Is it fair to tax your Big Mac?

[TonyB06]

Opinions anyone? Since no one is forced to eat fast food is it really a disproportionate tax? aren't there health benefits for eating less fast food, anyway?



Detroit's Mayor Kilpatrick Wants City to Tax Fast Food
Date: Sunday, May 08, 2005
By: Sarah Karush, Associated Press

Would you like fries with that? Either way, the Detroit city treasury would like a bite. Faced with a $300 million budget hole, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is hoping people in this already heavily taxed city won't mind forking over a few extra cents for their Big Macs and Whoppers.

Kilpatrick wants to ask Detroit voters to approve a two percent fast-food tax -- on top of the six percent state sales tax on restaurant meals. The mayor says consumers will barely notice the extra cents at the cash register, but critics say the tax would unfairly burden the poor and hamper economic development.

"Just tell him we're going to go to Bloomfield Hills to McDonald's if he puts a tax on it," said 18-year-old Ebony Ellis, referring to an affluent Detroit suburb, as she and four friends ate at a Golden Arches in Detroit. The high school classmates eat at McDonald's every day after school because their schedule doesn't leave them time for lunch.

read story at http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site....ews/detroit509

[AKA2D '91]

I thought (in my area) we were already being taxed for ANY purchases.

It seems like you are taxed for each item you purchase, then at the end of that purchase there is ANOTHER tax for all items purchased.

[CrimsonTide4]

NC has a food tax. Sucks to only have 99 cents but your jr. cheeseburger deluxe at Wendy's is like $1.04.

[33girl]

Originally posted by TonyB06
Kilpatrick wants to ask Detroit voters to approve a two percent fast-food tax -- on top of the six percent state sales tax on restaurant meals. The mayor says consumers will barely notice the extra cents at the cash register, but critics say the tax would unfairly burden the poor and hamper economic development.

I don't think this would hold up in court if McD's etc tried to fight it. It's like having an 8% tax at a Chinese restaurant and 6% at an Italian restaurant.

[TonyB06]

Originally posted by 33girl
I don't think this would hold up in court if McD's etc tried to fight it. It's like having an 8% tax at a Chinese restaurant and 6% at an Italian restaurant.

as I understand it, and the story suggests, it would apply to all "fast food" restaurants not just Mickey Ds. There will have to be a legalistic definition of fast food, but I'm not sure where the Chinese/Italian differentiation comes in.

and Carla, the exectives at Popeyes ain't even worried. Because they know you are comin' for yours.....

[33girl]

Originally posted by TonyB06
as I understand it, and the story suggests, it would apply to all "fast food" restaurants not just Mickey Ds.

hence the "etc" The Chinese/Italian comparison was my saying I don't think you can tax different types of prepared ready to eat food. I know that some of our grocery stores sell the "to go" meals and even though they are sold in a grocery store, they're still taxable.

I think it would be very hard to define fast food for these purposes. I mean, what about things like Baja Fresh? It's a chain, you get the food fast (relatively so) but nutrition wise it certainly isn't McDonald's.

The equally disturbing thing in this story is the kids who don't get time at school for lunch.

[TonyB06]

Originally posted by 33girl
hence the "etc" The Chinese/Italian comparison was my saying I don't think you can tax different types of prepared ready to eat food. I know that some of our grocery stores sell the "to go" meals and even though they are sold in a grocery store, they're still taxable.

I think it would be very hard to define fast food for these purposes. I mean, what about things like Baja Fresh? It's a chain, you get the food fast (relatively so) but nutrition wise it certainly isn't McDonald's.

The equally disturbing thing in this story is the kids who don't get time at school for lunch.

I'm sure they'll try to get around it, particularly if the voters approve it. What is McDonalds going to do--leave Detroit?

[LilGleek]

Hmmmmm.....
It's smart coming from Kilpatrick's perspective. He knows that we in the black community purchase a lot of fast food.

But, in the other hand, there's a scare that fast food corporations would lose business because of the extra tax.

I'm in neutral zone on this topic because...I'll be honest...I'll take a Super-size anyday. I'm surprised I'm still in the same shape. As expensive as some fast food are in the first place, I would be hesitant to pay extra. But if I was hungry and I could literally eat the menu, I'll pay for it.

What do you think?

[Lady Pi Phi]

I know in Canada (at least in Ontario) all junk food is already taxed. Fast food restaurants, prepared food/junk food at grocery stores will have GST and PST charged with it. At grocery stores, the only food items that aren't taxed are essential food items, like bread, milk, fruit, veggies, etc.

[Rudey]

They tax cigarettes and liquor even though nobody forces you to consume them. Why not tax un-healthy foods?

-Rudey

[Honeykiss1974]

If the purpose of this extra tax is to get people to eat healthier, I don't think it will work. A McDonald's salad will still be considerably higher than a cheeseburger ($4.99 vs. $.79) and now thanks to the extra tax, its still higher.

He should do what Governor Huckabee did and start a healthy lving/lifestyle campaign (because the mayor looks like he could use a few laps himself).

Call it "a Healthly Detroit" and show people how to eat healthier on a tight budget, get more grocery stores in those neighborhoods that are filled with either liquor stores or fast food places.

A tax won't stop anyone. Instead of $1.04 for a Wendy's burger, its $1.07.

[TonyB06]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
If the purpose of this extra tax is to get people to eat healthier, I don't think it will work. A McDonald's salad will still be considerably higher than a cheeseburger ($4.99 vs. $.79) and now thanks to the extra tax, its still higher.

He should do what Governor Huckabee did and start a healthy lving/lifestyle campaign (because the mayor looks like he could use a few laps himself).

I don't think the tax has anything to do with healthier eating; it's to raise additional needed revenue for Detroit. The resultant healthy eating would be an unintended, but I'd imagine, welcomed benefit.

Hey, hey, back up off Bro. Mayor Kilpatrick. The "ice-cold" resurgence of Detroit's comeback is due in no small measure to the leadership of Bro. Kwame and the good bruhs of Gamma Lambda chapter.

[The Truth]

Wasn't this mayor just on the list for the worst mayors in America?

He just tryin' to do what he can.

[Professor]

This is crazy - why not just raise tax as a whole. To just use this chain is is is - well, I don't eat there so let me be quiet.

[soft&beautiful]

I am NOT that impressed with Kwame's leadership. At first glance, the fast food tax may seem as though it is a good idea, however, it will not effectively reduce the huge deficit we have with any type of immediacy. Although, if he really wants to be effective he would attack businesses owned by nationalities who do NOT have to pay tax and do NOT stay in our communities which they hurt by littering our communities with liquor stores and wig joints, stop the privatization of local services, and create better business venues that would bring large portions of revenue to the city. Don't get me wrong I of all people want to see a young brother make it, but he has marred his administration. If he can show me a real plan for the city of Detroit I might reconsider;the forerunner right now is Freeman Hendricks.