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A national soda tax is needed to reduce obesity and save lives
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20141209-column.html ^ | Dec. 8, 2014 | David Lazarus

Posted on 12/08/2014 4:00:43 PM PST by PROCON

Now that calorie counts on restaurant menus are a done deal, it's time to take the next step toward slimming America's flabby waistline..

A national soda tax.

I know, I know: This is the kind of nanny-state talk that causes seizures among conservatives and libertarians. It's an intrusion on personal freedom, a trampling of consumer choice, blah-blah-blah.

It's also, as we've learned from taxes on cigarettes and alcohol, a highly effective method of influencing behavior that carries high social costs.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: liberaltyranny; nannystate; no; nono; nonono; pop; soda; sodatax; sodawars; tax; wod
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We are your betters.

We know what's best for you, you stupid peons!

Don't question our brilliance, just shut-up and comply.

</liberal smugness>

1 posted on 12/08/2014 4:00:43 PM PST by PROCON
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To: PROCON

national soda tax needed to take more money from the people and give it to government liberals to use as bribes.


2 posted on 12/08/2014 4:02:34 PM PST by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: PROCON

Well, if you’re a cigarette and/or alcohol tax booster, I don’t see how you can be outraged by this.


3 posted on 12/08/2014 4:03:58 PM PST by Bettyprob
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To: PROCON

Translated: We just need another legal way to take more money away from you stupid people, who if we frame this issue a certain way, will beg us to do so.


4 posted on 12/08/2014 4:04:13 PM PST by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: PROCON
Now that calorie counts on restaurant menus are a done deal

This will shut down family restaurants and the vending machine business.

And a soda tax will kill independent brands like Faygo, not Coke or Pepsi.

5 posted on 12/08/2014 4:04:18 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (NO COMPROMISE! NO BIPARTISANSHIP! STOP OBAMA NOW!)
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To: PROCON
I missed the part of Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution that authorizes the federal government to do that.

/johnny

6 posted on 12/08/2014 4:04:23 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: PROCON

I don’t think the founding fathers meant taxes to become a punishment. It’s supposed to pay for a service.


7 posted on 12/08/2014 4:05:52 PM PST by Telepathic Intruder (The only thing the Left has learned from the failures of socialism is not to call it that)
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To: PROCON
It's also, as we've learned from taxes on cigarettes and alcohol, a highly effective method of influencing behavior that carries high social costs.

Liberals nationalized medical expenses in an overreach that sensible people condemned, and now the same liberals want to expand their control over what we do on a moment to moment basis - they claim to control costs that they chose to assume? It sounds like some people have too little going on in their own lives if their highest priorities are to regulate what other people choose to drink and whether nuns have government-mandated birth control and abortions. Liberals disgust me.

8 posted on 12/08/2014 4:05:58 PM PST by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
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To: PROCON

Exactly how much does soda contribute to obesity anyway? Its largely empty calories which are easily burned off with minimal activity.


9 posted on 12/08/2014 4:06:39 PM PST by cripplecreek (You can't half ass conservatism.)
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To: PROCON

Juice has just as much sugar as soda.


10 posted on 12/08/2014 4:06:47 PM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: Bettyprob
Alcohol and tobacco taxes are referred to as "sin taxes".

Are we to believe that a can of pepsi falls into the same category?

How about twinkies? Chocolate?

I mean, where does it end?

11 posted on 12/08/2014 4:06:51 PM PST by PROCON (Always give 100%...unless you're donating blood.)
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To: PROCON

The thought that “society” shouldn’t be paying the cost for stupid individual decisions never enters their tiny little minds.

L


12 posted on 12/08/2014 4:07:59 PM PST by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.d)
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To: Bettyprob

A National tax on frivolous laws needs to enacted immediately on any and all in Washington, DC. Every legislator that enacts a law, must vote to repeal “20” old laws on the books. If they feel that the law is important enough, then they can open their books, and donate 50% of their prior years earnings, directly to the national debt.


13 posted on 12/08/2014 4:08:08 PM PST by Klemper
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To: PROCON

Racist! No more Eric Garners!


14 posted on 12/08/2014 4:08:53 PM PST by cowboyusa
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To: PROCON

Great, now people can get arrested for selling untaxed Pepsi.


15 posted on 12/08/2014 4:09:03 PM PST by ConservativeTeen (Proud Right Wing Extremist)
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To: PROCON

It’s the money, it’s always the money.

Otherwise they’d be calling for excluding sodas from EBT purchase.
But that wouldn’t get any money....


16 posted on 12/08/2014 4:09:52 PM PST by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat Party!)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

“This will shut down family restaurants and the vending machine business.”

I’m not sure if this is true, but I heard that the law only applies to restaurant chains that have 20 or more locations. Even if it is, it’s still messed up. Anybody who really cares about calorie counting certainly won’t go out to eat very often, if at all.


17 posted on 12/08/2014 4:10:15 PM PST by Politicalkiddo ("How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!" - Benjamin Franklin)
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To: PROCON

Dear California,

Mind your own ****** business. We are NOT your vassals>

Signed,

Michigan & Vernors


18 posted on 12/08/2014 4:11:39 PM PST by madison10
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To: PROCON

Brought to you by the same Progressive Jack asses that think that subsidies on corn syrup are a a spenda thing....


19 posted on 12/08/2014 4:13:32 PM PST by GraceG (Protect the Border from Illegal Aliens, Don't Protect Illegal Alien Boarders...)
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To: Politicalkiddo
Nope. What's going to happen is that the big restaurant are going lobby for changes so ALL restaurants have to disclose calories on their menus. Remember that this isn't a law, it's a directive from the FDA and changes can be made on a dime.

Mom and pop (family restaurants, taverns, food trucks, etc) will shut down, leaving only the McDonalds, Applebees, etc who'll raise their prices to offset the new rule.

20 posted on 12/08/2014 4:14:42 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (NO COMPROMISE! NO BIPARTISANSHIP! STOP OBAMA NOW!)
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