer … that’ll show ’em. I’ll claim it was too much Vit. D.
“I am determined not to become one of those Rubenesque women.” –Swarthmore mom
Ditto to that…, Swarthmore mom…
You are healthier than I am, Blouise. I had to have a tooth removed along with dental implant surgery two years ago. At that time I had to go on a small dose of a blood pressure medicine, but I am determined not to become one of those Rubenesque women.
“My last visit I told her I was afflicted with Iatrophobia.” -Blouise
lol, Blouise… (I have the same fear… 🙂 )
Just one more thing for my doctor to decide I’m approaching the line of.
I don’t smoke, I don’t drink much and never to the point of inebriation, I’ve never done drugs or had multiple sex partners, and I walk for exercise every day so my weight and cholesterol are within healthy ranges.
I have all my teeth and haven’t had a cavity in 20 years … my dentist complains he can’t make any money off me.
Hell, I’m as boring as a grown woman can be and still, every six months when I see my doctor, she finds something I need to “watch”.
My last visit I told her I was afflicted with Iatrophobia.
The government better not throw another tax on anything that’s “for my own good” … it’s all transference anyway ’cause they’re all a bunch of perverts.
AY:
“Nothing wrong with Rubenesque….It matters most where the heart is…”
A smile on this end, AY… and I love the title of the article, Professor Turley…
but we love our fat overlords! Republican greed is just making the top 1% fatter between the ears so the rest of us need to be fleeced of our fat for our own good!
This calls for a visit from Mr. Creosote:
Fortunately for England, there is no Grover Norquist equivalent to hold the Brits hostage to an anti-tax fiscal psychosis.
Need to add chocolate to that list (cocoa butter is 3% sat. fat). (and for sure movie theater popcorn will end up costing you a ton of money (equal to the number of calories maybe.)
Even the eighty year olds are working out in Denmark. I don’t think I saw any fat people there. They ride their bikes to work and look so healthy although they smoke a little more than we do here. Excess body fat causes cancer along with all the other obesity related diseases.
“Denmark recently added a surcharge to foods containing more than 2.3% saturated fat. That would include butter, milk, cheese, pizza, meat, oil and processed food.”
How does this affect the price of politicians?
I guess they haven’t heard about the danger of carbs in weight gain.
Taxation is only partly about raising revenue, it is also used to encourage or discourage things the market will not. I can site several examples where this has had a great outcome for society, and several where the outcome is not so good. The law of unintended consequences is magnified with a lot of them. On the surface this looks like it could encourage people to eat better but you do have to wonder how much management people will put up with.
LOL!
Will it be a flat fat tax, or a sophisticated floating tax based on a certain amount over the king’s weight.
We will just have to weight and see.
I think many nations are looking at the Fat Nation as an unwanted development. All you can eat buffet, large portions and car driving are American interests. All those fat people will cost the health system billions.
Nothing wrong with Rubenesque….It matters most where the heart is…
Now, professor…You had some funny…funny…. rhetorical barbs…flying up there….lol