What Philly and nanny-staters should have learned from WV

The story said, “Five years ago, Philadelphia enacted a new tax — 1.5 cents per ounce — on sugary drinks. City lawmakers hoped levying the tax would deter consumers from choosing unhealthy drinks that contain loads of sugar.

“Anecdotal evidence, however, quickly showed the tax failed to accomplish its goals. The tax did not stop Philadelphians from consuming sugary beverages, and avoiding the tax became as easy as leaving the city limits.” …

Taxing soda — fizzy sugar water — is a dumb way to fight obesity. How do we know this? West Virginia imposed a soda tax (which extends to other sugary drinks) in 1951.

71 years later, West Virginia is second only to Mississippi in obesity.

Almost Heaven has a lot of fat angels. Our governor weighs 368 pounds.