"A couple of hundred dentists are expected to converge…."

…That's the ominous lede from a breaking news item out of Illinois. Even more frightening? Those denture pimps are at the State Capital to push for a five percent sales tax on soda pop.

Ok. Ok. To be fair, the money would go towards state the dental program for the poor. But–as my predecessor pointed out last year–there are alternatives that don't require the ISDS or a pop tax. Specifically, alternatives that could bypass the ISDS (a constituent of the American Dental Association) and allow folks to take better care of their own.   

That, or, the convergence of dentists could all be for show. As Associate Editor Katherine Mangu-Ward noted in previous posts, New York Gov. David Paterson's proposed soda tax was just awareness raising.

Reason.tv Editor Nick Gillespie has been in the trenches of the Soda Wars. Senior Editor Jacob Sullum on the food police here. Contributor Michael Lynch on taxing your way to self-control here.

High Five: The Chicagoist