Banning the purchase of sugary sodas with Food Stamps

Recently, the city of New York came up with the idea to ban the purchase of beverages with more than 10 calories per 8 ounces, only if these items were purchased with food stamps. This proposal supports the government rule that food stamps are to be used toward nutritional purchases. The purchase of sugary sodas with food stamps, helps contribute to a current public problem we have discussed: obesity and diabetes. For this to become a law it must move up to the systemic agenda. Once it is a law, the way to implement it would be by the tool of social regulation. This imposition of restrictions on consumers would help everyone be healthier and allow government money to be spent more effectively. If consumers are taking steps to be healthier, this would also help with medical expenses too!

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-soda-food-stamps-20101011,0,2450220.story

Michelle Watkins

Using Food Stamps To Slow Obesity

In New York City, Mayor, Michael Bloomberg is pushing for a ban on using food stamps to purchase soda. The city has 1.7 million food stamp recipients this will affect. The reasoning behind this is that obesity and diabetes are increasing in the city and this may help lower those conditions. Not using the food stamps on this "junk food" will allow them to be used on foods with actual nutritional value. This new policy idea allows both a push for healthy society as well as a reason to ensure that food stamps are used in the proper manner rather than on junk food. I think that this is a step in the right direction for both NYC and the country. I would like to see this policy adopted on a larger scale in both a geographical perspective of the policy and a scope of items covered in the policy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/nyregion/07stamps.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper