Is Fast Food the New Tobacco?

    I do not believe that fast food is the new tobacco. It's difficult to remember a time when tobacco wasn't run by the government. Looking back, we can see that once tobacco became an addiction for the American people, the government stepped in. The same can be said for the rising fear of obesity rates caused by fast food restaurants. However, I believe that rather than imposing a tax on "unhealthy foods," the American people should have a say in what they put in their bodies.

Does anyone remember the salad from McDonald's? That's fine if you don't because it didn't last long on the menu. The average consumer would much rather have the McRib, than your go-to salad. And that's their choice. Although, it is McDonald's fault for not advertising it as amazingly as their famous McRib. 

As I was reading, Don't Blame The Eater, there was one particular quote that stood out to me. 

"Whatever happened to personal responsibility?" 

In his analogy with the man driving a Porsche, the author proves a point: even though the company manufactured the car, they were not the ones who forced him to speed. Similarly, consumers can choose to stop purchasing from food chains in order to reduce their risk of obesity. Fast food restaurants are well-known for their quick delivery, on-the-go bags, and low prices. As a broke college student, I understand the appeal of getting a $5 Biggie Bag from Wendy's instead of a $12 salad from Panera Bread. It's not surprising that most children and teenagers are obese because they don't have an affordable healthier option. 

It is unfortunate that many American children do not have a say in what they eat, which is why I believe the food industry should bear more responsibility for the lack of healthy, affordable alternatives.

In the article, What You Eat Is Your Business, the author informs readers that Senator Joe Lieberman and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, among others, have called for a "fat tax" on high-calorie foods.

I challenge the fact that despite having a "fat tax" it won't change the way people live. It is not fair for the majority of citizens to suffer the consequences, which have been demonstrated by many countries to have negative societal effects such as inflation and job losses. The author assumes that if the government rewarded us for making healthier choices while punishing poor ones with our own money.

Though I would rather pay for my own consequences than those of others, there is a flaw in this method. This actively demonstrates that we would have to pay for the convenience of fast food, regardless of how we went about it. We'd still have to face a consequence. All this is to say that fat taxation is not the way way to reduce obesity rates.

Consider this: cigarette boxes are taxed, but smokers continue to buy them despite the high tax. So, what makes lawmakers believe they can prevent people from eating whatever they want?