A Fat Tax Is Not the Solution for Obesity

on August 4, 2011 at 8:35 AM

fat pizza Recently I read an article advocating for the extreme taxation of junk food and increased farm subsidies as a solution to America’s obesity problem. The only link I can find between those things is that further socializing the food industry will make sure everyone is equally hungry, and therefore equally (involuntarily) skinny.

The author wrote in support of an opinion piece by cookbook author Mark Bittman calling for a tax on junk food. His premise is this:

Rather than subsidizing the production of unhealthful foods, we should turn the tables and tax things like soda, French fries, doughnuts, and hyperprocessed snacks. The resulting income should be earmarked for a program that encourages a sound diet for Americans by making healthy food more affordable and widely available.

I’m not here to argue that Americans have problems with over-eating and junk food. I’m saying that what someone decides to eat or drink is his or her business -- not mine, and certainly not Uncle Sam’s. If another person wants to eat fried chicken and Milky Way bars all day long, they have to deal with the consequences of obesity.

But what about the argument that it leads to increased health care costs?

A better solution to saving on health care costs is to stop socializing health care. If people paid their own medical bills, they’d be more likely to live a healthy lifestyle, since they’d be responsible for paying for their own type II diabetes medication. When the things I do directly affect my financial situation, you better bet that I make careful choices.

Besides, the whole raising-sin-taxes-will-increase-tax-revenue is a falsehood. People will cut their consumption, or producers will limit their supply and jack up the price, which means more people would decrease their intake, and the whole thing deteriorates while the black market for the product flourishes. Do you think people stopped drinking during prohibition?

Who even decides what junk food is? Is a chocolate chip cookie junk food? What if it’s organic? Does that cancel out the junk factor? Clearly, we’re going to need a U.S. Department of Junk Food to figure this all out. Lovely. More overpaid Washington bureaucrats making decisions for me. That’s exactly what this country needs right now (insert eye-roll here).

Certainly, people would be better off limiting their intake of junk food. But it’s hardly the government’s job to be our food police.

Image via PaullYoung/Flickr

Filed Under: corporations, economy, human rights, in the news, law, politics, taxes

Like What You Just Read?

Click the "Like" button below to get Jenny Erikson's stories on Facebook.

Comments (25)

butterflymkm

on Aug 4, 2011 at 8:52 AM

Yeah, get rid of Medicaid & Medicare. Screw grandma & her heart medicine. Good plan! Who cares if there's a "sin" tax on junk food if a bunch of people drop dead from lack of medical care, right?

Report this comment

Nonmember comment from justme

on Aug 4, 2011 at 8:53 AM

What you fail to address in your blog, however, is that in many poor inner city areas access to healthy and fresh foods is extremely limited and over priced. Perhaps if it was the other way around, overpriced junk food with subsidies that allow for lower prices on fresh, healthy foods, then individuals who already would make that choice if that had the means can actually do so. Also, on the healthcare issue, lots of people again would pay their own healthcare costs, IF THEY COULD. Many social conservatives live in this fantasy world where, if you work hard you can actually get somewhere. Most of the hardest working people I know are poor, will probably always be poor, and because of that fact almost never see a doctor until an problem becomes completely unbearable....and even then they can't pay they darn bill. Poor does not = lazy and entitled.

Jet2613

on Aug 4, 2011 at 8:58 AM

They keep raising the Tax on cigarrettes but people keep smoking them, the same thing for junk food. And does this cookbook author not know how much 15 pills of meds for type 2 diabetes cost with out insurance? I can see people just dropping dead.

billsfan1104

on Aug 4, 2011 at 9:00 AM

just like the cigarette tax helped out soooooo much. It didnt stop people from smoking, it just made them go to the reservations, so New York is pissed off that they are not getting the money that they thought they were gonna get, so now they are trying to start taxing the indian reservations. So a "fat tax" is not going to solve the obesity problem. Education and making the healthy food cheaper will be a huge step.

Facebook comment from Melissa Loor

on Aug 4, 2011 at 9:03 AM

I would put a limit on what Medicaid and Medicare pay for. If someone sits on their azz all day and doesn't exercise, doesn't attempt to eat right, I shouldn't be paying for all the diabetic meds, BP meds, or hospital visits from shortness of breath. If they don't make an effort to stay healthy, why should I be paying for it?

Facebook comment from Robert Sewell

on Aug 4, 2011 at 9:25 AM

Jenny, as usual you are right on the "money." The problem is that when it comes to health and healthcare there are many who fail to make the link between personal freedom and personal responsibility. Responsibility for poor individual choices is something the left believes should be shifted to a collective responsibility. Universal, government controlled and apportioned healthcare is the cornerstone of the socialist movement and resistance to that movement is always met with comments like those of butterflymkm (see above). Check out "Healthcare Choices" http://tinyurl.com/5tw5r52

sugarmansmom

on Aug 4, 2011 at 9:35 AM

I don't believe we on the left generally believe that "responsibility for poor individual choices should be shifted to a collective responsibility"...at least I don't. What I do believe, however, is that it is a collective responsibility to ensure ACCESS to all...affordable access to healthy foods, good education and healthcare. Many of these so calledleaches on society that so many like to bash as being simply lazy are actually very hard working people. Have you ever tried to survive on minimum wage? Even if you're lucky enough to have a min, wage job that provides healthcare, you still can't make the copays.

Nonmember comment from DT

on Aug 4, 2011 at 9:39 AM

that pizza looks so good....

dirtiekittie

on Aug 4, 2011 at 9:46 AM

taxing junk food won't work - i'm pretty sure we just had this convo & similar post around here. but the fact is, increasing tax to 'force' someone to eat healthy just isn't feasible. firstly, it requires that we a have some department of talking heads determining what's good and what's bad. secondly, it requires a very fine black and white when it comes to "junk food vs not" because like the blogger said, what if it's an organic cookie? and for that, where would something like a snackwells devils food cookie (mmm) fall in line? is there a lesser tax for lesser offense? thirdly, you're also counting on the government to properly utilize tax money. because they've done SUCH a good job of directing our tax dollars, right?

lastly, and most importantly - uncle sam is there to run the country, not be a personal trainer. we don't need MORE government intervention!!

Facebook comment from Billie Jo Evans

on Aug 4, 2011 at 9:54 AM

I very much agree that junk foods should have higher taxes! We have high taxes on cigarettes because they're unhealthy and junk food is just as deadly in my eyes. We also need to lower the cost of health foods. I really do think that people can do without a daily intake of junk food anyways, WE HAVE THE BIGGEST FAT RATIO IN OUR COUNTRY IN ALL THE WORLD!! It wouldn't hurt for most people to lay off the junkfood and jump on a threadmill.