While glossing through the 5/7/2012 volume of TIME magazine, I read about the notion of taxing both sugar and salt.
TIME magazine's website doesn't seem to let you link directly to the article in question without paying first. That said, I found the article within a seperate site discussing it:
Sin Taxes: Will marking up junk food make us healthier? | Shane Weight Loss Camps & Resorts
Personally, I think it might be a good idea. It might have somewhat of a positive effect in general. Obviously with 34% of adults in the U.S. struggling with the obesity epidemic, there must be new measures taken. The question though is to what degree. My view is that we should tax such things like soda and candy upwards of 20-30%. Sure, it may seem draconian, but this needs to stop. As we consumers feed on the garbage that's stocked in our stores, in turn said corporations feed on us, making profit. I think,
no, I
know they deliberately try to addict us; addiction is great for business. Why wouldn't the corporation of, say, Mountain Dew want us to become addicted to it? It's all about the money.
That's a bit aside the point. Such foods that can be easily addicted to and cause damage to your body should be taxed; not just 10%, but beyond. How many people know of kids and teenagers who were addicted to soda and candy, now suffering with cavities, without dental insurance? How many people do you know that, since childhood, became addicted to bad food? Instead of commercials advertising veggies to young children, you were bombarded with advertisements for Candy Pops and Pop-Tarts.
If a 10-30% tax increase in these foods has a positive overall effect on the country, then damn it, that's good. Take it further until it places a sizeable dent in this obesity epidemic.