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New York leaders are pressing for a so-called 'fat tax' on the soft drinks industry, saying that sweet beverages are responsible for an upsurge of obesity across the United States.
State Health Commissioner Richard Daines took up the issue Monday, speaking of a "golden opportunity" to create the tax.
"The dramatic underpricing of sugar-sweetened beverages, their widespread availability, and the ceaseless marketing of these products constitute a stumbling block to good health and are a clear and present danger to the future of our children," Daines said.
NY seeks 'fat tax' on sodas to fight rising US obesity
Seeded on Tue Mar 9, 2010 7:07 AM EST
Article Source: Telegraph- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (27)
He called obesity "the biggest public health challenge of this and the next few decades".
Public officials in New York and other states are echoing that call, eyeing the tax as a chance both to influence diets and to replenish tax coffers depleted by the recession.
- 1 vote
#1 - Tue Mar 9, 2010 7:07 AM EST
It's not the business of the state of NY (nor any other state, for that matter!) to legislate morality, let alone food choices. People can think and make decisions for themselves.
Why do legislators think that they need to make decisions for everyone, from everything to healthcare to sex? It's high time people took responsibility for their own actions--and that includes the decision to eat too much, drink too much, get high, etc.
- 6 votes
Another "You've got to be kidding me" moment from me!
And we were promised, taxes wouldn't be raised on people making 250 thousand, Um, 200 thousand, Um, 150 thousand, um, 70 thousand, um, whichever it is!
Guess what! Your taxes are going up on items you don't think twice on, so, yes, it may not be out of your payroll check, but they are doing everything and everything to get it from someplace else, under the "Feel Good" faux concern!
- 5 votes
As if NYS isn't already the highest-taxed state in the country. Our electorate here would find a way to tax your mother if they were smart enough. It's getting too expensive for them to keep going after the Seneca Nation to snag the exorbitant NYS cigarette tax, so let's go after that other socially unacceptable OK to bash grp, the fat ppl?
- 2 votes
In the UK we are taxed for farting - although this hasn't happened here yet it is on the way - they are currently talking about taxing foods with high fat content. presumably it will stop low income families from buying pre packed and encourage them to but veg instead. - obviously it will also help with the gaping black hole in the public finances.
- 3 votes
It's not the business of the state of NY (nor any other state, for that matter!) to legislate morality...
Not to get too much off topic, but I beg to differ: people on both sides of the political aisle have no problem at all with legislating morality.
Conservatives trying to pass legislation for to block gay rights and abortion and trying to put religion back into schools is legislating morality.
Liberals trying to pass legislation to report hate crimes and prevent racial profiling is legislating morality.
The only time someone screams "don't legislate morality" is when that person's sense of morality doesn't agree with what is being proposed. In other words: "Stop legislating morality" is nothing but hypocritical bloviating.
- 2 votes
Al: and that's why this country is going to hell in a handbasket--people see nothing wrong with continuing with these elected officials that, little by little, are eroding the very foundation this country was established upon.
- 4 votes
To fight obesity?
You mean like the rising tax on tobacco and alcohol to fight lung cancer and liver damage? How's that fight going? Nope, still got plenty of smokers and drinkers.
- 7 votes
#2 - Tue Mar 9, 2010 10:21 AM ESTYou mean like the rising tax on tobacco and alcohol to fight lung cancer and liver damage?
Exactly - let's call a spade a spade. It's a way for government to collect additional revenue without having to say they raised taxes. Smoke and mirrors...smoke and mirrors.
- 9 votes
"The dramatic underpricing of sugar-sweetened beverages, their widespread availability, and the ceaseless marketing of these products constitute a stumbling block to good health and are a clear and present danger to the future of our children," Daines said.
Maybe now a lot of the people who shrugged off the concerns of smokers are seeing that they were right. The government got the door open with raising tobacco taxes on the premise of it's unhealthy and now they will target anything they consider to be a "bad choice" as a new thing to tax in order to force people to live the way the government thinks they should. I remember seeing the argument made when tobacco taxes were being raised in 2009 at the highest rate increase in history that many smokers and the tobacco companies said if this goes through soda will be next. And it won't stop there "fast food" is unhealthy, potato chips are unhealthy, butter is unhealthy, etc., etc., etc.
- 4 votes
#3 - Tue Mar 9, 2010 11:00 AM ESTnow they will target anything they consider to be a "bad choice" as a new thing to tax in order to force people to live the way the government thinks they should.
it won't stop there "fast food" is unhealthy, potato chips are unhealthy, butter is unhealthy, etc., etc., etc.
And water...don't forget that too much water can actually shut down your kidney's and kill you.
Maybe the Beatles were on to something...
(if you drive a car, car;) - I'll tax the street;
(if you try to sit, sit;) - I'll tax your seat;
(if you get too cold, cold;) - I'll tax the heat;
(if you take a walk, walk;) - I'll tax your feet.
- 5 votes
Maybe the Beatles were on to something...
Looks like they were on to quite a lot.
Now here's my question for all the politicians who sponsor these taxes. How exactly will any of these new taxes help create jobs to replace the ones that will be lost when they start taxing things out of existence? If they tax other products in the same way they've done tobacco then in a few years a can of Pepsi will be about $4, Doritos will be $12 a bag and only the super wealthy could even begin to afford an ice cream cone.
- 4 votes
AmusedinVa,
I agree with you completely. I've said it numerous times on here. The government may not raise your personal taxes but anything they consider detrimental will be taxed through the roof. Cigs, alcohol, sodas, burgers, ice cream, etc... What will be next on their hit list?
- 3 votes
Coffee, Jixer. Specifically caffeine.
It's addictive and a lot of people use it. It's in pills, drinks, and food.
- 4 votes
Jixer: short answer: as long as people keep putting up with the nonsense, no, it won't end.
- 5 votes
In general I oppose taxes, especially those for social purposes. But like a cigarette and liquor tax, this could reduce consumption a little. I could support it IF it covered more unhealthy foods and if 100% of the money was used on fighting obesity related problems.
- 1 vote
#4 - Tue Mar 9, 2010 11:48 AM EST100% will never go to just one cause. Take a look at where the cigarette taxes go. It's not just for health care.
- 5 votes
You make a good point red - if the revenue raised was ring fenced for obesity programmes for kids or such like it might not be a bad idea. The problem is that never works in practice and before you know it it becomes part of the general revenue raised by the state.
- 4 votes
I know. If this was just a tax to raise money for the general fund I would oppose it.
- 2 votes
Juices are sweeter than soda & higher in calories....why not hurl them into the mix? O wait....those are "healthy". There are plenty of "healthy" things that are high in calories....start counting & tax em all!
- 3 votes
Raise taxes by fighting obesity? - Feels to me like another Gov't official with their hand in my shorts (oops... I mean pocket)!
I wonder, "Will we see a sudden jump in population around state lines in NY?"
- 5 votes
#5 - Tue Mar 9, 2010 1:34 PM ESTWe already have seen that jump. The population decline in WNY alone in the last 30 yrs has been amazing to behold. There are no decent jobs here since the demise of Big Steel & the way the NYS govt taxes everything into the stratosphere, there never will be an incentive to bring in new ones.
If those ppl in Albany really think it's the uneducated fat po' folk who dunno any better & keep ingesting all this sugar, they forgot one salient pt in their thought process....ppl who pay w/ food stamps are not subjected to any food taxes. They're deducted as soon as the EBT card gets plugged in as the pymt method. Another reason for the mythical middle-class to keep on hatin'. FS rates in NYS are sky-high w/ its aging population struggling to get by on Social Security, its stuck in place disabled population who can't afford to leave, & its working poor families who can't find decent jobs w/o leaving the state.
- 5 votes
My, then taxes should be raised on sweets, carbohydrates, beer, alcohol and anything else that has lots of sugar. Do they really think by raising taxes will make someone stop drinking or eating it? People will eat and drink what they want no matter what. If they can't afford to eat or drink, they won't. Period! Is a shame though we are a nation of gluttons when you look at so many nations where children are starving to death. Where are our priorities-our bellies or theirs???
#6 - Tue Mar 9, 2010 9:09 PM ESTLeave it to the politicians to play at "solving" a health problem by taxation.
Since when does increased taxation....which makes it harder to buy "healthy" food....improve health?
What it does it get more money out of the people's pockets and into the governments...
- 3 votes
#7 - Tue Mar 9, 2010 10:23 PM ESTSince when does increased taxation....which makes it harder to buy "healthy" food....improve health?
You're right US... Sounds like they are trying to force some people into a vicious circle... Force people to buy more unhealthy/cheaper food, which in-turn, are the foods being taxed... ouch!
- 3 votes
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