Pleasure Taxation

Do Americans consume too much sugar? Probably a large percentage of us do. But should sugar be compared with the likes of cocaine and heroine and therefore outlawed, or at the very least taxed beyond all sensibility? Probably not. While the food police continue to push that sugar is akin to drug addiction, science just doesn’t seem to back this line of thought up. In fact, Cambridge University researchers have investigated and evaluated the sugar addiction theory and argue that “Criteria for substance dependence translate poorly to food-related behaviors.” But even well established publications like National Geographic don’t seem to be listening when it comes to science over conjecture. The latest issue has an article on sugar - focusing slightly on its history and a lot on the belief that “sugar is a poison”. Yes, too much sugar in anyone’s diet is a bad thing; just like too much of pretty much anything can be a bad thing. Even excessive exercise can cause severe health issues. And yes there are people that are considered “exercise addicts”. Bottom line, do we really want to start regulating and taxing everything that is known to light up the pleasure centers of the brain? We just might end up a nation of tax poor law breakers.