Posted on 04/30/2008 10:08:39 PM PDT by phatus maximus
The sputtering economy has caused an increase in prices of many staples including gasoline, rice, ice cream, even beer. Now some lawmakers in New Jersey are considering taking food taxes a step further and install a proverbial "sin" tax on fast food.
Yes, the idea of marking up your favorite fast food burger or pack of fries is actually being tossed around, and it's not settling well with many residents.
"They're taxing everything. Now you're gonna tax fast food? That's crazy," said Newark resident Miriam Robertson.
Added Livingston resident Tina Abrahamian: "No one wants to be taxed. I mean, it's a necessity to eat and people need to eat and with everything skyrocketing, that's the last thing we want to tax."
The thought of taxing a Big Mac or a Wendy's burger came up at a New Jersey Hospital Association meeting where Gov. Jon S. Corzine was asked if it could be an option to help fund struggling hospitals. At the meeting, he reportedly called it a "constructive suggestion."
A spokesperson for the governor, however, told CBS 2 on Wednesday:
"The governor is open to reasonable solutions to help solve our financing problems, but there are no plans for any fast food tax."
State Sen. Richard Codey has been quoted as saying a tax on fast food "is a tax on the poor." And plenty of residents agree.
"[It cost] $12.86 for [fries] and this little chicken wrap, and they want to tax that? You're serious?" asked Newark resident Saladine Fuller. "If they raise it, I'll stop buying it."
Still, some say taxing fast food isn't such a bad idea.
(Excerpt) Read more at wcbstv.com ...
And what about the same kind of foods one can buy at the grocery store...As if there isn't food as bad or worse than at McD's etc...
this makes me think of the movie "Thank You For Smoking" when the lead character is in front of a congressional panel where they are wanting to put the skull and bones on the cig boxed and the guy asks the Senator from Vermont if he would agree to do that on cheese since heart disease is the nations leading killer and cheese is a contributor of that...I LOVE that movie, it drives at the ridiculousness of Government getting too involved in the average Joe's life...
Anyhew, eat up before the sin tax gets you!!
And who really thinks that the extra money will go to hospitals??? Yeah, sure.
How about a sin tax on the food served at the fancy restaurants where the politicians hang out!
They could deport the illegals and that would certainly help the hospitals’ budget.
Well the steaks there are realllllly lean so one can’t be taxed on lean high grade beef and don’t forget the seafood!! It’s high in Omega 3 acids...in fact I think there should be a credit given for these folks!! Or at least a “sin tax” offset fund to prevent the expansion of global fatness if the politicians dare to eat something the food nazi’s find to be unhealthy by government standards...
sarcasm off...
It won’t effect me. I stopped eating out when they quit letting me smoke at the restaurants.
A tax on fast food is the wrong solution to a terrible problem in America.
Anyone who has traveled overseas can attest to the fact that we are just about the most unhealthy looking people in the world. In most other countries, the average person would not dream of eating fast food on a regular basis.
Just another way for politicians to piss money away.
As much as I rail against my home state of Maryland, New Jersey always takes the cake; “Your stupid is more stupider than my stupid.”
Long passed time for the residents of NJ to take back their country.
The first three boxes have failed.
This same kind of thing was also thought up many years ago in Massachusetts by former Massachusetts State House Representative Barbara Grey, and, thankfully, it didn’t get past the trial balloon stage, even in very blue Massachusetts.
How about a tax on $5000/hr prostitutes? (That may be more a NY thing, but I wouldn’t put it past Corzine.)
How about a special tax on governors who fail to wear a seatbelt?
Recently, I had the pleasure to experience "no increase in taxes", as my state govt was on vacation for a few days. I live in one of the top taxed states in the land. Some declare now #1, or #2; don't know why; but some seem to claim it like a badge of honor fighting for that top spot. Supposed to make you feel proud we are #1 at something, I guess.
Soon as these jokers (probably out buying up massive amounts of beer, wine) returned, they quickly placed a tax on soft drinks, flavored water, and the-"sin-ful"-beer and wine. On top of that they, the Democrats, put a tax on health insurance claims.
I understand people are running (as they can't afford to drive) over the state line into New Hampshire to buy the ever "sinful" cigarettes and now add to the list, cases of beer and soda. Cars are said riding low on the axle returning back into the state. Course the news was quickly put out, that terrorists (being it is also a sanctuary state) were making money off black-marketing cigarettes. So, guess that must mean they are now operating up here in the Pine Cone State of Maine.
Probably the pine cone will be next!
As for NJ, I'd vote with my feet. I hate even driving through the state - where you can't pump your own gas and there is a toll booth every twenty miles.
Yeah...we look way worse than the fat sausage chewing winos in Germany!
New Jersey - - lol!
I asked a French friend of mine about this. Europeans certainly enjoy their meals - look at a typical French or Italian dinner - but why are Americans in general overweight?
His reply - we don’t eat chips and hamburgers every day!
Not to mention New Jersey is amongst the strictist states in the nation on guns, including no concealed carry, leaving people (uh, people who naively pay attention to "gun control" laws) in New Jersey defenseless against criminals. I can't even (legally) cross the Delaware into New Jersey with my guns because my Pennsylvania CC permit is not recognized by NJ.
Yeah, New Jersey is a nice place to leave.
The hoople heads from New Jersey get what they deserve. They are the idiots who keep electing democrats to office. You would have thought they would have learned their lesson by now.
this tax might even bring voters to the republicans....NO....wait it is the peoples’ republic of NJ....
Never happen....one party system!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.