McTaxes?

I caught the end of news story the other day where some municipality in California (imagine that!) was thinking about taxing soda. Their reasoning was that bad eating habits, etc. cost money. Unhealthy behaviors, in their opinion, cost too much money in health care, etc. Do we truly need the government to tell us what is bad for us? Are we not adults and able to make our own decisions about ourselves, what we ingest, and how we live?

What's next, taxes on fast food? Tax cuts for people who exercise three times a week at a government-sanctioned and controlled health facility?!? Come on, people. Let's get real.

What ever happened to being RESPONSIBLE as an adult?!? If you cannot be responsible for yourself, then I suppose we could never expect you to be responsible for the five children you have had. Nor can you be held responsible for the fact that you have allowed them a gallon of soda a day from the very day they knew how "yummy" it was. Afterall, you are "too busy" with the rest of your life to actually spend enough time with your children to instill good habits upon them. It is much easier to cave to their every whim... including soda, fast food, Twinkies (TM). Let me ask you this. Who told you life would be easy? Who told you someone else would cover for your own stupidity? If you need someone to control every aspect of your life and you are not able to handle to responsibilities of being an adult and not being a tremendous burden on the rest of society because of it, please let me know. I can give you a long list of countries to which you can relocate where your every move will be mandated from above. That is not what we are about here, people! At one point, people were intelligent enough to make decisions for themselves and their families. That no longer seems to be the case. However, I do not think I should pay an extra tax on the occasional soda that I drink because you have overindulged to the point that you are obesce, diabetic, or have a million other health problems. If you then choose to be a leach on society, then I suppose I will continue to work and pay for your sorry butt. However, there are SO many people out there who, for very unfortunate circumstances, actually NEED the help, that can't get the medical attention, etc. that they need, that I don't feel you deserve anything from anyone. If you had been like the rest of us and had to work for everything you have, you may not be over-indulging in ridiculous things such as a gallon of soda a day for fifteen years. There's a Vet somewhere that needs comparatively little help who has done more for you than you have ever done for him/her. This Vet is probably saddened by the fact that they have fought for you and that your government, for your own protection, is even thinking about a tax such as this one. The only reason for this tax is to save a certain populous from their own glutony.

My point: don't blame the rest of the country for your own short-comings. Be an adult. Be responsible. It is not the easy road. It is the right road!