Is it fair to make somebody pay tax on vending machine snacks? Absolutely not! The government of the United States wants to impose a tax on “junk food” to discourage consumption. State senators claim that imposing this tax will help lower obesity rates. Junk food should not be taxed for three reasons. First, some foods that are classified as “junk food” are actually healthy. Second, junk food alone does not cause obesity. Lastly, junk food is not a drug. First, “junk food” should not be taxed because some “junk foods” are actually a healthy choice. Wheat thins are a wonderful snack that many people in the United States enjoy. They are made from 100% whole grain, which makes them a very healthy snack. “Original Wheat Thins offer 22 g of carbohydrates per serving. Carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy and should make up between 45 percent and 65 percent of daily calories...” (Cespedes 1). This is important because the main reason the government is imposing this tax is to discourage consumption of “junk food”. This tax will, in effect, make it harder for someone to buy a healthy snack. Second, “junk food” should not be taxed because “junk food” alone isn’t what is causing increased obesity rates in the United States. “A lack of energy balance most often causes overweight and obesity. Energy balance means that your energy "in" equals your energy "out" (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute). It is not the type of food we eat, but the amount of food we eat that makes us obese. This is important because taxing junk food will not diminish obesity rates throughout the United States. People need proper education on what does and what does not cause them to gain weight or become obese. Lastly, junk food should not be taxed because it is not a drug. The United States wants to impose a tax on junk food that is identical to the tax of alcohol and tobacco. The United States imposed these taxes