The nightly news reported that Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York is encouraging lawmakers to place a penny-per-ounce tax on the sale of sodas sold in his state. Do what? While the news story focused on the fact that Americans are obese, and putting a tax on sugary drinks will help fight that problem, I knew that reason was bunk. The government just wants to get its hands in our pockets.
The very thought of this “sin tax” drives me to drink.
As a whole, the population of the nation is obese. Our children are chubby. I don’t dispute those facts. Obesity is a risk factor for a host of health problems. I don’t argue that we shouldn’t do something about it. But, seriously, are soda pops the real problem? Will slowing our consumption of sugary drinks make a dramatic difference? Will people really stop drinking them? I don’t think so.
At Politics Daily, there was a quote from a weekly radio address by Mayor Bloomberg:
“An extra 12 cents on a can of soda would raise nearly $1 billion, allowing us to keep community health services open and teachers in the classroom,” Bloomberg said in Sunday’s speech. “And, at the same time, it would help us fight a major problem plaguing our children: obesity.”
Obviously, obesity is an afterthought. If this isn’t about money, and our legislators want skinny constituents, there are other ways to approach the problem.
The real culprits, I think, are:
- portion size
- Advertising
Not necessarily in that order. If the government has an overwhelming need to legislate something, let them go after the restaurants.
Americans “eat out.” There is no escaping that fact, and who really wants to escape it? I enjoy having a meal that someone else cooked for me. However, restaurants seem compelled to fill our plates with food … much more than normal people should eat. Yet, we all hear our mother’s words, bless her heart, ringing in our ears, “Clean your plate!”
Lawmakers who really want to stop obesity need to get creative.
Make it against the law to put that free basket of bread, or those chips and salsa before us. Demand that all restaurants practice “portion control” and serve us no more calories than a normal meal should include. Not only would that make a dent in the obesity problem, it would give a job to a lot of unemployed nutritionists!
Heck, while they are at it, the government can require that all restaurants have a health club attached! In order to eat, every patron has to work out on an elliptical machine for thirty-minutes. That should stop the obesity, right?
As for the advertising … the government should demand “truth in advertising.” Y’all know those juicy Big Macs that the television advertises in the middle of the night? They make you begin to salivate, even though you are intelligent enough to know that the hamburgers don’t really look like that. Make the advertisers show us the real deal, and I bet that it will quell any urge to grab the car keys and drive to the all-night burger joint in our pajamas.
But, instead of “penalties,” why doesn’t the government offer “incentives?” That’s right. It worked for the banks and the car companies. If government can bail them out, why not bail out the average Joe?
But, how in Thunder could they do it? Offer tax breaks for families where every member is within normal weight? That might get us off the couch, although the lure of back-to-back episodes of “Lost” might be too magnetic. Offer tax breaks to people who work out regularly at a health club? If the exercise doesn’t give people a heart attack, they will get to enjoy a bit of extra cash.
I can’t believe that the only idea our lawmakers can find to fund health care reform is a sin tax on soda pop. I can’t believe that they are telling us “it’s for your own good.” That’s a crying shame.
I’ll get off my soapbox now, and let you rant. The cats are tired of listening to me, anyway.
The sin tax on soda … are you for it or “agin” it? How do you think that the government should tackle obesity … or should those legislators just butt out?
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{ 28 comments }
Sin tax hasn’t stopped people from smoking, chewing tobacco, or drinking alcohol. Why would it cut down on soda consumption?
.-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..Homemade Sugar Body Scrubs =-.
Agreed. Lawmaker’s just want to squeeze every penny out of us that they can.
What’s wrong with a return to daily Phys Ed classes? Sidewalks? Bike Lanes? Recess?
.-= ellen´s last blog ..Guess Who Came for Dinner =-.
Oh, I see nothing wrong with those things, ellen
. Tell the government that, though.
Since when should the government be telling us what we CAN and CANNOT eat, or drink!?! It is ABSOLUTELY NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS,and any idiots that give them the RIGHT to tell us we have to do this or that in regards to this are completely NUTS.
This USED to be a FREE country.If kids OR adults for that matter want to be butterballs,it is NOBODY’S BUSINESS but their OWN.
This country is getting more and more COMMUNIST EVERY DAY,and the american people had better WAKE UP and start FIGHTING this OPPRESSION.
How crazy is this? A government telling you what you can and cannot EAT or DRINK???? I have a mind of my OWN,and I KNOW those decisions are for ME to make,NOT YOU!!!
Wow,this is DISGUSTING!! Whatever happened to freedom of CHOICE?
Barbara, it is infuriating. However, you can still “choose” to drink them … you’ll just pay a lot of extra money.
I’ve heard that suggestion on and off over the years. My question would be — will my Diet Pepsi be exempt? hahahahahahahahahaha
I don’t think soda should be taxed any differently than any other luxury food product. We pay 6% sales tax in my area on soda and ready-to-eat foods and things with nuts in them and more… why single out sodas? What about chips? or ice cream or those candy bars just sitting at the checkout stand waiting to jump on the conveyor belt and into your grocery sacks?? Sheesh.
.-= Kathleen C´s last blog ..Sooo close, yet no gold medal! =-.
Yeah, Kathleen. Those are culprits, too. Evidently some studies have shown that cola contributes to diabetes as well, and the politicians are throwing that out there. I don’t think that luxury food products should be taxed, but that’s just me.
I was against the Soda Tax until I heard both sides. Marion Nestle’s website has great nutrition-related information. http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/01/not-sure-about-soda-taxes-read-this/.
Of course government is after our money. Good catch on Bloomberg’s priorities (revenue first, health second). We need to take responsibility for our eating habits (and consequences). The Soda Tax was in the works well before the current administration rolled out their program on childhood obesity last month. Obesity has long been a taboo that no one wanted to talk about, and they have opened up that discussion.
Portion size and many other issues are symptomatic of a dysfunctional eating culture. The people who swore before congress that “cigarettes aren’t addictive” went on to devise the “super-size” campaign. As tobacco companies diversified they bought up food companies, and their goal is for us to eat more! more! more! to boost their earnings.
Nestle’s book, Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition & Health is an eye-opener. The government will not – in its nutritional studies and guidelines – recommend eating less of any food group to improve health. Big Food spends millions to fight sensible legislation and has had government agencies (FDA, USDA, CDC, NIH) on a short leash for a long while.
Unfairly restricting how restaurants run their business runs afoul of our Constitutional freedoms. Everyone knows that they can dine on quality or quantity, and no one is force-feeding those huge portions.
Advertising is a bugaboo, especially where children are concerned. Parents have to begin to say ‘No’ to junk masquerading as food. We know that advertisers lie; the best defense is to tune out marketing; and buy, cook and eat real food. All tvs have an off switch.
We have to use our resources (brains, will), because surely the advertisers are using theirs (money, creative deception). Teach every generation by example that good health is its own reward. Taxing sugared water wouldn’t be necessary if we could see it for what it is: an addictive commodity of empty calories making beaucoup moolah for stockholders.
As Michael Pollan says, let’s vote with our forks.
.-= Joy´s last blog ..TUNA WITH THE TIMES =-.
I’m hoping, Joy, that you and the other commenters realize that my suggestions were made with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek. I fully agree with you that we have a dysfunctional “eating culture.” It starts with Momma’s admonition to “clean your plate.” We are personally in control of how much we eat, and ending obesity starts at home. The government should not be trying to control it (although they could reward those who are able to control it … and it wouldn’t include me
). My complaint here is that the government wants to put a tax on sodas and tell us it is about obesity, when it is really about dollars. “Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining,” as Judge Judy would say.
Mayor Bloomberg says that the tax dollars will help fund schools … News Flash! Here in Texas years ago many schools got major funding from soda companies for the opportunity to have a monopoly on selling their swill to the students. When our state government stepped in and said, “no more,” those dollars for the schools went away. Government didn’t step in and bail out the schools….
The other day I went through a drive-through to get something for a quick lunch. (something I rarely ever do, I think it’s icky) and they had the calories listed next to each menu item. Holy Cow I had no idea how bad some of this stuff was! I think that’s the perfect way to help with the obesity problem…put those numbers in your face.
If the gov’t just wants to raise more money, just say so. Don’t make it a cheesy excuse of keeping our kids healthy. Besides…we don’t want to give them an opening to tax my coffee!
.-= Susie´s last blog ..Fun At The Fabric Store =-.
Attagirl. That’s my point, Susie. Tell me that it’s about raising money, don’t try to tell me it’s for my own good. I can decide that for myself. If they even dream of taxing our coffee, let’s get on ‘em like ducks on a June bug!
See, I read this and it stuck in my memory until I received the following email from a friend who is worried about the state of my health. So I had to rush back over here to post it. It is THE FINAL WORD on nutrition and health in the United States:
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
CONCLUSION:
Eat and drink what you like.
Speaking English is apparently what kills you.
.-= Anne´s last blog ..The Work of Human Hands =-.
Bwahaha! I love you … I love this! Thank you for coming back to post it. It made my day.
This is hilarious! May I quote you on my blog?
.-= Joy´s last blog ..MARCH MADNESS =-.
I’m betting Anne would let you, but you might need to click her link and ask her there. Just give her a link back & I bet she will be thrilled.
Sorry I missed all this! Of course you may use it, and I don’t need a link back. I think it’s one of those Internet witticisms that make the rounds.
.-= Anne´s last blog ..Fáed Fíada – The Cry of the Deer =-.
I figured you wouldn’t mind.
She can link to you anyway just for good will.
Shelly,
Perhaps you could explain to me why my last comment is “awaiting moderation? ” And why the other comments, [who also listed websites,] were printed right away? This wouldn’t happen to be restricting my freedom of speech, would it?
If I were the government, Barbara, your claim to “freedom of speech” might have some validity. This is a personal blog. I own it. I control the content, and I choose not to display comments that seem to spew anger and hatred.
Shelly,
I was simply stating the facts as to why our government thinks it is okay to limit or control what we do. Perhaps you and your ‘happy land ‘ readers cannot cope with those realities. I myself chose to face the facts of what is going on, and I do my best to try to retain our freedoms. Chosing to be ignorant of the facts will not make them go away, nor will it give you the ‘happy ending’ that we all want. The freedoms that we enjoy today were paid for with patriot’s blood. It is a shame that people are not willing to try and retain those freedoms, rather than live in their make believe world of niceties.
You may say my comments were filled with anger and hatred, well anyone who calls themselves an AMERICAN SHOULD be angry over the truths I shared with you. If those truths do not make your own blood boil, then you do not deserve to live in this county where our freedoms were bought with so many soldier’s lives.
Barbara,
I choose to live in “happy land,” and as I stated before: this is my blog. I do not come to your “house” and insult you. Please do not insult me in mine. I suggest that if you would like to rant, you may create your own blog (there are free ones) and state your rancorous point of view there.
Kiss kiss hug hug and a really big smoooooooooooooooch and cuddle. This is a happy place that is kind to others. We need more of them.
.-= Jamie´s last blog ..The Queen’s Meme #28 – The Never Should Meme =-.
Thank you, Jamie. That smooths it over. Should I erase the “not happy” stuff? It galls me to see it on here.
Jamie, I just stopped by to say pretty much the same thing. One of the things about American life that I miss the most is the ability to “agree to disagree” with our friends and neighbors on hot topics like religion and politics. My mom would have called it “keeping a civil tongue in your head.” Shelly, your blog is a small oasis of civility, and I’m so glad I bumped into it. You might be doing your readers a favor by leaving the unfortunate comments alone. That way people will know to steer clear of the person.
.-= Anne´s last blog ..The Work of Human Hands =-.
I “thought” my answer, Anne, but never wrote to thank you for your kind words. I never thought of myself as an “oasis of civility,” but I’m glad you think so. Momma did always tell me that I should be mindful of others. It never occurs to me that other folks didn’t hear that from their Momma. Or maybe it didn’t sink in well. My Momma made sure it took! Do you know what Lifebuoy Soap tastes like?
I’ll have to admit that I don’t. But I could probably say a thing or two about the taste of Zest Soap. Not particularly zesty. The folks who didn’t learn this at their mother’s knee are what my mother would have referred to as “Hmmph. Raised in a barn…”
.-= Anne´s last blog ..Fáed Fíada – The Cry of the Deer =-.
My Momma wasn’t that polite
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