Let's tax soda pop and candy bars and direct the funds towards Preventative Health Care

It's an idea worth discussing.

Drinking carbonated sugar water is not good for our organisms and it is quite reasonable to conclude that, to some extent, processed junk foods are making us sick. Why not then utilize the very logical solution of targeted excise taxation and establish wellness programs with those collected funds.

Though it might not affect disease in the short term, to legislate a tax implement, whereby 2-5 cents on every dollar spent on soft drinks and junk food in the province of Alberta goes to public coffers for investment in preventative health care, will help us in the long view. Especially when we think of how we could creatively use such excise tax income, the attractiveness of a 'junk food tax' policy offered to the Alberta public may indicate that the AP is engaged and willing to think outside the box of the current debate around health care.

The medical community agrees that the more we promote preventative health care and wellness programs amongst the population, the healthier we will be. Imagine a society where, in any population centre, you can go to a yoga or tai chi class for next to free because our 'junk food tax dollars' work to provide such activities on a not-for-profit basis. Perhaps you come from Asia and would prefer to see someone whose health care approach more relevantly addresses your traditional worldview; wouldn't it be great to see the traditional chinese doctor or ayurvedic physician down the street and not break the bank? Maybe its simply the support for increasing funding for cutting edge research and development of genetic testing and disease screening that helps to empower the individual in making more informed decisions regarding the health of themselves and their families.

Those that want to drink lots of pop and binge on chocolate bars laced with all manner of interesting ingredients are still free to do so. Its just that a negative feedback mechanism will prevent all of the externalities of such behaviour from going unaddressed and also work to nurture a healthier population that is less of a burden on our existing institutions.

It is my hope that the AP and its candidates integrate this idea into the evolving discussion around policy and platforms of debate for improvements to our health care system. I think this would effectively address multiple elements in the health care debate and simultaneously pickup significant public support while sparking some much needed media attention.

जय सच्चिदानन्द

-KSE