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bigguy_132 · 11-22-2007, 10:21 PM

So airlines in Australia are taxing people for being fat. Foxnews was doing a speal about it on TV I cannot find a link to an article but I did find this on the site.

Debate: Fat Tax for Fat Fliers?

Neil Weinberg, senior editor: I say pay for what you use. If you want a first class seat, then pay for one. When you put your bag on the scale and it's too much, you have to pay more. You know what else I think would work; you know those carry-on boxes you put your carry-on in to see if it fits, why not have one for people and if you don't fit in the box, you can't go in economy.

Poppy Harlow, Forbes.com senior reporter: This is completely ridiculous. Airlines won't go for it and they will lose a ton of money. Fat people are already uncomfortable to fly in the first place. Why on earth should they have to pay more to do so?

Mark Tatge: I think this is basic economics. The airline sells space. If you go to the post office, and you mail a package, if it weight more you have to pay more. It should be the same way on an airline. So why don't the airlines have double wide seats and charge 150 percent more! All of us would be more comfortable: the obese one and the skinny one sitting next to the obese one! Better yet, why not charge more for screaming children!

Josh Lipton, Forbes.com staff writer: The bottom line is an airline tax for fat people is not going to make them change their behavior, it just humiliates them. How would you even make this system work? Would you weigh people when they come in? Put them on giant butcher scales and see how much they way? I really don't see how this would work.

Mike Ozanian: There are two very good reasons as to why they should never do this. Number one; why pick on fat people? They die sooner than everyone else anyway. They save us a lot of money and never collect their social security. Number two; my wife is an awesome baker so I'll be fat soon myself!

Basically to fly if you are fat you get taxed. From the sounds of it alot of people are for it because "it would cause us to lose weight rather then just pay the tax" I dont know about you all but this PISSES me off to NO end. Did I chose to be fat no, I got screwed over in the genetics line. Discuss away.