So You Want to Add Tax to My Sugary Beverage Now?

There's a potential new tax on the floor, would you like to hear it? This proposal would be basically to put a tax on beverages that use sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and other high-calorie sweeteners. Some say that it'll help with our nation's obesity problem. Others say it will help pay for the health care reform that our government is working on. Do you want to know what I have to think? I think it's the biggest bunch of foolishness I've ever heard in my life!
How will raising taxes on soft drinks help our economy? Doesn't the government realize that soft drinks are one of the highest consumed beverages in the country? You'd think it would be water since it's so widely available, but I believe it is soft drinks. Maybe they know these numbers already... and maybe that's why they think it might be a good idea to tax people on common beverages. The way I see it, this will bring the job rate down even further; let me explain why.

If you raise taxes on sugary beverages that means people may not buy those beverages... which means that companies won't make as many of those sugary beverages... which means that companies would lay off people because they don't need as much manpower... which means the jobless rate increases. If you raise taxes on soft drinks concession stands everywhere would lose money. Places like sports stadiums, schools, and even vending machines would not get the revenue it used to. If you raise taxes on soft drinks restaurants will be forced to add costs to their customers. You know the restaurant isn't going to cover that cost. They'll be forced to pay extra to the vendor, and then the customer will be forced to pay extra to the restaurant. I see this taxing of soft drinks and sugary beverages doing nothing but taking money out of the economy and putting it in the government but not going back out to the economy.

There are those that argue that adding a tax to sugary beverages will help people with health-related issues and obesity. That may very well be the case, but the fact of the matter is this... you've taken away the sugary beverages by raising the taxes on them, but where will those people put their money then? Some other addiction? High-calorie foods? What are you replacing the sugary beverage with??? That person's money will go somewhere else. Maybe some will put it in savings or use it in other beneficial ways, but what needs to be addressed is the lifestyle change. Taxing people out of a lifestyle is not the answer... you need to educate them out of it, and help them realize that there is a better way. Some will go ahead and pay the extra tax, others will move on to other things. People that really want their Coca-Cola or Pepsi product will find those extra pennies to consume it... and no tax will stop them. Some will go as far as trying to make it themselves; it's not like there would be a tax on sugar itself. Some sugar, some syrup, some carbonated soda, and some creativity and you have a feasible replacement... without all the tax.

What about taxing the companies that make artificial sweeteners? I think it's unfair to tax beverages that are actually good for you. Those that use cane sugar or honey or turbinado sugar as sweeteners are actually good for you, in moderation. Has the government considered taking Nutrasweet? Or Equal? Or whatever the parent company is that makes those products? What about Splenda? No one is talking about how artificial sweeteners are causing health-related issues, we just want to focus on "sugar." Then if you're going to be equal-opportunity, some fruit juices are made with high fructose corn syrup. An 8-ounce cup of orange juice is comparable in calories to a 12-ounce can of pop. Then you have beverages that are sweetened naturally with fruit juice; what about those? Would the tax extend to those type of beverages also? After a while people will be forced to drink water... but no, that won't work because in some places like Chicago, where I live, there's a tax on each unit of water! So we have to buy our water in the suburbs just to save money on water consumption... which means we're putting more money in the gas tank to get out there. Do you see how bad this cycle is getting?

If you can't tell by now, I'm against this idea of taxing sugary beverages for a number of economic as well as reasons that should just fall under common sense. If this does get passed, then there's no limit on what we can get taxed on... fatty foods... clothes... babies... religion... breathing? I mean, where does it stop? Where does the government stop spending money to solve a problem and help its constituents with knowledge and information? Our tax money is being spent with no proof of purchase, no receipt, and on things with seemingly no tangible value or desired effects... and as a hard-working, smart-working American that's being having required of me 28% of my paycheck I have a problem with that.

I'm not so much in defense of sugar-sweetened beverages not being taxed as being taxed for something else period. I don't agree that this tax should come to pass and I pray it doesn't happen. If you want to help people, give them tools to help themselves. I'm getting off my soapbox now...