In Which Red Is A Responsible Member Of A Democracy

[redbrunja]

I just heard that there is a vote coming up which offers a chance to repeal an increased tax on, basically, junk food. And I was really unsure about which way I would vote for a bit because I have really mixed feeling about what we should do regarding increased obesity in the US. (A huge part of which is cultural; otherwise we would not be leading the waistline expansion. However, I also believe that people have the right to eat as badly as they choose and since I'm completely addicted to diet soda, this directly effects me and my pocketbook.) So I was very confused about which way to vote, until I did some research and realized that:

a.) the money is going to budget deficients

b.) it is an incredibly ill written law, in which Snickers are taxed higher than Twix bars

c.) it was really shoe-horned through the legislature.

Write me a consistent law where the money goes to libraries and/or schools and then we'll talk.

I am voting No on 1100 as hard as I possibly can, though. 1100 would privatize hard liquor sales which would most likely increase the ease for minors to get alcohol and (this is why I'm voting no) eliminate hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked for schools. Basically, it would be benefiting costco and other major groceries over Washington's school kids.

Comments

[sharkflip.livejournal.com]

This.

Need to do my homework on the income tax one, though -- I really want an income tax, but I don't want an ill-written shoe-horned one.

Also need to figure out which one(s) Eyman is backing so that I can vote no hard it will leave a dent in the table.

[iapetusneume.livejournal.com]

I think that I would probably be in favor of a sin tax on junk food if it was better written. Still undecided on that.

Thank you for reminding me to look up the issues on my ballot. :) I'll go do that now.

[cynchick.livejournal.com]

I will also vote no on the food tax, but the cause of obesity in this country is not from people eating junk food. It's because of the entire food industry.

It's because of the prepackaged, sodium-bloated "quick meals" and the way everything - everything - is stuffed to the fucking eyeballs with corn fillers.

It's the dominance of the fast food industry and their power to the determine the very methods of farming and food production for the cheapest, fastest product.

It's the way healthy organic food costs 3 times as much so that only the middle class and higher can afford to eat well.

It's the way we prioritize work over everything else so that cheap+quick+easy = best because we simply have no time for anything else. Because of that American's on average spend less on food per person than any other country in the world.

It's the sad, sad fact that a McDonald's sandwich is cheaper than a bushel of veggies. And when you have kids to feed and very little money? That KFC bucket is a more viable option than buying ingredients to cook at home.

There's a lot more, but I'll /end rant. Have you seen a documentary called Food Inc.? Its something everyone needs to watch.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

You actually read the law you intend to vote on? I think that disqualifies you in some way.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan I have been watching the commercials for these laws and being silently grateful that I didn't have time to register to vote here.

Also--didn't realize that the money from the liquor sales went to schools. I feel a need to research now where the money from the Alabama liquor stores goes...

[fallingtowers.livejournal.com]

I'm not from the US, so I have only got, at best, biased second-hand knowledge on your "obesity crisis", but I think in most countries, including my own, such a "junk food tax" law would mainly punish those people who can't afford daily home-cooked organic meals anyway. cynchick makes some good points about the cost of health food and the importance of work in most people's daily schedules -- you just grab a bite and stuff yourself with a sandwich during a 10-minute break. It happens to me on a regular basis, and I only work about 42.5 hours most weeks.

Moreover, it strikes me also as an excellent way to indulge in some obesity-panic moralizing that makes overweight people even more ashamed of their bodies than they already am. (Note: I'm clinically obese so I know what I'm talking about.)