Why not a fat tax?

January 2nd, 2009

Why not a fat tax?

Now I don’t disagree with taxes on cigarettes, because we know the health risks and quite frankly I can’t stand the smell.

There are various people primarily in New York that are trying to pass tax laws into effect that would tax sugary drinks such as soda or any non-dietary drinks that is less than 70% fruit juice. Now I don’t even drink soda.  I haven’t since Jan of 1995 (rarely I’ll have a caffeine free root beer, I treat as if it were candy.)  Why would I care?

What’s next a tax on people who are over a certain body mass index (BMI)?

Top 5 reasons why this is a bad bad idea:

1)      Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Let’s start here.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. –Declaration of Independence

Let’s see liberty is commonly defined as:  The freedom to act or believe without being stopped by unnecessary force.

Pursuit of Happiness– although I’m not happy with my body and I’m working to improve it… That’s my pursuit.  I know plenty of people who wouldn’t fit the description of fit (by BMI standards) who are very happy with their life.

2)      Since when has the government’s involvement with anything ever made things better?   (This really scares me when it comes to fixing the economy).

3)      Where does it stop?   The government is known for ever expanding… this just opens the door for a whole lot of badness.

4)      No change in the world is permanent by force.  It has to be a choice.  People must make the choice to live how they desire or at some point they will stand up and revolt.

5)      Introducing new taxes during a recession that’s going  depression, is a dumb idea.

What could and should be done:

  • Educated people on the addictiveness of sugar.  The impact of sugary drinks on your body and processed sugar in general.  (This will require new unbiased studies by medical personnel not influenced by Corps and big pharmaceutical. Harder than trying to find a jury member for an OJ trial.) 

January is International Sugar Free Month. Read: http://olsonnd.com/think-you-can-go-30-days-without-any-sugar/

  • Remove soda machines from school systems (already done in some states).  Not just soda all sugary drinks.   If parents want their kids to have it they can send it in their lunch pail.
  • If people are educated and make the choice to consume these products. Then so be it.  It’s a choice, back off.

Hey politicians!  You’ve tried to regulate things in the past… How’d that work out for you?   I can just see it now…  Having to go to the wrong side of town to get some sugar, candy, and fast food from the local crack dealer.

Good life, Good Health and Good luck …

Categories: rants and gripes | Tags: , , | 8 Comments