While I’m cautiously optimistic about Governor Paterson’s appointment of Kirsten Gillebrand to the US Senate, some of his proposals are just plain bone-headed. His “obesity tax” proposal is one of them. As reader Christian pointed out Paterson is projecting that revenues from a soda tax will increase from year to year, but he’s selling this tax as a way to fight obesity!
The American Council on Science and Health believes a soda tax would do nothing to combat obesity.
•First, there is no scientific basis for singling out sugar-sweetened soda and certain fruit drinks as a primary underlying cause of obesity. So many Americans these days far exceed their ideal weight because they consume too many calories from all types of foods and beverages — and do not dedicate sufficient effort to burning calories through exercise. Sugar-sweetened sodas don’t make you fatter than eating too much meat, bread, potatoes, or anything else. The old adage “for every complex problem there is a simple solution — and it never works” comes to mind here. It is always easier to zero in on one alleged villain and assume the problem is solved.
•Second, taxing soda sets up a precedent for taxing myriad foods considered “bad” by popular wisdom. Can we expect taxes next on cake, cookies, candy, and pizza? If food with high sugar or fat content is “bad” and deserving of punitive regulatory action, to be consistent will we tax orange juice (very high in sugar) and avocados (a plentiful source of fat)? Should we tax everything except tofu and spinach?
•Third, when the soda tax is examined closely — given that it will have zero net effect on reducing obesity — it must be perceived as another attempt to raise revenue for a financially strapped state. The Governor estimates that the soda tax will bring in $404 million the first year and $539 million annually after that. What’s not to like about that if you are trying to balance a budget? But the bad news is that this influx of cash has nothing to do with fighting obesity and enhancing health. Read fully story.
It’s a bit like Congress’ plan to raise the tax on cigarettes to finance health care – it’s simply ludicrous.
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