A New Theory of Taxation

Sugar, rum and tobacco are commodities which are nowhere necessaries of life, which are become objects of almost universal consumption, and which are therefore extremely proper subjects of taxation.”

— Adam Smith,

Taxation, ever since Obama laid out his policies has been one of the most talked about topics in politics. Members of opposing political parties returned continuously to Obama's decision to incease taxes across the board, in attempts to illegitamize him as a candidate in the 2008 elections. But maybe the Obama administration just shouldn't be looking directly to increasing property and sales taxes, but rather to other more obscure avenues of taxation.

Just in random conversation during this summer, the topic of a possible soda and sugary beverages tax arose. I also learned that all money attained from this new tax would go directly to the funding of Universal Health Care. Not only would this slowly fund our health care system, but would also help combat another more small scale (no pun intended) issue, obesity. When I heard of this I quickly joked :If this tax actually existed I would be broke within months. I myself consume a fair share of sugary beverages, but I also understand there are millions of americans downing coke after coke throughout the day. I read about the statistics
of US consumption of soda, and I found it simply astounding the number of cans of soda the average american will drink over the course of a year. Which now makes me think about the money that could be made in this tax.

At first I saw this as merely another small supplementary sales tax, but after closer examination I see it is not just something to be looked over. I am confused that legislators have not yet enstated something like this yet. I realize that taxation is a major issue in politics today but if we had a fast food tax, a sugary beverages tax, an ice cream tax and so on we could possibly make begin to beat one of the biggest problems in current politics.

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