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Games Tax To Fund Obesity Prevention?

Posted by simoniker on from the fat-tax-lacks-backers dept.

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to an AP/Yahoo story discussing a New York State proposal to tax videogames, and use the money to prevent obesity. According to the article, "..the 1 percent tax hike proposed by Assemblyman Felix Ortiz would apply to junk food, video games and television commercials, which Ortiz blames on New York's growing obesity problem. Ortiz, a Democrat, did not rule out proposing tax increases on other things that he believes contribute to obesity." Fortunately, the proposal is believed to have a "slim chance" of passing into law.

9 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. wtf? by baloogan · · Score: 2, Funny

    Games do not make one fat
    Make no sence these yoda speakers do

  2. Yes, but.... by ActiveSX · · Score: 2, Funny

    "slim chance"

    "Slim"? Isn't that what they're hoping for?

  3. How about a tax on /. subscriptions? by njchick · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just imagine how much time it takes to get an FP! That would certainly contribute to obesity.

  4. Easier solution by flatface · · Score: 5, Funny

    Promote DDR.

  5. Anyone else notice the funny error? by Beryllium+Sphere(tm) · · Score: 2, Funny

    >television commercials, which Ortiz blames on New York's growing obesity problem

    It doesn't say "blames for", it says "blames on".

    That's interesting. Isn't it scary to think that New York's obesity problem is causing television commercials?

    Causing junk food and video games is one thing, but television commercials? That's an incentive for a diet.

  6. Better ways to combat obesity by erroneous · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... such as not having sex with fat people.

    --
    erroneous: look me up in a dictionary
  7. yay! Taxes are always the answer! by Mantrid · · Score: 2, Funny

    Give me a break, any bloody excuse to add a new tax, and I guess it shouldn't surprise anyone that this is a NY State idea. Enough freaking taxes already! The government already has more than it needs.

    (pictures government officals having money fights with wads of our money)

  8. A better idea... by jetsfandb · · Score: 2, Funny

    Fine any politician $100,000 for each moronic idea they propose. That way, we can fund all the special programs we want, elminate any budget and trade deficits, pay off the national debt, and have enough left over to feed a third world country.

    --
    It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion, It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, The hands acqui
  9. It takes two hands by techstar25 · · Score: 2, Funny

    It takes two hands to hold a video came controller, leaving no free hand to reach for the Doritos. Television watching, however, frees up one hand for the beer AND the other for the chips.