Surcharge on sweets may not trim many waists ("expert": soda = cigarettes of the food world)

Boston Globe ^ | January 31, 2009 | Stephen Smith

[ellery]

When Governor Deval Patrick proposed a 5 percent premium on sugary treats this week, his administration presented it as a sin tax with a bonus: Imposing such a levy, a briefing paper pledged, "is a critical first step in discouraging the consumption of these empty calories."

But there is little evidence that an extra nickel or two for a bottle of soda or a bar of chocolate would significantly dampen demand for products blamed for fueling the nation's obesity epidemic.

-snip-

States big and small, from California to Rhode Island, tack a surcharge onto soft drinks and candy. In all, 33 states had sales taxes on soda or candy as of Jan. 1, 2008, the Chicago researchers found, with most rates hovering between 4 and 6 percent.

John Auerbach, the Massachusetts public health commissioner, acknowledged in an interview that the main objective of the sugar tax is revenue generation, not behavior modification.

-snip-

An experiment by a Harvard School of Public Health researcher suggests that boosting soda prices can tamp down demand - if the increase is steep enough. Last spring, Dr. Jason Block arranged for a temporary 35 percent price increase in regular soft drinks sold in the Brigham and Women's Hospital cafeteria. The result: Sales of those drinks plummeted 20 percent, while diet drinks, which weren't subject to the price change, became more popular.

"To me, soft drinks are kind of like the cigarettes of the food world," Block said. "Most people don't think soft drinks are healthy. They just like them."

[ellery]

Once the drug warriors gave government the power to tell us what we can put in our own bodies, this was inevitable. And it won’t stop here — ping!

[FlingWingFlyer]

And we thought President Bush was taking away our freedoms and liberties when he started wiretapping Islamoterrorists. Where the **** is Bobby Barr and his ACLU comrades! We’re under a full scale attack from the Obamacorns!

[nmh]

Yes, every Nanny State needs the Food Police.

The sheeple are too STUPID to know what is good for them

So, soda is the new vice ... .

Drugs, homosexuality, transvestites and being a vegan is okay ... .

[GOP_Lady]

I simply turn on the Golden EIB Microphone and share my honest passions and beliefs with people. And they're free to go elsewhere. They're free to ignore; they're free to believe; they're free to be entertained, I don't care. They're free to do whatever they want. But a lot of people aren't free to smoke cigarettes where they want; they're not free to drink where they want; they're not free to eat the kind of food they want to eat; they're not free to eat trans fats; they're not free to drive certain places. Pretty soon we're going to be told what kind of cars we have to drive. I can't cause that. I can't restrict anybody's freedom. We've elected a guy who can, does, and wants to, all under the guise of saving us. So I appreciate the effort, and I appreciate somewhat losing my temper here. But don't compare me ever to an authoritarian who thinks so little of people that without him they can barely breathe on their own. Don't ever do that."

LEARN IT, LIVE IT, LOVE IT!

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_012109/content/01125110.member.html

If one cannot understand Rush's words above, then one does not truly understand FREEDOM!

[allmost]

He’s taxing you for your own good, typical conniving elitist drivel.

[ThomasThomas]

They claim to see an obesity epidemic of America’s tax payers but fail to see the same in their own budgets and taxes plans.

[EagleUSA]

Mr. Sotero is all about POWER AND CONTROL. It is all the socialist ideologues care about.

[Eric Blair 2084]

These statists who are hungry for money to balance their state budgets can’t even do statism right.

Jackasses.

Let me help you.

Tax fast food like McDonalds, Burger King. 5% tax will balance your budgets.

If you are going to be a Statist, at least be a good one. These people are sorry excuses.

[LibFreeOrDie]

The liberal political elites once more oppress the lower classes, for whom they proclaim great concern.

Where is the tax on gourmet French bakeries, handmade chocolates at $40+ per pound, or “sinful” desserts at trendy upscale restaurants — the ones that the elites frequent?

[bamahead]

John Auerbach, the Massachusetts public health commissioner, acknowledged in an interview that the main objective of the sugar tax is revenue generation, not behavior modification.



Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!

[GOP_Lady]

How's my #11, bamahead?

I need your “expert” opinion, please!

LOL.

[GOP_Lady]

I mean my reply #5 above.

Gees. Long day. So sorry.

[GOP_Lady]

Indeed, bamahead, it all comes down to $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

[bamahead]

The free man owns himself. He can damage himself with either eating or drinking; he can ruin himself with gambling. If he does he is certainly a damn fool, and he might possibly be a damned soul; but if he may not, he is not a free man any more than a dog. --G.K. Chesterton

[GOP_Lady]

You're way too kind. :-)

Keep up your OUTSTANDING work, bamahead!

Love it!

[bamahead]

Ahh no worries :) I hear ya loud and clear!

[GOP_Lady]

I thought I was going to be poked in the eye. LOL. Whew!!!

[Bhoy]

Freedom includes freedom to be stupid, fat and addicted. It does not include intruding on other people in public. However, if I’m paying for your stupid fat addiction — then I call the shots. So, when we’re all dependent — as in the UK — on the gov dole — well, the gov calls the shots.
How long before we’re all lined up to get our welfare checks, micro-chipped so any beaureaucrat in a moment can locate all our health, psychological, criminal, financial, work, educational records at will. How long?
We’ve got to come together. Pro-lifers with legalize drug movements with property rights people and tax resisters, with gun rights people. We’re all squabbling amongst ourselves about purity and perfection of our individual parties and organizations. Meanwhile government is taking over our lives. We have to find a common ground. The Left knows that. Yes, it will be a different life for all of us to accept each other, but we must know that the enemy is government.
Get out of my life! I’m an American! I don’t need no stinking papers!
All of the right political movements are centered around a favorite quibble. We have got to find a way to come together. It’s imperative or we’re all going to lose.

[hermgem]

Go and legalize pot, and politicians turn concerned about your health and slap a tax on it, but only to the extent of not killing legal sales.
One thing is for certain:
Untaxed street sales will be severely punished and totally interrupted.