What do you think of the proposed soda tax?

[DizBelle]

They'd probably think how do you drink that crap!

As for the education, anything you want to know can now be found online. There is good information out there and bad information out there. It requires some critical thinking and taking hidden agendas and conflicts of interest in to mind but lack of information can't be used as an excuse for anything in the 21st century.



I think diet soda is worse. It might not be as high in calories but those science experiments they call artificial sweeteners are worse then sugar. There is more to health then just weight. That is where the problem with the tax comes in. Weight is only one part of the overall picture.

True - but the statement was that diet soda contributed to obesity just as much as regular soda.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

They'd probably think how do you drink that crap!

Ha! Although compared to some of the swill they drank, they might actually like it!

As for the education, anything you want to know can now be found online. There is good information out there and bad information out there. It requires some critical thinking and taking hidden agendas and conflicts of interest in to mind but lack of information can't be used as an excuse for anything in the 21st century.

Good point. Education, in many ways, is better - and in many ways, easier - today than it's been at any other time in our history. (But I agree people need to be careful about where they get their information from as not all information is good information.)

Imagine what might occur, if, say, instead of marketing junk TO our society in advertisements, we focus more on education efforts.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

If we truly want to do something about the obesity epidemic, we will bring physical education back into our schools along with a basic nutrition course. The soda tax does nothing for the underlying problem -- the fact that we live in a sedentary society.

I agree. Back in the day, kids had phys. ed. twice a week. Now, it is once a week. Recess time used to be twice a day, now it is once a day. School lunches aren't that healthy either. Kids need to learn about nutrition, eating healthy.....they also need time to run around run.

The soda tax is just a way to tax people, not make them healthy.

 

[bicker]

Education helps people help themselves.

No question, but my point was in the next sentence after the one you replied to: "for all we know we've reached the point (or really perhaps have gone beyond the point) where there is such a diminishing rate of return on the cost of education that your idea, there, is just throwing good money after bad".

It takes a village is not just another way of saying education. It's about community involvement, for, as you say, the better good.

Operationally, what are you really talking about? Is this next paragraph an explanation?

People may be more likely to make better choices if given options.

So are you saying that you think the problem is that people don't have (for example) beverage options that don't have sugar in them?

Of course, they'd need to understand why one choice is better than the other and that involves education and role modeling, etc.

Which goes back to my point about diminished rate of return. Surely what you're suggesting can, and probably already has, gotten us so far, but it isn't far enough.

Surely a society that values all you've said would be willing to put forth the expense of educating its people so as the betterment of that society will justify the cost of said education.

Actually, as I indicated, we already do. So figure that that's been effective to some extent, but not enough, and now we need to do more.

Taxes are not the only or best solution to everything, IMO.

Of course, but they're also not "never" the best solution for something.

I'm not a huge soda drinker so it's not going to effect me much one way or the other.

I don't even think of it in those terms. How it affects me personally is really rather irrelevant as far as I'm concerned.

But it seems short sighted to keep raising taxes as a bandaid solution to some of the problems we face in our society.

There's no reason to consider it a Band-Aid solution; it's just a tool, one of many that can be deployed to have positive effect on this issue.

I can't help but wonder what our forefathers would think of this.

They wouldn't think anything because they're dead and the brain stops working once you die.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I really don't know how it's possible to leave politics out of it.

It's not like it's a one dimensional subject. There are just too many layers to it, IMHO.

As a health care professional, naturally I'd love to see all of the health problems we see go away.

Controversy begins, however, once we begin talking about solutions and those pesky things like individual freedoms, taxes, life, liberty and the persuit of happiness, and capitalism come into play.

It is an interesting and controversial proposal. The only way we can discuss it at all on the DIS is to keep the topic on point with the obesity epidemic and personal responsibility (or as some pointed out people's responsibilities to others). Never stated it wasn't political. Just that by DIS rules, we can't discuss the politics of it.

 

[bicker]

The problem is that PEOPLE are subsituting the calories saved from drinking diet soda with other calories.

Just a point about this: The problem with sugar is not just calories. It's also the insulin response that results. Some other things have excessive calories; some other things trigger excessive insulin response; but sugar does both -- a double-bad.

You may argue that the study suggests that diet soda sets off certain triggers. That doesn't matter. When it comes down to it, you CHOOSE to put the candy bar in your mouth or not. It doesn't fly in there of its own accord.

Even beyond what you're saying there, the "certain triggers" you're talking about is just a single-bad. Sugar is a double-bad, in this respect. That's why it floats to the top of the list.

 

[DizBelle]

If we keep going this way, we'll be going to the "grocery store" to get our weekly allotment of "nutri-paste". This will be the only thing you will be permitted to consume and the only choice you have is color. And those choices will be beige or grey. YUM!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

If we keep going this way, we'll be going to the "grocery store" to get our weekly allotment of "nutri-paste". This will be the only thing you will be permitted to consume and the only choice you have is color. And those choices will be beige or grey. YUM!

 

[bicker]

If we keep going this way, we'll be going to the "grocery store" to get our weekly allotment of "nutri-paste". This will be the only thing you will be permitted to consume and the only choice you have is color. And those choices will be beige or grey. YUM!

That's simply not the case. There is nothing whatsoever that indicates that your extreme scenario is even remotely possible in this context. With respect, unless I'm missing something, I don't see any foundation for even raising the prospect, except to reduce the discussion to triviality.

 

[IDoDis]

A tax on soda and processed foods just passed here and goes into effect on July 1st assuming the governor signs it into law. Even white bread (not whole wheat) will be taxed more which also includes flour tortillas. This coming from New Mexico where white flour tortillas are a staple. The tax has since been dubbed, "The Tortilla Tax."

At first I was unhappy about the soda tax, but have been having problems with my teeth that I diligently take care of. My problem has been the acid from the soda has taken away the enamel on my teeth even though I brush and floss twice a day, and now I'm having teeth problems. I always heard this could happen from soda but just dissed the information because I always had good teeth. Since finding out about my teeth problems due to soda, I've curbed my soda consumption (Diet Pepsi/Coke) to two sodas a week, so the extra tax will help me even more, as well as helping the rest of my family not to screw up their teeth from the acids as well.

In the long run, paying the extra tax will help save the government millions of dollars on subsidized dental and health care.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

That's simply not the case. There is nothing whatsoever that indicates that your extreme scenario is even remotely possible in this context. With respect, unless I'm missing something, I don't see any foundation for even raising the prospect, except to reduce the discussion to triviality.

I have seen too many government controls placed on things that are bad for you to discount this statement as an attempt to "reduce the discussion to triviality." It was funny, and apropos...

 

[karen l]

Taxing soda is not going to curb obesity any more that taxing cigarettes is going to cause smokers to quit smoking. Anyone who thinks that taxing soda will have any impact on the average weight of Americans is either unrealistic or delusional.

I seriously doubt that those who proposed/support this tax think that it will have any impact on obesity. It just makes for a good sound-bite. And they are hoping that Americans are stupid enough to believe it.

completely agree! I know I have to watch how much soda I drink, I don't need Big Brother to tell me. I like to enjoy soda on the weekend as a "treat" & I don't want to pay more for it. They're all ready taxing us to death - I live in Taxachusetts - enough all ready.

 

[FergieTCat]

If a calorie is a calorie, and obesity is caused by consuming too many calories, apparently, soda has less calories than both orange juice and milk:

Orange Juice - 8 ounces/1 cup - 122 calories
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-orange-juice-i14425

2% Fat Milk - 8 ounces/1 cup - 122 calories
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-milk-reduced-fat-fluid-2-i1079

Coca Cola - 8 ounces/1 cup - 97 calories
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-coca-cola-classic-i98047

I'll admit that Coke has absolutely no nutritional value as compared to the other 2 beverages, but it does have less calories.

 

[DizBelle]

Would you like soilent beige or soilent grey this week?

 

[OceanAnnie]

If a calorie is a calorie, and obesity is caused by consuming too many calories, apparently, soda has less calories than both orange juice and milk:

Orange Juice - 8 ounces/1 cup - 122 calories
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-orange-juice-i14425

2% Fat Milk - 8 ounces/1 cup - 122 calories
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-milk-reduced-fat-fluid-2-i1079

Coca Cola - 8 ounces/1 cup - 97 calories
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-coca-cola-classic-i98047

I'll admit that Coke has absolutely no nutritional value as compared to the other 2 beverages, but it does have less calories.

Thanks for posting. I think it's interesting.

 

[FergieTCat]

Would you like soilent beige or soilent grey this week?

Soylent green is people!

 

[OceanAnnie]

A tax on soda and processed foods just passed here and goes into effect on July 1st assuming the governor signs it into law. Even white bread (not whole wheat) will be taxed more which also includes flour tortillas. This coming from New Mexico where white flour tortillas are a staple. The tax has since been dubbed, "The Tortilla Tax."

At first I was unhappy about the soda tax, but have been having problems with my teeth that I diligently take care of. My problem has been the acid from the soda has taken away the enamel on my teeth even though I brush and floss twice a day, and now I'm having teeth problems. I always heard this could happen from soda but just dissed the information because I always had good teeth. Since finding out about my teeth problems due to soda, I've curbed my soda consumption (Diet Pepsi/Coke) to two sodas a week, so the extra tax will help me even more, as well as helping the rest of my family not to screw up their teeth from the acids as well.

In the long run, paying the extra tax will help save the government millions of dollars on subsidized dental and health care.

I didn't know it has already taken effect in some places. Processed foods encompasses a lot. Anything that is packaged *could technically* qualify. Wheat bread is "processed", but I guess that's left out? How is the tax received overall? That's a lot of foods under the tortilla tax umbrella!

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Though I wouldn't advocate giving a kid a coke for breakfast, you should know that medical facts don't support your assertion.


From the Journal of the American Medical Association: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/274/20/1617

It was evident that this caused him an issue, bc I saw it with my own eyes. And he was banging off the walls right afterwards. There is plenty of evidence supporting such facts. What do you think causes the outbreak of diabetes in this country? And ADHD. You cannot deny it at least contributes. I can't even drink coke in the morning, I would end up with a huge migraine. What then? HFCS, high sugar, white flour which by the way contains something called Alloxan which causes all kinds of other problems. Also the poisonous stuff they put in our foods cause problems with children and adults alike. I support taxing all that crap. At least it's a start. Unless u have a better plan?

 

[bicker]

If a calorie is a calorie

That is not true. Please see my earlier point about how certain types of calories have additional physiological impacts, beyond their direct contribution to obesity.

Orange juice, by the way, is probably just as much of an insulin trigger, but good luck trying to overcome the OJ lobby and get the tax applied to OJ.

 

[FireDancer]

If a calorie is a calorie, and obesity is caused by consuming too many calories, apparently, soda has less calories than both orange juice and milk:

Orange Juice - 8 ounces/1 cup - 122 calories
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-orange-juice-i14425

2% Fat Milk - 8 ounces/1 cup - 122 calories
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-milk-reduced-fat-fluid-2-i1079

Coca Cola - 8 ounces/1 cup - 97 calories
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-coca-cola-classic-i98047

I'll admit that Coke has absolutely no nutritional value as compared to the other 2 beverages, but it does have less calories.

But it isn't. Yes, from a thermodynamic point of view a calorie is merely a measure of energy and all are equal. In the complex systems of the body, however, they aren't equal because the way the food is metabolized is also a part of the picture, not just the amount of calories in the soda.

Also, a glass of 100% fruit juice can count as a serving of fruit, thus replacing a part of the normal caloric intake. Pop serves no nutritional purpose and has to be consumed in addition to all of the nutritional needs for the day. This is what makes them empty calories, they serve no real nutritional purpose.