Pie Hole Economics

Martin B. Schmidt, a professor of economics at William and Mary College, has penned an oped for the New York Times titled Super Tax Me.

You see, the professor is concerned about obesity, and the fast food industry’s alleged culpability in what is considered a ballooning problem in the nation.  Too many fat people.

Schmidt’s cellulite laden idea is, of course, a new tax.

We could tax the drive-through purchases at, say, 10 percent, while leaving the purchase of walk-in meals alone. At the very least, it may entice some to park and walk rather than waiting in the car.

Though Schmidt acknowledges that just such a measure impinges on personal responsibility, and adds another chore for the nannies in the growing nanny state under which we live, he brushes those concerns aside, by noting that, hey, the state taxes cigarettes because they are detrimental to individuals’ health, why not fast food purchased at the drive through.

If one desired to take Schmidt’s ill advice to its natural conclusion, one could then propose to tax not only fast food purchased at the drive through, but donut shop purchases, ice cream shop purchases, heck every snack food no matter where it may be purchased.  Or, say, tax every labor saving device manufactured, like leaf blowers or power lawn mowers, or, outlaw remote control devices for teevees and such, or promulgate a law which states if you work within five (5) miles of your home you must walk to and from work.  Or, better yet, simply tax each and every individual for every pound of weight they carry which is over and above the government’s listed ideal height/weight charts.

Taxing items, no matter what they are, is not a solution to obesity.  Keeping one’s pie hole free of excessive consumption, is.

Posted by on 10/19 at 06:42 AM

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