906_Ind3_S1

Name: Christine Kim

Instructions: Now that your group has decided on an issue, you must demonstrate that there is a problem. You will turn in this research sheet completed with two articles attached that you showed that there is a problem

I. There is a problem in society today. That problem is:

not enforcing an additional tax on fast food to offset some of the spending cuts for consumers. Not enough tax helps cause the issue of obesity in this country. With tax revenue, it could help discourage consumers from eating fast food that are not good for them and this can also help cover health care, medical search and other items for all Americans. Also, there is an imbalance of prices between healthy food and unhealthy food causes more consumers to buy the cheap, junk food than the more expensive, healthier food. In the past, the government has imposed sin taxes on cigarettes which have been the most effective weapon to reduce smoking. So why not impose an additional tax to fast food? There are already many obese people that has cost Medicare, Medicaid and other private insurers extra money to pay for them. That is why this is the problem I would like to fix with this society today.

II. Facts that demonstrate that there is a problem are: (Two articles and bibliography must be attached)

According to a study by America's Centres for Disease Control and RTI International, obese people cost Medicare an extra $1,486 each, Medicaid an extra $864 each and private insurers an extra $423 each. Since the governments tax cigarettes both to discourage smoking and to pay for its consequences, they should tax the things that make people fat. It has been stated that 40% of an average family's food is spent on fast food which to a big problem. With that said, it is not surprising that 30% of American adults, some 60 million people, are obese and the percentage of obese youths tripled since the 1960's. A state Health Division study said that 20% of Nevada children are obese and that is higher than the 17% national average. Also, a New England Journal of Health study discovered that a 1 cent per ounce increase in soft drink taxes would lead to 25% less consumption of those drinks. This same case may work for fast food as well. If we increase tax on fast foods then the prices can balance out with the healthier foods such as vegetables and fruits. Therefore, taxing on fast food would be beneficial to everybody in many ways.

Ed, Vogel. "Legislator Urges Junk Food Tax." //Las Vegas Review// 12 Feb. 2011: B1. //ProQuest Platinum//. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. .
 * Bibliography**

Schmidt, Martine B. "Supertax Me." //The New York Times// 19 Oct. 2006: A27. //ProQuest Platinum//. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. .

Duncan, Emma, and Others. "Spoilt for Choice: A Survey of Food." //The Economist// 13 Dec. 2003: 1+. //Sirs Researcher//. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. .