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Tax soda to pay for health care?

But only sugared soda, not diet soda?

Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, says:

"Soda is clearly one of the most harmful products in the food supply, and it's something government should discourage the consumption of."

It's just sugar. Lots of things are full of sugar. Why single out the watery versions of sugar? And why be so sure that diet soda is not worse? Quite aside from the strange chemicals, diet soda seems to free many people to pig out on other fattening foods. Our terrible obesity problem correlates with the consumption of diet soda, not sugar.

In any case, what is the point, to raise money or to change what we consume? These are opposite goals.

But maybe I should be all for this devious scheme. I rarely drink soda, diet or sugared. And tax some other things I don't use, why don't you?

Full post as published by Althouse on May 12, 2009 (boomark / email).