Killing Us Gently with “Sin Taxes”

Nanny State Liberation Front ^ | 06/11/2010 | NSLF

[victorybeyond2010]

Proponents of the big government regulation and control of Americans' lifestyle choices are beginning to realize their 'in your face' approach isn't quite receiving the warm reception they expected.

As cash-strapped cities and states across the nation increasingly attempt to plug gaping holes in their budgets by passing "sin taxes" and flat-out bans on sugar-sweetened beverages, freedom-loving citizens are protesting these nanny state efforts to curb their "bad habits" by purchasing and drinking even more soda and sports drinks, Slate.com reports.

Citing evidence that suggest sin taxes tend decrease consumption of certain food and beverages deemed 'unhealthy' by nanny state bureaucrats, Slate notes that once citizens find out the price hikes are specifically intended to "modify behavior," they are more likely to revolt than repent.

"When the markup is presented specifically as a way to modify behavior, it is likely to elicit reactance and therefore be less effective," Slate reports. "In the real world, people's desire to assert their freedom to drink soda may very well trump the disincentive of higher cost."

Slate, well-known for its liberal leanings, proposes a solution to combat Americans' bitter resistance to being told by big government how to run their lives ...

[FrankR]

Abortion is a "sin", why isn't it taxed?

Lying is a "Sin", so obama's taxes should be multiplied by a million...

[org.whodat]

The cities are not cash strapped as long as they have funds to piss away on play soldier swat teams.

[gundog]

The cities are not cash strapped as long as they have funds to piss away on play soldier swat teams.

I'd guess that some of them bring in a good deal of money through forfeitures, courtesy of the War on Drugs.

[libertarian27]

The Slate article is chilling...Alinsky-esk

[Chode]

The greatest evil is not done in those sordid dens of evil that Dickens loved to paint, but is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clear, carpeted, warmed, well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices. -- because

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their consciences. C.S Lewis

[org.whodat]

Not the swat teams to busy polishing their gear and knobs.