Governor Paterson is taking drastic action in his attempts to balance the New York State budget. He’s proposing new or higher taxes on gasoline, clothing, luxury goods and insurance policies. Big Nanny’s also proposing a new ‘obesity tax’ – a tax on non-diet sodas. The Tax Foundation calls it a ridiculous nanny-state cash grab.
But this doesn’t even get to the core issue at hand, which is 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. Michael Jacobson would be so proud.
My recommendation: In lieu of a bailout, Gov. Patterson should request that the federal government give his state control of the Statue of Liberty. Then he could raise some revenue by selling it, which would be appropriate because after what he is proposing and what Mr. Nanny Bloomberg has done as mayor, it no longer belongs in New York. Read full story.
Amen to that!
And if the new taxes aren’t enough, the governor also plans to INCREASE spending. Yes, you read that right! He wants to increase welfare spending, make it easier to receive welfare, increase Family Health Plus coverage plus lots of other goodies.
In summary, New York State is projecting a huge budget deficit. They are spending more than they take in. To remedy the problem New York plans to spend more money and tax items that people can easily choose not to purchase, thereby avoiding the tax. So in the end, the state will spend more money, force citizens to reduce consumption thereby reducing tax revenues.
Brilliant!
Wasn’t it Guiliani that hugely cut welfare spending – and was lauded for it? So, he’ll raise taxes on non-diet drinks, because the obese drink only non-diet, but he will give them additional welfare and healthcare benefits???
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Maggie – Yep! Welcome to NY. I have to move.
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I wonder how long before Americans will have to fight to get their country back.
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[...] But this doesn’t even get to the core issue at hand, which is 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. Michael Jacobson would be so proud. Read the full post here… [...]
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Sheldon, I think Upstate needs to secede from NY. This is getting out of hand.
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