Will the Fat Tax Make Us Healthy?

Fat Tax. An extra percentage of money attached to your twinkies, ho hos and soda pop. Raise your hand if you are appalled at the thought of the government being involved in your midnight binges in front of Nick at Night. After you calm down, go get yourself a mocha latte and think about it this way. That extra money (pennies really) could be a key  player in the war against becoming China's bitch. If that tax money is collected and applied to our national debt we could begin to change the dynamics of our economic policy.

Think of all the junk food you as an individual or family buy. Yes - all that fast food, junk food, soda, and crap is making us one fat nation. But do you think people are going to stop buying all of it just because there is a fat tax on it? It is all about personal responsibility - and that responsibility is not affected by pennies. It is affected by emotional attachments to food. Just like the cigarette and alcohol taxes, the fat tax will just be added in to the dollar amount and not even considered as government interference. People may grumble and shake their fists, but they will still buy their twinkies. People will still go to McDonalds. People will not suddenly become slim and healthy because their happy food is taxed.

Ok Liberatarians - what are your thoughts?

~ J

A Better Politician? An excellent piece on Paul Ryan

How do you train or raise up a better politician?  Brian J. Bolduc, an economics editorial writer for the Harvard Crimson, published a solid piece on the topic and Paul Ryan.  Read the following excerpts, then head to the Harvard Crimson to read the piece in its entirety.  Here are some excerpts:

- Mr. Ryan has proposed a “Roadmap for America’s Future,” which even the president considers “a serious proposal.”

- Individualism is far more pro-human than collectivism; I think Hayek did a great job of showing that,” Mr. Ryan said.

- “You shouldn’t be embarrassed by the tea parties. They are people fed up with big government. That is something that every conservative should be comfortable with…It’s more of a snobbish thing. If you’re trying not to be associated with tea parties, you’re not prepared to intellectually defend your ideas.”

- When I asked whether he should accept the fact that Democrats won the last election and stop writing bills that die in committee, he objected: “So we should surrender our principles? I think we owe it to people to give them an alternative. The reason my plan is not going anywhere is because Democrats control Washington. I’m not prepared to accept that as a permanent condition. You don’t get the climate of change without giving a principled detailed alternative.”

Want more?  Read the whole piece here.