The Fat Tax: Fighting America’s Present to Save Its Future

Should the Government be Involved in People’s Choices?

The government’s involvement in choice is debatable. Those who demand government argue that “freedom of choice makes it more difficult to resist temptation and diversity of choice may have a similar effect.” (Maio 103) The main problem in addiction is “the loss of self-control to such a degree that the individual wishes to stop the behavior, but is no longer able to do so.” (Strnad 1251) People cannot make choices for themselves, so other individuals should intervene and guide them for the person’s benefit.

However, opponents of government involvement state that it is the consumer’s choice as to whether or not they consume fatty foods or sugary drinks. It means that “it is the consumer’s own fault if he or she makes the wrong choice.” (Lobstein 41) Rebuttal on the topic is that such choices reflect the increasing costs of the government. If the government has to pay for the consumer’s healthcare, they have no choice but to be involved in the consumer’s decision relevant to their health. This should be done in order to provide fairer treatment to all consumers, and to aid in controlling costs.

Conclusion

As healthcare costs are increasing uncontrollably, the government has made numerous proposals in order to slow such increases. One of many proposals includes the fat tax. It would require the population to pay a tax on unhealthy food or drink. It has the potential to generate funds for the government, and direct individuals towards a healthier lifestyle. However, what determines which foods are considered unhealthy or healthy is controversial, as the nutritional content of each food varies. It may require additional bureaucracy, which is strongly undesired within the government and the public. It may also affect lower-income individuals more than higher-income individuals, as junk food and sodas are usually inferior goods. Industries have also played a role in the repeal of previous junk food tax legislation due to their economic interests (mainly profits). Arguments towards choice are strongly mixed. Advocates state that the government should be involved because consumers generally won’t make the choice for themselves, but opponents argue that it may infringe on personal liberties and freedom of choice. All in all, fat taxes have faced a lot of opposition in their legislation and incorporation, and are considered controversial as of today.

References

Guell, Robert C. Issues in economics today. Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2008.

Jacobson, Michael F., and Kelly D. Brownell. “Small Taxes on Soft Drinks and Snack Foods to Promote Health.” American Journal of Public Health 90 (2000): 854-57.

Lobstein, Tim. “Commentary on “Food, the law and public health”" (2006): 40-41.

Maio, Gregory R., Bas Verplanken, Antony S.R. Manstead, Wolfgang Stroebe, Charles Abraham, Paschal Sheeran, and Mark Conner. “Social Psychological Factors in Lifestyle Change and Their Relevance to Policy.” Social Issues and Policy Review 1 (2007): 99-137.

Strnad, Jeff. Conceptualizing the ‘Fat Tax’: The Role of Food Taxes in Developed Economies. Working paper no. 286. Stanford, CA: Self, 2005.