Have a Coke and a Smile – Except in New York

Posted by Bill Dupray on Dec 15 2008 Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

In the Big Apple – not so much

The Governor of New York thinks Classic Coke, and all other non-diet soda for that matter, makes you fat. So, the Classic Nanny-State is going to impose a Classic “Obesity Tax” on Coke drinkers. Gerald Prante at the Tax Foundation exposes this ridiculous money grab.

New York Gov. Patterson is looking for new revenue sources, some of which are moves in the direction of what a better tax policy would be. But as is usual from politicians, he is looking at selective sources to raise revenues, including a tax on non-diet soft drinks. . . .

But . . . why are non-diet soft drinks bad? They aren’t bad in themselves. I assume that one consequence of non-diet soft drinks (obesity) is what he is claiming to be concerned with. But if obesity is what he’s concerned with, then he needs to show the relationship between soft drinks and obesity and then the negative costs imposed on society from that soda-induced obesity. He doesn’t have such evidence. Again, he’s just looking for a money in any way he can get it. Furthermore, why stop at soda? Why not tax ice cream? Or better yet, why not have people weigh-in every year at a DMV and have their weights recorded? Then we can levy a true tax on obesity.

But he’s just getting warmed up with the Coke tax. He is going to raise taxes on gas, clothing, health care, license plates, and college tuition.

That ought to spur the economy.

Genius.

H/T to Claire

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Short URL: http://libertypundits.net/?p=1042

Bill Dupray

Under that logic, we should tax all milk except for skim, hot dogs, hamburgers, candy, cakes, muffins, donuts, cookies, french fries, funnel cakes, ice cream, eggs, butter, mayonnaise, onion rings, rib eye steaks, as well as any suncreen that is not at least SPF 50, with an additional tax on anyone that does not exercise (and be able to prove it) by running at least 1 mile, 3 days per week. We would also want to tax anyone who drives fast, rides motorcycles in the rain, and runs with scissors.

You see my friend, you are either for freedom or you are against it. If you are against it, then you let me make the rules, and you most assuredly will not like the restrictions that I think should be placed on people.
Carl P

Some of the costs associated with an obese society are as follows:

1. Less funds available for those collecting medicare and social security benefits.
2. Less funds available for those on disability and other Government transitional programs.
3. A less healthy, procreative society.

This list is of course by no means complete. However, these reasons alone justify putting sugar in the same taxable category as Alcohol and Tobacco.

Have a Coke and a Smile – Except in New York

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