On the TV news today, it was announced that the State of New York is attempting to pass an obesity tax on non-diet soft drinks. Why tax obesity? More and more Socialism is entering our country. Obesity tax is a new ploy by government to collect more revenue and control our personal, individual rights.  The non-smoking lobby has made smokers afraid to admit they smoke and has managed to almost make smoking illegal, not to mention the use of health as an excuse to tax smokers more and more money.

Most of the facts as given are not entirely true.  There may be some health implications from smoking but it isn't as bad as the media and legislators would have you believe.  One of my relatives worked in a can factory where the cans are soldered together and worked in the dusty environment every day.  He died of lung cancer but was a smoker at one time.  The lung cancer was attributed to his previous job and not smoking.  Another relative smoked for many years but quit and is now 92 and living.  The information available is not absolutely correct. I would suspect from my personal experience that the information and statistics regarding obesity would also contain misinformation.

It is a dangerous practice to use scare tactics to attack personal habits.  We need to protect our individual, personal rights. The scare tactics almost resemble a form of brainwashing.  We need to take responsibility for our health and it should not be up to anyone else or their opinion.

The media is one of the worst offenders.  Just the injustices done to some of the recent vice presidential  candidates proves the media is totally biased. What makes obesity and smoking important to the media . . .obviously the media employees have to justify their jobs irregardless of whether there is news to report or not.  They can make their own personal choices but why influence others with their opinions? It is truly unfair and threatening to our personal choices.

The number of smokers has diminished; revenues have decreased considerably. Now governments are looking for new ways to tax you and me.  Government has acquired too much power.  If anything, our country needs less government resulting in less intrusions and less taxes. Governments have almost adopted a mafia type power.  Question: What group will be targeted next when, instead of government reducing spending, increasing spending and looking to burden the unknowing tax-paying citizens with their antics?

If I am overweight, I would expect my doctor, whom I am paying, to make suggestions on how to improve my health, not government! I do not believe government is truly interested in our health but just want to pump up their budgets so government can spend more.

Now that there are not very many remaining smokers, do we see taxes go down?  Absolutely not! An obesity tax would tax not only the obese but everyone who purchases a non-diet soft drink. If you are entertaining for example, and purchase a variety of soft drinks to please all your guests, you would pay the tax.

Remember when sales tax was adopted?  My state promised income tax would decrease . . .what a joke! Income tax has increased!  That's a very large problem with any new taxes, they never go away . . . .only go up! 

I, for one, will fight to keep my personal choices, irregardless of the biased opinions being thrust at me daily. I will consider media and government opinions, but will make my own decisions and reject any pressure from government and the media opinions.

© Norine Peardon, January 2009

Norine Peardon enjoys writing, particularly about her life experiences. Sometimes a news item compels her to write. She has many published articles and has a blog site with her original work. Peardon has also written a guide for the first time home buyer from the perspective of a first time home buyer.

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