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Something's afoot, but I'm not so sure that Jezza will prevail. I remain to be convinced that he's got it in him, but am always open to being pleasantly surprised. I think all of that lot you're talking about can be dealt with by bolstering HMRC rather than running it down. Thankfully this is...

I differ on some of these, but I like your style.

Now I understand. No booze, so your vices are re-directed elsewhere and explains much of your output on here :)

There seems little that can persuade you. I keep on invoking the WHO on this. Their reports are easily accessible, and the language they use is of an obesity epidemic. With respect, it's them that I'm going to base my position on.

Broadly because I take a totally different view to who we are. Your view is informed by individualism, or the one you're expressing here is. Mine is informed by the fact that there are certain attributes -- particularly language and knowledge -- that mean that comprise any claims about...

I am over 30 and am obviously in a position of deluded intellectual superiority :) but still maintain that there's an obesity epidemic, and that it's going to take more than your platitudes for it to be debunked tomorrow, and that it'll continue to be of epidemic proportions while a libertarian...

It's both, and more (public health education, legislation, etc). It's precisely such a multi-faceted approach that has helped shift public perceptions on smoking, and should be extended to foods that are high in sugar, fat and salt, and alcohol. I'm not anti- any of these, in fact I enjoy them...

You sound like a top health professional. Even if you don't work for it, the NHS has spread great values.

I think you've got your first sentence the wrong way round. Beyond that, this is spot on. big gully has already indicated that he's basing his views on his personal experience of going into schools. In such debates, I always side with the position that you're expressing over anecdotes.

I mean by a progressive (and I accept this is a loaded term, hence your scare quotes) tax the old-fashioned, redistributive principle whereby those that earn more pay not only more tax but ascending levels on their higher earnings. To update this slightly, it would also entail ensuring that the...

And on this one, I think there's some tension between your first two sentences and the last. Taxing behaviour impedes free choice, as it directs our choices into specific directions. I think this is a good thing, and that we should value certain things above others -- decent food over MNC food...

I'm not quite sure what you're disagreeing with, if you are (but the first word suggests that you might be). I think we both agree that rather than scarcity, we now have if not abundance, at least more than required to eat in the western world. There's also the effects of MNCs intruding into our...

Check out the fat and calorie content in mayonnaise. Don't eat that any more. Nibble's rule of thumb is as good as any.

It is. I want progressive taxation on income, but also governments making a stance on what goods should be discouraged. There is an obesity epidemic. This is structural, and a result of a shift in our diets, labour practices, etc.