tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408079476623299004.post2757476000296821259..comments2023-05-07T04:41:28.057-07:00Comments on No Brainer Politics: Health and the Soda Tax FizzleViking Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12197723979139702731noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408079476623299004.post-83738606234787746632010-02-09T17:43:24.030-08:002010-02-09T17:43:24.030-08:00Thomas, you make some good points. I'm not sol...Thomas, you make some good points. I'm not sold on the soda tax as the best way to go. Parents and teenagers should be informed enough to make better choices for what people eat and drink without needing government guidance. But too often the better choices are not being made and it's harming both individuals and the government, because of the very high costs associated with treating the poor health conditions that too frequently result. <br /><br />I think it's a bigger issue for our society that 1 out of 3 children are overweight or obese than with adults. While I suppose one can make a case that soda and coffee could be treated the same in terms of possible taxation, one should keep in mind that almost all kids drink soda, but most do not drink coffee. Furthermore, while higher blood pressure from drinking coffee is not a good thing, I think you'd agree that getting diabetes and heart disease from sodas and fast foods is much more serious in most cases.Viking Viewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12197723979139702731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408079476623299004.post-90956837186295822632010-02-08T16:01:19.727-08:002010-02-08T16:01:19.727-08:00There is not doubt the American population has got...There is not doubt the American population has gotten more and more unhealthy as a whole over the last couple decades, thanks in large part to the explosion of cheap fastfood and 44oz sodas with free refills on every corner. However, I don't agree with placing a tax on soda. If you did that, why not place a tax on coffee as well since that caffeinates people and raises blood pressure, especially unhealthy considering very few people drink it black, instead adding scoops of sugar. It opens a dangerous door. I don't people telling me what i can and can't put in my mouth. Though I don't think it is the same as smoking for instance, when someones choice to smoke still impacts those around them. Government can make a difference by continuing to help educate kids and parents about healthy habits, not by more taxing.Thomas Dalenoreply@blogger.com