Okay so I don’t know what planet I’ve been on, but I can’t grasp what these experts are thinking. They want a sales tax on sodas in order to try and battle obesity. Congress wants to lay a 1 cent tax on every ounce of soda and sweetened beverages you purchase.

This especially rubs me the wrong way and makes me angry. First of all, one cent per ounce is ridiculous. In any case where I live that means the tax is going to be between 25% and 30% of the cost of my soda as it is now but that means there will be an even larger jump if it were implemented. This not only affects soda consumers but also sports and energy drinks.

For myself, but I know many other people that feel the same way, I am really bothered that experts and the government feel it’s their privilege to babysit me. Let people gulp what they want. Why does government worry about such stupid things instead of worrying about the important things? Frankly the government is a waste of time and capital 80% of the time. Why don’t they focus on things that will actually improve the lives of their citizens?

Now I understand that they are trying to lessen obesity rates, but this is not the way to do it. Soda drinks are part of the customs and lifeblood of America. Any time people want to just relax, have a barbeque, or watch sports games a can of soda usually goes along with that. If certain individuals decide to be obese, punishing everyone isn’t fair. Preferably, obese individuals should work on lowering their weight and moderating their cuisine, but ultimately they have a right to live the way they want. Regrettably, the more government tries to get involved the more defiant the people are going to get.

In other words the more government tries to bring to a halt the sales of these sugary drinks; the more people will purchase them. Just like with alcohol, when the government started taking action against it before prohibition, it became a flourishing business and I think that will also happen here.

Plus, how would the government take into account diet drinks and low sugar energy drinks? They can’t fault obesity on diet drinks? So would they still tax it or not? Because if they didn’t that would make some people feel a little bit better, but ultimately that would be a blow for gas stations and fast food restaurants everywhere. Especially when you go to a restaurant and get no cost refills.

Now that I have presented my arguments and frustration with this, I better just say that if the government does try to approve this tax I think there will be a general outcry all over the nation. Congressman will be receiving more telephone calls, emails, and letters from their constituents than they have on many past issues.

I will be one of the first to be calling and writing my representative because this is an issue that the government does not belong in. People have the right to drink what they want and mark my words if this tax is ratified, it won’t be long before they raise the taxes on alcohol, cookies, candy, ice cream, juices, chips, fast food, which comes down to essentially everything. The government will nickel and dime us all in the name of fighting obesity, when that should be a personal concern.

Diane Johnson earned a bachelor?s degree in Political Science from the University of Utah. She likes to write about the news, politics, college degrees, online education, and the college experience.