18% Soda tax sparks debate-NY Times

[RetiredGySgt]

No, we should stop paying for healthcare for retired military.

Go ahead and try and get that passed in the Congress. Unlike nationalizing the health care, Government retirement benefits ARE Constitutional. Ohh and good luck on maintaining an all volunteer military if you cut out retirement.

Or are you suggesting we return to a draft military and pay the troops pennies to "save" money? Be clear retard, what is it you want?

 

[editec]

BUT we should let the Government Illegally Nationalize every aspect of Health Care? Right?

Only if we want to give all people access to HC.

You missed the part of that post where I tell people all the shortcomings of doing that, didn't you?

You missed the post where I describe why such control freaking governments are the inevitable outcome of having too many people, and the fact that people are increasingly interdependent because of that fact, too, didn't you?

You just SO want to have an argument with a caracature that you'll invent enemies if you cannot find them.

I'm sorry that the world isn't as simple as you'd like it to be, Lad.

All I can do is try to explain it to you.

Your opinion is meaningless here since you already forfeited your right to complain about anything the Government may or may not do.

I forfeited that right, did I?

You grandiosity amuses me.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

BUT we should let the Government Illegally Nationalize every aspect of Health Care? Right?

Only if we want to give all people access to HC.

You missed the part of that post where I tell people all the shortcomings of doing that, didn't you?

You missed the post where I describe why such control freaking governments are the inevitable outcome of having too many people, and the fact that people are increasingly interdependent because of that fact, too, didn't you?

You just SO want to have an argument with a cracture that you'll invent enemies if you cannot find them.

I'm sorry that the world isn't as simple as you'd like it to be, Lad.

All I can do is try to explain it to you.



I forfeited that right, did I?

You grandiosity amuses me.

Yet NO WHERE have you even come close to suggesting the Government follow the Constitution and get an Amendment to do what you know is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Sorry Heathcliff but your opinion means nothing when it comes to the Government since you have already gone on record as supporting illegal actions and Unconstitutional powers cause YOU happen to like them.

 

[Againsheila]

I kind of like the idea. Nobody "needs" to live on soda and sugary drinks. Colas are particularly bad for kids. They remove enamel from the teeth and leech calcium from the body.

Perhaps, people can be "taxed" to eat better. It certainly isn't the American way, but people can avoid it by not drinking it or by buying it elsewhere.

I have no problems with taxes on luxury items..but they also tax necessities. They are taking too much money away from us. I don't understand where all the money goes to...

 

[RetiredGySgt]

I have no problems with taxes on luxury items..but they also tax necessities. They are taking too much money away from us. I don't understand where all the money goes to...

To social programs. To people that do not pay back into the system. Did you miss where NY increased their Welfare budget by 30 Percent also?

 

[Againsheila]

To social programs. To people that do not pay back into the system. Did you miss where NY increased their Welfare budget by 30 Percent also?

Welfare to individuals is but a drop in the bucket when compared to corporate welfare...

 

[WillowTree]

That is such a politically correct statement. Are you saying that poor people can't control their impulses too? People can make their own choices. Nobody is forcing anyone to buy sodas.

Maybe a soda with their burger is one of the few luxuries poor people can afford. And you want to tax that by 18%. It's not a fricking impulse it's what you have with a burger and fries. try drinking water with your burger and fries, it sucks.

 

[Skull Pilot]

I wish I could have come up with that idea.

That's a great idea!

while we're at it, let's tax activities that are "bad for you"

Certainly having sex is bad because you can contract a disease.

Surely walking on the street is bad because you could get hit by a car

Do I even have to mention driving? Driving kills more people than soda. We should put a government issued meter on your car. You have to swipe a credit card before you start your car and then a per mile tax is charged.

Now THAT"S A GOOD IDEA. We'll save lives AND the planet.

 

[PoliticalChic]

Maybe a soda with their burger is one of the few luxuries poor people can afford. And you want to tax that by 18%. It's not a fricking impulse it's what you have with a burger and fries. try drinking water with your burger and fries, it sucks.

You have a point there. I can't have water with either pizza or burgers. You get taxed already at the fastfood joint anyway.

 

[Againsheila]

while we're at it, let's tax activities that are "bad for you"

Certainly having sex is bad because you can contract a disease.

Surely walking on the street is bad because you could get hit by a car

Do I even have to mention driving? Driving kills more people than soda. We should put a government issued meter on your car. You have to swipe a credit card before you start your car and then a per mile tax is charged.

Now THAT"S A GOOD IDEA. We'll save lives AND the planet.

#1) Sex and swimming are the two best forms of exercise, so I hardly think it would be a good idea to put a tax on sex.

#2) Walking is also a good form of exercise.

#3) We already pay taxes on driving..it's called a drivers license, vehicle license and of course taxes on Gasoline.

next?

 

[WillowTree]

#1) Sex and swimming are the two best forms of exercise, so I hardly think it would be a good idea to put a tax on sex.

#2) Walking is also a good form of exercise.

#3) We already pay taxes on driving..it's called a drivers license, vehicle license and of course taxes on Gasoline.

next?

Next? Well honey, they have Al Gore's internet.. That's whats next. wait and see.

 

[editec]

Exactly were does the slippery slope end? Does it move onto fast food? Alfredo sause at restaurants? Grape juice (I mean that has more calories and sugar than soda)?

Liberalism gone wild again!

Totalitarianism gone wild, more like. Health fascism if your tastes in metaphor are a tad more colorful

There is nothing inherently liberal about this.

This is a play for increasing revenues and little more.

I mean I know you live in a universe where anything you personally object to must be liberalism, but in the world of the living, liberal actually has a specific meaning.

Taxing food isn't part of that.

 

[WillowTree]

Totalitarianism gone wild, more like. Health fascism if your tastes in metaphor are a tad more colorful

There is nothing inherently liberal about this.

This is a play for increasing revenues and little more.

I mean I know you live in a universe where anything you personally object to must be liberalism, but in the world of the living, liberal actually has a specific meaning.

Taxing food isn't part of that.

Except for the fact that it's New York? Hello!

 

[editec]

Except for the fact that it's New York? Hello!

Okay, I'll grant you New York is steeped in socialist goofiness, WT.

It is also trying to balance its budget.

Taxing food is not part of the "liberal agenda".

I don't give a damn what excuse they're using, this is a money grab, nothing more.

 

[DiveCon]

Maine just rejected a tax on bottled water, soda beer and stuff like that.

The reason for that tax was simply to raise revenue.

Baldacchi made no bones about that.

Incidetly, Maine USED to have a junk food tax, too.

We got rid of it.

Good.

but we voted back in the same MORONS to the legislature that gave us both those taxes

 

[Toro]

New York is heavily reliant on the financial community for its tax base. The financial community is imploding so they need other sources of revenue.

 

[Skull Pilot]

#1) Sex and swimming are the two best forms of exercise, so I hardly think it would be a good idea to put a tax on sex.

#2) Walking is also a good form of exercise.

#3) We already pay taxes on driving..it's called a drivers license, vehicle license and of course taxes on Gasoline.

next?

But it's still bad for you because you might get a disease just like you might get fat if you drink soda.

And since cars kill more people than soda you certainly would be in danger if you walked on a street where cars travel.

And the per mile driving tax is meant to stop you from driving just like the soda tax is supposed to stop you from doing something dangerous like drinking soda.

Seriously, I don't understand how you people are not pissed off at the government looking to interfere in your lives even more than it does now. You just don't care do you?

Any excuse for the fucking government to raise taxes is just fine with you right? And the fact that the fucking government tells you that the tax is for your own good and that it will enforce the "it's good for you tax" by throwing you in jail if you don't comply doesn't piss you off?

What's next the government taxes you when you read the "wrong" books or listen to the "wrong" talk shows or watch the "wrong" TV shows?

Once you let the government make and even worse enforce value decisions regarding your life, when you are not breaking the law that is, you have just stepped upon a slippery slope of the worst kind.

 

[editec]

but we voted back in the same MORONS to the legislature that gave us both those taxes

Did we?

Wasn't the junk food tax enacted over ten years ago?

And wasn't it repealed just a few years ago?

The same people?

Well...I suppose there isn't a huge turnover in Maine legislators so you may be right about that.

I personally think we ought to get rid of our part-time legislators and get some professionals who can devote their full attentions to the task.

I don't know about you, but I continue to be wildly underimpressed by the average intelligence of Maine's legislators.

they don't seem to know much about what they are typically voting on.

There are exceptions, of course, but most of them don't strike me as particualrly intelligent.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Did we?

Wasn't the junk food tax enacted over ten years ago?

And wasn't it repealed just a few years ago?

The same people?

Well...I suppose there isn't a huge turnover in Maine legislators so you may be right about that.

I personally think we ought to get rid of our part-time legislators and get some professionals who can devote their full attentions to the task.

I don't know about you, but I continue to be wildly underimpressed by the average intelligence of Maine's legislators.

they don't seem to know much about what they are typically voting on.

There are exceptions, of course, but most of them don't strike me as particualrly intelligent.

Ya cause professional politicians have done SO well every where else?

 

[driveby]

Pardon my simplicity here, but they already charge a sales tax for these items, i supposed that isn't good enough ? Just raise the sales tax 1% like Martin O' Moron did in Maryland, that would be a universal solution....


( note sarcasm )