Sin Tax

Have you heard the latest? A new tax is trying to be imposed on sodas sold in the US. They want to call it a sin tax on soda. Supposedly, the funds collected with this tax will help with the obesity problem plaguing the nation. Pa-Lease!…..If never another bottle of soda was produced, do they really think that would do away with the fat people of the world?
I have to admit that when I quit drinking soda, I did lose about 12 pounds…..quite a significant drop. But I know many people who’s main liquid consumption is water or tea, and they are still overweight. Poor diet is the most frequent cause of obesity, not soda.
The American Medical Association says that kids drink a lot more soda than milk these days, and that is helping to increase child obesity. I agree that child obesity should be contained. But isn’t that the parents’ job? Certainly not the government’s.
I understand the tax would amount to about 1 penny per can, which would generate approximately 1.5 billion dollars per year. So who dictates where those funds go, and how they are to be used? I mean, if that’s all you need to do to raise money, then add a penny tax to everything……..milk tax for dairy farmers in trouble. Automotive tax for the single mom who can’t afford a car for work. Real estate investment tax to help fund more affordable housing for single parent households. OOOhhh OOOhhh a candy bar tax so our kids don’t have to go around every year and sell them to raise funds for their schools……..I would love to see the day when schools have all the money they need and the Air Force has to have a bake sale to buy a plane!
And I used to think syntax just stood for error!