There are three things that come into play here: our nations rising health risks due to unhealthy food, the amount of revenue companies that produce these foods make, and the fact that our government would like more money. The idea is to tax things that are considered "unhealthy", (some examples given in the article are donuts, french fries and soda). Since this article stresses the amount of money the average american spends on these sorts of foods, it seems this idea would create a great sum of money. "Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health, predicted that a penny tax per ounce on sugar-sweetened beverages in New York State would save $3 billion in health care costs over the course of a decade, prevent something like 37,000 cases of diabetes and bring in $1 billion annually. Another study shows that a two-cent tax per ounce in Illinois would reduce obesity in youth by 18 percent, save nearly $350 million and bring in over $800 million taxes annually."
According to this statement, not only would this be great financially, but it would also improve the health of americans as well. That being said, the innovation doesn't stop there. Money made by these taxes could be given to those who provide our grocery stores with healthier alternatives, in turn making their foods cheaper. This would be likely to encourage a customer to eat healthier, which is the whole purpose of this plan.
This article was set up well and full of facts that would make a reader want to help make a change. It was arranged in a way that almost made one feel like they were happening upon the idea themselves and was thoroughly convincing to me. I hope this idea gets enough people behind it, because it's something I think has a chance of working.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/opinion/sunday/24bittman.html?pagewanted=1&ref=general&src=me
2 comments:
Hey i actually sort of agree with the plan to tax unhealthy foods. Although i do enjoy pigging out on most of these types of foods most of the time, i think it would be a wise idea to tax such foods. In this way, as the article said, it will force consumers to eat healthier so they won't have to pay as much. As a result of eating healthier, the chance of obesity, diabetes, etc will be less. Which is always a good thing.
I agree with the idea of putting tax on unhealthy foods. I can admitt that i enjoy eating unhealithy food frequiently. But the fact that putting tax on unhealthy foods will decrease obesity and diabetes sticks in my head that these are some very positive results. So go ahead and tax unhealthy food. The result is positive so i'm all for it.
Post a Comment