Danish Fat Tax

Well I am totally against this. Denmark has officially become the first country to induce a "fat tax" on products deemed to contain too much saturated fat. Objects affected include butter, milk, lard, and cheese, some of which escalated in price by over 35% over night. The Danish government claims that it passed the tax in order to help Danes lead a healthier, longer life.

Now, I have no problem with people helping others be healthy. But I do have a problem with people forcing other's to be healthy by punishing those which are fully capable themselves. And even more, forcing people to cut things out of their diet that, while containing some bad things, are largely "OK" when it comes to food. For example...the tax sees no difference between a gallon of natural cow milk, which contains saturated fat, and McDonalds. That's right...McDonald's and Dairy farmers are hurt by the same law, meant to protect health. Dairy farmers are enraged as now their product, largely accepted as a good part of a healthy diet, will see reduced annual revenue. How much? they aren't sure yet, but everything from supermarkets to restaurants to the family farm are now being punished for producing food which, when eaten in correct moderation, has virtually no ill-effects.

The biggest thing I dont like is that this moves more and more to a society that takes no responsibility whatsoever for our own decisions. Instead of a person thinking about consequences, weighing options and deciding, they now just ask the government. Instead of accepting the consequences we now can blame the powers that be for not warning us. Instead of taking accountability for our mistakes, we can now blame someone else for not making sure that we knew...I don't like that. When people can fully rely on others to do work for them, work doesn't get done...when people don't have to think, they won't. I don't want to live in a world where I have to pay an extra 50 cents for cheese because someone else can't decide when enough is enough.

It's not cut and dry because it will help people become healthier...but what do you consider being healthy; a person who knowingly chooses to eat an apple because it's better for them or a person who is forced to eat healthier because of money and just waits for the next paycheck to grab a snack?

http://news.yahoo.com/beating-butter-denmark-imposes-worlds-first-fat-tax-075500822.html