Thank You Democrats/Communist -US state wants to tax TVs, video games to fight fat

[HiramAbiff]

Originally Posted by SLedford

Mike Huckabee, our former Governor here in Arkansas, put through a program in the schools to measure the body fat of each student and add that to the report card. The idea was that the parent would get some idea how the child was doing physically while they were reading the scores of how they were doing educationally.

Of course the teachers unions were opposed to this. Seem that even something as minor as weighing and reporting TO PARENTS the body fat index of their child was bad because IT MIGHT HURT THE SELF ESTEEM OF THE CHILD.

I don't know what the answer is, but offering more outdoor options to the kids as part of school might be an answer. Maybe a "kids explorer passport" with each "country" stamped as it is visited. Supervised jogging for a mile each day would be logged. Ten miles gets you to Canada, 20 to Greenland and so on. Let the child plan their route, with the idea being to visit as many countries as possible during the school year.

Actually, this could be tied into learning geography as well. Learn a little about the "country" while you are there.

The more duties that ought to be handled by parents the government takes upon itself, the less incentive there will be for parents as a group to take care of that duty. By paying for a kid's food and health care, they already have a direct financial interest in their kid's well-being.

[DodgerKing]

Originally Posted by HiramAbiff

I hate these off-topic political posts, but I have to correct you there. There are things the government can do more efficiently than the people can do for themselves, such as maintain law and order, provide public goods, enforce contracts, fight fraud and coercion, deal with externalities, etc.

I don't disagree with you there. There are constitutional responsibilities and reasons for those responsibilities. I was addressing other issues, such as the one this topic addresses.

[cvbcbassfisher]

Instead of recognizing the problem of child obesity and proposing a different solution, politics devolves into name calling and attacking various groups. Polarization never solves problems.

[Dervrak]

A Democratic lawmaker in New Mexico wants to tax televisions and video games to raise funds to fight childhood obesity and improve education in the state, officials said Friday.

The only thing this would accomplish would be to push more sales out of state to internet retailers that don't collect sales tax. In-state brick and mortar retailers have a tough enough time competing with virtual retailers as it is without the state adding yet another "incentive" to order online.

[Jim Bob Jones]

You guys should stop calling names. They all want to tax somebody to fund something. Under your broad definition, they would all be socialists/communists. Idiotic.

[eHDMI]

Seems I got everyone up on arms! The government should stay out of our lives. Let parents be parents. Has anyone ever noticed that half of Congress is fat? Perhaps Ted Kennedy should tax himself more to lose weight?

I pay over 50% total in taxes already. They have plenty of money to waste on pointless programs.

[Jim Bob Jones]

Originally Posted by eHDMI

Seems I got everyone up on arms! The government should stay out of our lives. Let parents be parents. Has anyone ever noticed that half of Congress is fat? Perhaps Ted Kennedy should tax himself more to lose weight?

I pay over 50% total in taxes already. They have plenty of money to waste on pointless programs.

You should stick to something you know-whatever that might be and stop insulting people with whom you have a policy disagreement. Write to your legislators to voice your opinion regarding proposed legislation.

[eHDMI]

Just wanted to add the story since they are considering taxing TV's...figured those in NM might want to know. I though this would come from CA first....

[Rick-F]

Originally Posted by HiramAbiff

I hate these off-topic political posts, but I have to correct you there. There are things the government can do more efficiently than the people can do for themselves, such as maintain law and order, provide public goods, enforce contracts, fight fraud and coercion, deal with externalities, etc.

There are things the federal government should do . . . and they are ALL written down in the Constitution. Other than the military (law enforcement {FBI, etc.} / intelligence {CIA, etc}), I have seen NOTHING being done by the US government that could not be done more effectively & efficiently by private institutions or local governments.

Our Post Office was so good at delivering small packages/parcels-- that UPS and FedEX (and others) failed in their first year . . . All of our federally funded and therefore, "guided" schools -- are all so good there is no need for any private schools . . . The list goes ON and ON and ON . . .

What our Congress needs is a six month recess each year, and six months of vacation for rest of the year. The LESS our government does the better I like it.

[Ntruder]

Originally Posted by DodgerKing

I wouldn't go as far as calling them Communists, but socialists they definitely are.

And I'm glad to see you know nothing about politics! Welcome to earth.

[hatt]

Originally Posted by Jim Bob Jones

You guys should stop calling names. They all want to tax somebody to fund something. Under your broad definition, they would all be socialists/communists. Idiotic.

Looks like you hit the nail on the head. Both parties are garbage now, people are now choosing the least full trash bin.

[mshulman]

Originally Posted by richiephx1

Another option would be birth control

Problem is people don't use it.

I know this country (or at least hope) would never put restrictions on who can have parents, but there are so many bad parents out there, it does make me wonder what this country would be like if they did.

[Redikilowatt]

Hmmm, shouldn't this thread be moved to the Off Topic Forum

Roger

[rbinck]

Well it started out as a news item and changed to a different discussion so I agree about moving it. Done.

[junehhan]

I hope i'm not offending anyone here, but my response to politicians that want to tax some of my favourite hobbies.........


FUCK YOU, YOU PIECE OF SHIT. TAXING SHIT IS THE ONLY THING YOU POLITICIANS ARE EVER GOOD AT, BECAUSE YOU SURE AS HELL CAN'T RUN A COUNTRY.