The state of New York is considering imposing an ?obesity tax? on its citizens or anyone who visits. The obesity tax would place an 18% sales tax on non-diet soda and other sweetened beverages with less than 70% fruit juice. Of course Governor Patterson is for it because it will generate an estimated 400 million dollars. State Health Commissioner Richard Daines made a You Tube video explaining why he thinks it?s a good idea. He points out obesity rates and shows a comparison of milk and soda consumption.
I personally think this is BS. It?s another example of big brother coming down on Joe Citizen and imposing their will. The state of New York is tying to take away a freedom of choice under the disguise they are concerned about our health. What?s next: The type of car you drive; the type of meat you eat; what kind of clothes you can buy? Government has no business making everyday decisions for us by taxation. These are legal products and this is a free nation. Don?t Tread on Me!
It’s not proven whether higher taxes have anything to do with a decrease in smoking among teens. Less parents smoking and less advertisements directed at teens probably have more to do with it. And everyone knows the revenue gained from exorbitant taxes cannot be trusted in the government hands.
Freedom of choice is a right endowed by our creator and the government has no business forcing decisions. which is why I don’t agree with the government forcing the will of a minority on the people.
There are plenty of people who drink soda who are not fat that will have to pay ths tax. Are they supposed to pay because they maintain a healthy lifestyle. Besides, The obesity epidemic is much more complex than soda pop. Our entire food supply is a joke. MSG, for exaple, is called a fat partitianing agent by scientists and is in 10′s of thousands of foods. They put it in animal feed when scientist want to do obesity studies. And people eat this crap at almost every meal. Soda pop is scratching the surface.
New york is looking for a way to fund their welfare state, and soda pop like ciggarets is an easy target. Who would dare politically be against “kids health”.
It’s up to parents to be good parents not the government.
But you’ve gota point “G”. A part of me likes to see intrusion on this level for health reasons. However, I fear what would be next.
An obesity tax is a good thing.
It should cover soft drink, ice cream, and other calorie-laden, unhealthful foods.
However, if congress does not approve such a tax, it should repeal taxes on tobacco.
It’s government taking away our freedom of choice. These foods are not harmful in moderation. I also do not agree with the outrageous taxes on tobacco. If the government was truly concerned with health they would ban tobacco, but they don’t.
Likewise if our government were truly concerned with our health they would ban all the harmful and unnatural ingredients in our foods like trans fat, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and a whole host of chemicals. Soda and ice cream do not cause obesity. The obesity problem is more complex than that. taxing these foods is a band aid on severed artery.
Uh… Does anybody here understand how unhealthy artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes are? Taxing people for NOT wanting to take these man made chemicals into their bodies is no better than dumping highly toxic “flouride” into the public water supply.
No. Just No. Its not OK on any level.
If the powers that be were truly concerned about “our” health then High Fructose Corn Syrup would be taxed if not banned outright.