Newswire: Soda Tax

A friend of mine sent this to an e-group we share:

"An American Medical Association committee reportedly
wants the federal government to impose a federal tax
on soft drinks.

The Chicago Sun-Times says the committee plans to
recommend this week that the influential physician's
group lobby for a federal tax on sugar-sweetened soft
drinks.

The money would go to anti-obesity efforts, such as
physical activity programs and healthier school meals,
the newspaper said.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest estimates
that a cent-a-can tax would raise $1.5 billion a year.
The committee said one study found the odds of a child
becoming obese increases 60 percent for each additional
can of pop consumed each day. However, the committee
report noted that other studies have found no link
between soft drinks and obesity, the newspaper said.

Kevin Keane of the American Beverage Association
called the tax "misguided." "It will not move the
needle 1 ounce in addressing health and wellness
issues," he told the Sun-Times.

What are your thoughts on the government imposing a
federal tax on soft drinks?"

I think it's kindof silly really, but it doesn't bother me much because we very rarely drink sodas. See, it's that whole bad for your health, leaches calcium from your bones, artificially flavored, artificially colored, bad for your teeth,makes you fat thing that keeps it out of our house in the first place. *chuckle* Not liking the whole governmental controll issue though. Not that that's anything new. *smirk*