Don’t Tax Soda, Tax Fat Soda Drinkers
November 3rd, 2009
I really don’t have all the answers when it comes to solving the obesity epidemic. It’s easy to say that people need to break free from their sugar addictions and take full responsibility for their lives, but exactly how we can convince individuals to do that across society is still open for debate.
Some people think, like tobacco, soda should be taxed to the point that nobody can justify drinking it any more. On one hand, I can understand this argument because smoking has declined since it started being taxed so heavily. However, I know plenty of people who still smoke and I don’t know anyone who specifically quit because of the tax.
If you’ve read this blog long enough, you also know I’m a huge fan of Ron Paul, so I have some Libertarian leanings. As a result, it’s always difficult for me to justify raising any taxes and encouraging a “Nanny State” society. At the same time, it seems that we pay either way. If we do nothing and obesity rates continue to climb, healthcare costs will rise exponentially and everyone will pay. Yet, if we tax soda, yes taxes go up, but only those who choose to drink the poison are affected. You can see my dillema.
Enter Steven R. Gundry, Medical Director and Found of The International Heart and Lung Institute in Palm Springs, California.
Writing for the Huffington Post yesterday, Gundry proposed, “There are two ways to slow obesity: One, limit where and when simple carbohydrates can be used (it worked in World War II). Or two, tax the consequences of their overuse. The first choice is legislatively improbable and not within the government’s jurisdiction but the second could work.”
Gundry goes on to argue, “It is only when the result of overusing simple carbohydrates becomes unpleasant that the epidemic will be reversed. We pay by weight for much of what we want so we should pay by our own physical weight too. Bananas are purchased by the pound, our airline luggage has weight limits and financial penalties, and the trucks that carry our cargo is taxed according to weight. It only makes sense that if we want to be fat, then we should pay a tax to cover the consequences to society we know are coming. Taxing the consequences of behavior (the overuse), not the behavior itself is a better solution.”
Needless to say, this article has generated considerable discussion. Again, I don’t have all the answers, but I find this to be an intriguing solution that at least calls for people to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions. It will be interesting to see if opinions like Gundry’s gain any ground.
Posted in Public Policy, Sugar Addiction | 1 Comment »
November 18th, 2009 at 4:00 am
Love this post! I like your writing style, and what you have to say is so true!!