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• November 7, 2009 5:17 p.m.

  Government taxation is not needed. If there is taxation, it won't matter. People will pay the price for their addiction. This has been proven over and over again with alcohol and tobacco products. There is too much research that artificial sweetners actually cause obesity. Splenda has been linked to urinary track infections in some people. Most foods that are reduced in sugar are higher in fat. It is a no win situation. The diet we should be eating is right in the Bible. Fruits, veggies, grains, nut and seeds. Some protein for those that like meat should be eaten sparingly and used as a condiment. The Bible also tells us no scavenger eaters like pigs, crustaceans, fish without scales, etc. I avoid fat, sugar, caffeine, salt and cholesterol as much as possible. Some foods just naturally have fat, salt and cholesterol and cannot be avoided unless you just pass on them. My grandmother made everything from scratch; my mom was everything out of a box or can. I watched my mother with diabetes, colon cancer, quadruple by-pass, dementia, osteoporosis, etc. I have learned live foods are best. Water is my friend. Yes, it is hard with all the products out there but it all comes down to you. What goes in your mouth is what your internal organs are wearing.

  - Kay

• November 1, 2009 3:37 p.m.

  what illness does the artificial chemicals cause

  - es

• October 25, 2009 11:37 p.m.

  To the degree that government coerces citizens into healthy behavior, such healthy behavior becomes an obligation and ceases to be a choice. The Mayo Clinic, then, which has built its reputation by serving individuals who have chosen to improve their health, has every interest in keeping health a matter of choice.

  - Darren

• October 25, 2009 3:47 p.m.

  Moderation is the key to most dieting issues. If a healthy 125 lb person wants to have soda, so be it. Why should those who take care of themselves be penalized (taxed yet again) for those who know no self control or disapline? The government sees yet another opportunity to take, take take. Knock it off already.

  - Bill

• October 23, 2009 8:45 p.m.

  Absolutely tax them! Anything that is so destructive to good health should be taxed, ie liquor, cigarettes and soda!

  - Nancy

• October 22, 2009 7:42 p.m.

  This is about the stupiest thing I've ever heard. Why not tax candy bars, Twinkies and donuts too?

  - CarolO

• October 22, 2009 11:20 a.m.

  I read where a few are ok with taxing soda here, so are you guys ok with the fact that the governmnet taxes stuff you use like gasoline? your boose and what ever else you might use or do you complain quietly about that and then come on here and say it is ok to add yet another money grabbing tax? Stop the idiotic controlling taxes that are only a short answer to make to government look good and line the pockets of the bigger guy one more time. Dont you know what taxes are all about? They were started in the first place to help when a war was happening and were going to stop after it was paid for but when the time came to end it someone decided it was a money maker idea that just cant end now when it looks so good. Just like a main highway they made near my place, it was a nice road we all needed and a toll of 10 dollars each way was going to pay it off in something like 20 years, the traffic was higher then expected and it was paid for in much shorter time, do ya think they stopped the toll? no it was still on that road many years after it was planned for till everyone started to point it out and finally the toll is taken off. Someone got a great deal out of the little people again, get with it people, if you want you wallet drained to control your life then say yes to taking this and the next item up on the menu and the next,,,, When will people stop relying on the goverment to make their piddly little lives work for them? get a back bone of yer own, will ya....

  - Sally

• October 21, 2009 3:30 p.m.

  Please keep politics out of this. Government is trying to run everything and taxing us to death is not the answer but then again if we are taxed to death there will be less taxes. I am at the age now where healthcare reform is trying to say we aren't worth treating. All freedoms will soon be taken away or taxed and many of us are sick of it. Why is Mayo Clinic getting into politics? We have this site for health matters.

  - Ferne

• October 21, 2009 1:30 p.m.

  No - I don't think they should be taxed. What about all the cookies and ice cream and other products that contain sugar - will they tax those also. Cigarettes now have extra taxes but what about beer, wine, and all other liquors that people drink and then get out on the road and drive and cause accidents.

  - Marie

• October 21, 2009 1:06 p.m.

  I thought this was supposed to be a health web site. If I wanted politics, I can go to many other sites. Please keep this a safe zone where I can just read about health concerns and butt out of the political debates.

  - Dave

• October 21, 2009 11:04 a.m.

  Sugared soft drinks are as destructive as any other addictive items. They cause dental problems, obesity, contribute to diabetes - the tax may help defray the costs of these conditions attributed to this addiction to sugar and sodas.

  - Gwen

• October 21, 2009 9:59 a.m.

  I definitely agree. If the tax were 10-25 cents per container, maybe more people would switch to diet drinks, and maybe mothers would stop feeding their kids sugar-sweetened stuff so they won't grow up to be as fat as their parents probably are (and have less cavities).

  - Barbara

• October 21, 2009 9:59 a.m.

  I am against any tax on sugar AND against government intervention in getting people to change their diet. There is too much government involvement in our personal lives already! Personally, I cannot use artificial sweetners because they make me sick. I have diabetes (family history, not because I eat sugar) and I think it is more dangerous for us to consume artificial sweetners that it is to eat sugar occasionally -- I don't care what "they" say. People should use common sense in limiting daily intake of sugar, but I don't need the government involved in my life or by taxing me any more than they already are!

  - Maddy

• October 21, 2009 9:53 a.m.

  The concept of taxes being a solution is ridiculous. A good place to start is in our schools. No more selling “junk” food in the schools. If they want to go through the hassle of packing a lunch every day, so be it, but stop being enablers at the taxpayers’ expense. Bring back physical education. There should be an hour of physical activity every day for every student. Require the parents of obese children to go through a mandatory educational program regarding the dangers of obesity. Have special after school exercise programs for high-risk children. There has to be consequences in order to facilitate change. Safe drivers are charged less than drivers with risky driving records; charge smokers and the obese higher insurance premiums unless they can prove that they are enrolled in a program to change their behavior. Require improvement in a year or they pay higher premiums. That’s a financial incentive. Provide incentives for employers to offer wellness programs to their employers. Allow them to charge smokers and the obese higher premiums to cover the cost of the program. Currently, it's considered "discrimination" to do that. Anyone who thinks taxing the manufacturer instead of the consumer is the answer obviously has never worked in a business environment. It absolutely will be passed on to the consumer.

  - Kat

• October 21, 2009 8:54 a.m.

  Absolutely not, educate folks to help them make good decisions rather than have government interfere yet again in our lives. We know from experience that taxing just hurts the people that can least afford it. Tax tax tax, can't our politicians think of something constructive to do rather than coming up with more ways to pile on the taxes?

  - Rick

• October 21, 2009 8:33 a.m.

  Part of the problem is that all of school (grades K – 12th grade) have reduced or remove recess and P.E. from our school programs. There is three parts to maintaining a healthy body weight (Exercise, Food in Moderation, and Water (min of 64 ounces a day).

  - valerie

• October 21, 2009 6:50 a.m.

  Tax, Tax, Tax that is all government can do when they have made such a mess of using our tax dollars unwisely. If they have more tax dollars they will just be able to make more unwise decisions. Why don't they consider giving back some of our tax dollars from their raises for theirselves which is automatic. Leave our food and drinks alone. It is not government's place to micro manage our lives and that is where we are going with this. What's next tax the "Air we breathe."

  - Pat

• October 21, 2009 1:25 a.m.

  Next, people will have to sneak into a donut or ice cream shop, tax those, tax cookies, tax candy bars, tax potato chips, tax sugar in the bag itself. tax. sweet teal. tax jelly, jam, pop tarts, cereal, and the list goes on. Give us a break! People do not want to be controlled in that manner.

  - Jayne

• October 20, 2009 11:39 p.m.

  Big Brother is invading our lives! It is no one's business whether or not I drink Cokes, etc.; and the government certainly has no business taxing extra for it. This idea is simply a ploy from two directions: 1, those who want to manage everyone else's lives, and 2, the government--which sees this as a way to increase revenue by adding yet another tax burden to the general population.

  - John

• October 20, 2009 10:49 p.m.

  This administration has enough on its plate. Lets support our troops, solve the unemployed problem, fight the terrorist and on and on and on. Lets not grow the government to the point that no one is free.

  - Billie

• October 20, 2009 8:27 p.m.

  No. The general population should not be taxed for it. It's the companies that make the products like sugary cereals and soda, who should be taxed for making them. Also, people wh make the choice NOT to drink or eat these food should not be penalized. It's the old fashioned way of making the whole class stay after school, when one of the kids did something wrong and the teacher makes the whole class stay till there's a confession. Geraldina

  - Geraldina

• October 20, 2009 8:19 p.m.

  Does the government really think that taxing sugar laden drinks will decrease consumption and lead to healthier choices?? We, as individuals, need to make those healthier choices on our own. It is sad that "pop" is considerably lower in price than healthier fruit juices. Junk food is a lot cheaper to buy than vegetables and fruit. Has taxing junk food lowered consumption?? Consumers will shop according to budget restraints. You go into any health food retail store and it is more costly to eat healthier. As consumers we MUST make healthier choices, not let the government decide for us.

  - Samantha

• October 20, 2009 7:02 p.m.

  Here we go again..the government is the solution and initself is the problem. Taking personal responsibility for ones behaviors and habits will resolve the problem without the need for government interferring in ones person life and living. Don't think we need the fat police at our front doors...or it it due to creating new jobs with stimulus monies...

  - Katti

• October 20, 2009 6:45 p.m.

  Not everyone can handle artificial sweeteners. My Mother, Uncle and I were all sensitive to even the artificial sweeteners in gum. I believe sugar is more healthy, in moderation of course. Maybe the government should tax greasy foods too.

  - Barbara

• October 20, 2009 6:17 p.m.

  One more thing for the government to tell us what to do. Most of us are smart enough to figure it out by ourselves.

  - Sandy