Tax on Soft Drinks?

[Gabrielle]

Here's the article. -> blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/04/08/time-for-soda-tax-backers-want-to-cut-obesity-aid-budgets/

To me I find this stupid. I don't believe it would solve anything at all. You can away sodas and something else will take its place. People need to be taught how to eat right and to be able to afford healthy foods. I also believe if something like this did pass this is the worse time for it because of the economy. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[sue]

I agree with you...hasn't worked with cigarettes, either. The tax on cigs must be something lik three times the actual PRICE of the cigarettes. People still buy them! I don't think consumption has been diminished much...wouldn't help with soda, either. Inflated prices on coffee have only meant more coffees sold...Check the price of a Venti at Starbucks, and then check the performance of their stocks since they opened their first shop (or went public). You are right...people need to learn about better nutrition. Water is the best thing to drink most of the time, anyway! (once you've gotten your caffeine buzz for the day, anyway.) In fact, if people are concerned about the health of their children, they will stay away from ALL the fast food places! SODA is not the culprit...the culprit is the entire fast food industry! The way they entice youngsters, and then they get literally addicted to the food...nothing in that food has any redeeming value (past that it TASTES good!)

[jeantre16]

Sure, put the stuff in every food place and then tax the heck out of people for it. Sorry, I see it as a way to raise government funding for the funny checks they've been writing.

Thumbs down. Bad idea.

IMHO
<----- funny money check writing