Activity #1

What is the underlying condition a soda tax is meant to address? Is this a problem? Why?
Is this a problem requiring a public solution? What is the government stake?
How would liberals and conservatives think about the above questions? How do their answers differ, and why?

Activity #2

What type of tool is a soda tax? What mechanism(s) does it use?
Can you think of other ways to reduce obesity (try to come up with 2 or 3)? What type of tool is each of these ideas? What mechanism does each use?
What would liberals and conservatives think about each of your alternatives?

Activity #3

What advocates and interest groups were active in the Philadelphia soda tax case?
How did supporters of the soda tax frame/characterize the problem and the solution? What was their causal story? How did they view cause and effect? Who did they identify as the villains and victims?
How did opponents of the soda tax frame/characterize the problem and the solution? What was their causal story? How did they view cause and effect? Who did they identify as the villains and victims?