“Food” and Beverage Tax
You’ve probably seen the commercials paid for by the “Americans Against Food Taxes” which depict a happy American family who is concerned that taxing their soda will financially destroy them. Are they kidding?
First and foremost, soda and juice drinks ARE NOT FOOD!
I find it appalling that a great number of citizens actually believe that soda, “juice drinks”, and other flavored beverages are a necessity. Now I understand why so many children today hardly drink water. For anyone who believes this nonsense and scare tactics, look at the “Americans Against Food Taxes” website and notice who their main supporters are; Pepsi, Coke, McDonald’s, etc. Sure, there are some other associations, including AARP, but these groups oppose basically ANY TAXATION. Think about how much profit beverage companies, fast food chains, and grocers make on sugary drinks. It’s all water and high fructose corn syrup!
For everyone complaining about taxation, the government already heavily subsidizes the producers of corn; a big portion of which goes to manufacture high fructose corn syrup. Therefore, we are already being taxed to produce soda and other sugary drinks. The difference is that now those government subsidies find their way into the pockets of those huge corporations (as cheap production costs, etc.), whereas the proposed taxes would help fund healthcare in our nation (God forbid).
Don’t expect most healthcare professionals to point it out, but many chronic health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and even some behavioral issues, are directly related to nutrition. So, if the government is going to provide healthcare to everyone, nutrition must be a part of it. A proposal that helps discourage people from buying products detrimental to their health (and proven so), is fine by me. Personally, I’d like to see more junk taxed in order to subsidize healthy, nutritious foods and healthy school lunch programs. What people should be upset about is the fact that many Americans have a hard time affording fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. This falls into the same category as other excise taxes and is no way a tax on food or any necessity.
This tax may not be the best idea, but detrimental to families? Give me a break and go drink a glass of water!
September 14th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Perhaps read here: http://www.junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/ go down to the bottom right and look at the obesity myths. Heck the current article “http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-some-food-can-make-us-sick.html” is timely considering you state that nutrition is directly linked to health issues.
Second vice taxes don’t work. Period. Most GOOD economists will tell you this. Just look at Cigarettes. Not only that but vice taxes target the poor. Sure you make enough money to buy all organic or real sugar products, but high fructose corn syrup is CHEAP and the products made with it are cheap and until you can stop the production of products with HFCS in it or bring down the price of real sugar and/or organic products then all you are doing is putting higher taxes on the food that poorer people have access too. Especially those living in food deserts.
September 21st, 2009 at 7:53 am
Penny,
I appreciate your comments. I am not an economist and don’t really trust most economists; afterall, most GOOD economists failed to see the current economic disaster coming.
I understand that vice taxes are not the best answer; ideally I would vote to end the corn subsidies that allow for cheap HFCS as well as to tax the junk. The taxes could be used for research, public awareness, and chronic disease prevention. If you read about the “Western Diet” or read anything from Michael Pollan, you will understand how our society’s obesity epidemic and high rates of preventable chronic disease are mostly a result of nutrition deficiency. This is not a result of lack of food, but the fact that unhealthy, cheap food is kept artificially affordable, is cleverly marketed, and I believe addictive.
As a former single parent, I fully understand that poorer Americans may not have access to healthier food. Also understand that there is a need for programs to help people learn how to purchase healthier foods more affordably, grow some of their own food, etc.
As with most societal problems, awareness and education are the key. I would hope a tax would help to provide for that. At least it is a step towards awareness.
September 21st, 2009 at 8:00 am
Another comment, one of the ways to bring production of HFCS down, is for people not to purchase it. This does not mean you must make plenty of money! Our family mostly drinks water, we buy more expensive products when on sale, shop in bulk, COOK and BAKE at home, and grow some veggies. We also cut down on other expenses, such as the efficient use of utilities and gasoline. What you feed your family must be a high priority, worthy of small sacrifices in other less necessary areas of your budget.
June 11th, 2010 at 11:54 am
Your blog is outstanding I will have to read it all, thank you for the diversion from my workload!