Food stamps, soda and the Nanny State
No one's liberty is restricted in any way by preventing SNAP from being used for soda.
I have along opposed the Nanny State, writing and speaking against government intrusion into private lives of citizens. People should be allowed to consume the food they want, and (if they are of age) responsibly consume alcohol and use tobacco. Government should not be trying to micromanage the lives of consenting adults and what they choose to consume.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as "food stamps," already has restrictions on what can be purchased. This includes alcohol and tobacco, cleaning supplies, cooked food and vitamins. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants to add soda to that list. (See here and here and here.) The Trump Administration is absolutely right to pursue this policy, and it is a reform that should have been implemented decades ago.
You will notice the word I italicized above. The point of SNAP is to provide nutrition to people in need of assistance. No one's liberty is restricted in any way by preventing SNAP from being used for soda, and people can freely purchase soda (or alcohol, or vitamins, or a rotisserie chicken) with their own money. This is not Nanny Bloomberg banning consenting adults from buying a Big Gulp in New York City.
Unfortunately, some MAGA influencers have beclowned themselves in addressing this proposal. Including President Trump's fondness for soda was especially silly, as our billionaire chief executive is certainly not using SNAP benefits to purchase soda. Trying to invoke loyalty to the President to oppose a proposed policy change by his own administration is deeply disturbing.
Obviously, we should not take restrictions too far. We do not want the government meddling too much in what people purchase with SNAP benefits. Kennedy has shown an authoritarian streak in the past and even supporters of Trump have joked about Kennedy breaking down their door to stop them from eating unapproved foods. That is why it is good that his department does not have direct control over SNAP regulations. We should monitor these regulations, or, better yet, give the states more authority implement restrictions for what can be purchased with SNAP benefits. There is a danger that this could become nanny state intrusion, but banning using SNAP for soda does not cross that line.