Bad Food? Tax It, and Subsidize Vegetables

[CTyankee]

Take a look at Mark Bittman's OpEd piece in the NY Times today: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/opinion/sunday/24bittman.html?ref=opinion

And before you get concerned over what will happen to the poor, read his full scenario of making healthy foods more affordable and more ubiquitous and helping our entire population become healthier.

"Simply put: taxes would reduce consumption of unhealthful foods and generate billions of dollars annually. That money could be used to subsidize the purchase of staple foods like seasonal greens, vegetables, whole grains, dried legumes and fruit.

We could sell those staples cheap — let’s say for 50 cents a pound — and almost everywhere: drugstores, street corners, convenience stores, bodegas, supermarkets, liquor stores, even schools, libraries and other community centers."

Bittman offers some staggering information about the costs in the nation's health as a result of the subsidization of bad foods.

"Health-related obesity costs are projected to reach $344 billion by 2018 — with roughly 60 percent of that cost borne by the federal government. For a precedent in attacking this problem, look at the action government took in the case of tobacco."

He makes a very good case. IMO, he is offering a coherent food policy for the U.S. Rather than throwing up our hands and saying nothing can be done, we should take a good look at his thoughtful article.