I just have to blow off some steam here and need to know that I’m not alone… Has anyone seen the commercials encouraging people to oppose the “fat tax” on sugary drinks? Every time I see it I feel the violent urge to throw something at the television. Ameesh would be mad if that happened, so I turn to writing. In said commercial, a woman who is supposed to represent a lower socio-economic status (although she’s in what appears to be a very nice homey kitchen larger than my own) is encouraging viewers to feel bad for the plight of people who can’t afford to pay a couple extra dollars for sweetened beverages. She takes a bottle of generic cola out of a grocery bag and hands it to her son, while complaining that even instant drinks like lemonade might be affected by this evil tax. Her counter is full of brand-less drinks, obviously standing in for things like Coke and Sunny Delight.
“Families already struggling to get by may have to pay up to $5 extra dollars for these beverages!” she pleads. This is where I begin to lose it. I mean seriously lose it. If there is anyone out there who honestly doesn’t think to themselves “SO DON’T BUY THE DRINKS!” and thinks that these commercials will work, I need a show of hands. The really sad thing is that people truly ARE that clueless to come to that conclusion and actually DO think that a sugary drink tax is pure evil!
I’ve mentioned it before, but I find it absolutely dumbfounding that people are literally throwing money down the drain to buy things like this to begin with. How much money would you save in a month or in a year if you didn’t always need to have sugary drink options?
Water is FREE. Lemonade needs 3 ingredients: lemons, water, table sugar. Done and done. Make a cup of tea- they come in many flavors these days.
The entire point of the proposed tax is that so people buy less of the product and LOSE WEIGHT, thus curbing the progression of so many dietary related chronic diseases, all while earning a little extra government mulah from the people who insist on still drinking that stuff regularly. Isn’t that a step in the right direction? Who do you know out there that wouldn’t like to lose a pound or two and save money at the same time?
Sigh…I’m just one frustrated voice in a sea of declining health! I look forward to the day when the corporate world food system finally kills itself and people have no choice but to go back to growing their own food!
We’re probably closer to that than we realize…
One Response
April 2nd, 2010 at 12:50 am
You know I’m on your side.
Down with evil corporate processed food!!!
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