The Debate on the New Tax on Sugary Drinks

Washington has been recently fumbling the idea around of taxing sodas and high sugar drinks to help fund the new health care plan. This has once again raised a national panic on the effects of soda on your body.

Sen. Alex Padilla (CA) is a huge fighter of reducing soda consumption and the new tax. He is encouraging California lawmakers to support him and his ideas of educating the public on the effects of soda. He is a chairman on the California Senate's committee of Obesity and Diabetes. Lately, they have been parading around with "facts" like "two-thirds of children aged 12 to 17 gulp down at least one sugar-sweetened beverage daily" and how it is killing our youth.

The American Heart Association and UCLA have also come out with studies about these "evil killers". All of their findings can be found on this link, if you are interested:
UCLA: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/business/ci_13355178
AHA: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3049074

However, not everyone is all giddy about the possible new tax. The group Americans Against Food Taxes are parading against this whole new tax. Members include Pepsi, American Beverage Association, Corn Refiners Association, McDonald's, and more. Their motto is "education not taxation". The Americans Against Food Taxes's argument is that the new tax will be a burden on financially tight families. Many notable executives that support this bill are saying how the government is trying to control what we eat and drink if this law passes.

I believe that there should be no taxes on just sugary drinks. I agree with both sides that there should be more education. However, new and more taxes are not the way to go on this issue. I am an avid Coke supporter and I don't want to go to the super market and pay and extra tax just because some people think only soda is causing diabetes and obesity. Why don't they tax chocolate or popcorn? Soda is not the only food that contributes to these diseases. Therefore, there should be no tax. Over eating can cause diabetes and obesity. That's why I support the Americans Against Food Taxes foundation because it is unfair that soda is the target here.

If America wants to get this issue right, then we need to have more education and no taxes on soda. Find a new way to fund health care!

Here are some websites of interest in this debate:
Against the tax:
http://www.nofoodtaxes.com/ (Americans Against Food Taxes)
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/09/15/coke-ceo-attacks-soda-tax-as-a-commie-tactic/print/
For the tax (below)
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3049074
http://www.straightgoods.ca/2009/ViewBrief.cfm?Ref=151&Cookies=yes

Sources:

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/business/ci_13355178
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3049074
http://www.nofoodtaxes.com/
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/09/15/coke-ceo-attacks-soda-tax-as-a-commie-tactic/print/
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3049074
http://www.straightgoods.ca/2009/ViewBrief.cfm?Ref=151&Cookies=yes
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090917/hl_nm/us_obesity_soda_california