Smart People Making Stupid Decisions (Tax, that is!)

Soda pop is making us fat/obese. Yes! That is the conclusion of an expert panel, selected by the Canadian Heart and Stroke foundation.

The experts are also indirectly saying Coke/Pepsi and all other sugared drink is cause of our Heart Attacks and Strokes.

What is the solution the expert panel recommended?

TAX everything that poor can afford to buy, starting with soda pop, fast food, processed food. Their assumption is by shifting the price point of unhealthy food, people will start to eat healthy food.

Why not look it the other way? Bring down the price of healthy food. Lets make it in par with junk food. That was not in the recommendation.

This TAX approach has been tried in many places and has proven to be ineffective.

Imposing a TAX on products does not shift buying behavior. Sometime it encourages to consume more by the buyers to show the vanity they can afford to buy an expensive item.

Example… Price of Gas. Gas is being taxed to the extreme and whenever the city or province needs money, they add a new TAX on gas. Did it discourage driving? Just few weeks ago, a report came out, the Canadian Car Companied are having record breaking sales.

To stop Obesity and create healthy nations with strong heart, we need to target the root underline cause.

People are buying unhealthy food, because that is what they can afford. Price of heart healthy food is out of reach to most people. People buying so called junk food probably does not have a steady source of income or job.

This is how we need to tackle Canada’s obesity problem.
1. Educate people about healthy food and junk food and let them decide without being forced to a decision.
2. Put as many options out there for physical activity as possible
3. Create jobs to put more money in the pockets of poor people
4. Bring down the price of healthy food and drinks (don’t see this point raised by any experts).