Soda Tax in California??

To tax or not to tax? Seems to be the big question lately especially with the economy taking a dump. California Lawmakers want to impose a new law that would force taxpayers to pay more for beverages that contain sugar or sweetener. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez is the person behind this new law proposition. Specifically, the law would allow a one cent levy for every teaspoon of sugar or sweetener in every drink. The "taxing" would not be the responsibility of the consumer but instead the corporations that are responsible for the bottles of soda. Either way the American Beverage Association (who includes companies like Coca-Cola and Kraft Foods) are not too happy about this proposal and we all know if they get hit with a new tax the price we pay for soda's will go up.


The main motive behind the law is set on the premise of changing the obesity rate in California and putting money back into schools/programs. Thirty percent of our children in California are overweight. Something definitely needs to change but who is really responsible? Parents? Schools? Corporate Food Companies? Whoever you want to blame, putting a tax on sugar drinks is not going to effectively solve the problem. Food addictions related to obesity are no different than ciggarette smokers who need a drag. If people need their fix, their going to get it. Lawmakers project an estimated one and a half billion dollars to be made in one year if this law goes through. So is California really out for the interest of obese funding or is this another plot to make some profit? If you want to change obesity rates, talk to the parents feeding their kids and get them involved in healthy alternatives so they can reverse what is happening. Maybe dropping food prices on healthier products so people don't have to buy junk food would be a good place to start. Our country and this state have become to sensitive and involved with everyone's business. Americans need to focus on the bigger picture and realize that we run ourselves a lot better without a helping hand in every area of our life. Let's change the obesity by working to make better products and promote healthier living, not adding another tax to our state.