Hedge fun

By Tom Toles





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Garbage in



Last week Ezra Klein discussed Marc Ambinder's article on obesity. The underlying discussion is about the devilishly complex nature of the obesity crisis. Complex to the point of solution-defying. I don't think it is at all.



The reason the issue appears to be without solution is that the political conversation in this country has skewed so far to the right that the blindingly obvious first path is ruled of the table. Apparently the ONLY thing that's off America's table. I recently quoted Jack Kemp, of all people, and let me quote him again. (I may henceforth attribute ALL apocryphal thoughts to Jack Kemp): "If you want less of something, tax it." We know perfectly well what foods are the biggest part of the problem, and, no, it would not be impossible to figure out a system to tax them.



Do I want to INTERFERE with the FREE MARKET? Yes, yes, yes I DO! Runaway obesity represents a market FAILURE. The market does NOT always get it right. Air pollution: market FAILURE. Financial crisis: market FAILURE. Wiping out fish stocks: market FAILURE. Taxing known junk food and beverages into submission is what a sane, orderly, grown-up society would do. But we instead are paralyzed by what has become unquestioned free-market fundamentalism. And what do I recommend we do about THAT? Tax it. --Tom Toles

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