Soda Tax Weighed to Pay for Health Care

Wall Street Journal ^ | May 11 | Janet Adamy

[MarkL]

What a nightmare for convenience stores... Most typically have a number of different drink sizes at their fountains. So they'd have to figure in a different tax for each size drink. And is this tax only going to be on "sugary drinks?" What about diet drinks. Or iced tea? Or juice, which often has as much sugar (or HFCS) as soda?

Would there be a "break point," or just $.03 for each 12oz? So would my 52oz iced tea (sweetened with Splenda, BTW) cost me an extra $.15? I typically get 2 of these a day, which is a pretty nice profit margin for Quik Trip. And I'll often pick up something else while I'm there as well. But knowing that I'm paying an extra tax on it will make me less likely to continue buying it there, instead brewing it myself, which will wind up hurting Quik Trip, as well as generating no dollars for the federal, state, or local governments. So, in effect, that tax will wind up costing EVERYONE (except me) money.

As long as there's "stuff," congress will always be able to figure out a new tax on that "stuff."

Mark

[Glenn]

Good.

I’m sick of soda drinkers turning the office into a sticky mess with their little splashes and spills. And don’t get me started on “Coke Breath”. Sometimes I go home at night smelling like a bottling plant. It’s disgusting.

The women do those feminine little whisper burps, which are bad, but the men! Well they belch like the rest of us enjoy it as much as they do!

Then there’s the residue. Can pyramids are the worst. Running a close second are those styrofoam cups leaving sticky little rings on desks and conference tables that those soda drinkers can’t bother to wipe up when they leave.

I don’t drink sugared sodas, but I know many people who do. People I thought were fine, Christian, conservative people. Give the a Dr. Pepper, though, and they turn into filth purveyors.

Tax ‘em high!

[Graybeard58]

So far Obama got me on the cig tax. I also drink regular Pepsi...

I quit smoking 9 months ago and I drink diet Coke. Raising tobacco taxes to their current levels is outrageous. Taxing sugared drinks is too.

[Einherjar]

Everything was going great with the new tobacco tax until you weenies quit smoking !

Do your patriotic duty and light em up !! (it`s for the children )

Now Lord Obama has to find another new tax.

how about a huge tax on designer sneakers ?

[Graybeard58]

I bet he’s chicken to increase the tax on alcohol.

I doubt that but a tax on chicken wouldn't directly affect me because I don't eat the vile stuff.

[MarkL]

While there's currently no tax on TVs themselves in the US, so over the air broadcast TV is still free and untaxed, if you have cable, you're definitely being taxed: Just look at your cable bill.

But yes, the Brits actually have an annual TV tax on the device itself.

Mark

[chuck_the_tv_out]

the version I heard was

“in America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power...then.. you get the women...”

[Graybeard58]

I disagree completely with the Rats’ plan, but I understand why they would tax something considered unhealthy and high calorie. They figure unhealthy and/or high calorie foods/beverages add more weight which may lead to obesity and problems associated with that. That in turn means the government will have to pay more for health care.

They are attacking the wrong end of the problem, if gov didn't have their nose in health care to begin with, no new taxes would be needed.

[DivaDelMar]

Well, why stop at sodas? I mean, there’s a whole universe of products that are BAD FOR US......just ask the food police.

Let’s start with transfats, saturated fats, nutrasweet, red meat, white meat, meat, meat, meat, cheese, anything that tastes good, and BUTTER........how could I forget my beloved BUTTER?

These f-ing Communists have gone too far this time. Maybe the sheople will wake-up?

[RU88]

Fast food will be the next target. They are going to have to cast a wide net to pay for this. Women, children, and minorities will be hit harder by this, not that Zero gives a rats patoot.

[MarkL]

Seriously, what Constitutional authority does the FedGov have to be doing the things they claim are the reason for levying these taxes, anyway?

Congress claims that the Interstate Commerce Clause of the Constitution gives them the right to regulate and tax any goods or services whether they cross state lines or not. Interestingly enough, the SCOTUS rules in favor of the government (big surprise) that Congress can also regulate and tax goods and services that do NOT cross state lines, since those goods and services not being offered for sale can influence the pricing and availability of similar goods and services offered elsewhere in the country.

So, the court ruled that the ICC allows congress to regulate (and tax) goods and services that do go across state lines, as well as those that don't.

Mark

[Dr. Sivana]

I’m sick of soda drinkers turning the office into a sticky mess with their little splashes and spills.

While your intentions are noble and patriotic, the country is not there yet. First we have to stop all that advertising. How much of it is aimed at and accessible to our children? They are not old enough to decide to put the poison carbon dioxide into their developing stomachs. Apparently sticking a tooth in a glass of Coca-Cola in science class is not enough to scare them off. Unattended soda machines should be available only in bars, if even there. Places that mainly serve children (e.g. Chuck E. Cheese)must have stringent new regulations. Oh, and a cut off after the 4th inning at Major/Minor League Baseball games. It will take time, but fabian anti carbon-dioxide beveragism will ultimately succeed.

[Waco]

What’s a caribou fart worth, nowadays.

[PghBaldy]

That was an example. They haven’t said how high they want it. They hate poor people- that is who tends to be fat nowadays and they know it.

[Dixie Yooper]

Why not just tax our couches since parking our fat tuckuses on them is harming our health?

If couches had parking meters on them, We would be much more productive and more physically fit. I think you're on to something here...

[rockinqsranch]

Right on the mark. Wondering why there are 30 posts to the point of yours that didn’t ask that question.

[Pinkbell]

I agee; I’m opposed to nationalizing health care.

[DooDahhhh]

I can quit fast food in a flash!

[savedbygrace]

Excellent summary, Mark.

[bmwcyle]

I can stop drinking soda. Goodbye Coke Zero my old friend.