Coffee Group Steaming over Espresso Tax

Yahoo/Reuters ^ | 8/6/02 | Yahoo

[ivegotabrain]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A proposal to levy a 10-cent tax on espresso and espresso-based drinks in Seattle has drawn the wrath of the U.S. coffee industry's key trade group.

Known formally as Seattle Initiative 77, the proposed special tax would go to pay for existing child-care programs.

"It is a bad tax," said National Coffee Association President Robert Nelson in a telephone interview. "The coffee industry believes early child care is very important, but (members) are in opposition of this bad tax," he added.

[Dakmar]

Maybe people should be held accountable and be forced to pay the costs for their own irresponsible actions. How's that grab ya?

[tcostell]

I can see the sandalistas now:

"what do you mean Starbucks closed down? Can they do that?!

[AD from SpringBay]

When they came for the smokers I did not care, for I was not a smoker. Yukky bad smokes.

When they came for the espresso drinkers I did not care, for it is much too strong and only rich people enjoy such things.

When they came for the landowners I did not care, for I rent and am usually late as it is.

When they came for 30% FICA I did not mind, for I receive fedrul money (poetic license of course) and don't have to toil.

I guess I don't care about much of nothin', as long as I get mine.

[ivegotabrain]

Well, I suppose I'm only one 1 out of 100, but I am a stay-at-home mom of four. I raise my own kids, and I like to get hopped up on chocolate-flavored caffeine. Maybe Starbucks should give me a 10-cent break on the price of my fix?

[ivegotabrain]

Ooooh! Organic, too! Thanks much for the link, think I'll try it.

[ivegotabrain]

Um, sorry. Sruggling with this one. Is Starbucks a moral-liberal industry? I thought they just provided yummy coffee. I'm not sure about the societal ills of that, unless you count a whole bunch of wide awake people.

Oh, now I get it! I whole lot of wide awake people in the middle of the night, with nothing better to do than...nudge, nudge, winkie, winkie!

Thus, the need for child care funds! EUREKA!

[Psycho_Bunny]

I am incapable of responding to this without swearing or proposing an act of violence so, I'll just keep my mouth shut.

[gunshy]

That is a really great idea.

[razorback-bert]

We had a whole thread green beans and roasting.

A large number of us, use http://www.sweetmarias.com/

[B Knotts]

I've never bought a plain cup of coffee at Starbucks. Is it $4 too?

Nah. It's like $1.40 or so. And it's very strong stuff. And pretty good, if you like very strong coffee.

[pray4liberty]

Hear, hear! I guess that this proves that if you have a successful business in America (say, Starbucks) WE WILL PUNISH YOU!

Well, maybe it's time liberal companies got a taste of their own medicine.

[ivegotabrain]

Hey, that is a cool link! Thanks!

[Washington-Husky]

I don't know what they'll think of next, but I know how they think:

"American Taxpayers -- Good to the Last Drop!!"

[tpaine]

Good grief!
The culturally socialistic jihadist has outed himself as an opponent of the evil 'moral-liberal' coffee industry.

Another fine mind-boggleing FR development.

[Cultural Jihad]

Is Starbucks a moral-liberal industry?

Moral-liberal industry? Who knows? They are certainly charging a hefty premium to slothful customers who can't be bothered to make their own 20 cent cup of coffee. Whether that translates into Starbuck's support of moral-liberalism and instant gratification is open to investigation: http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/csr.asp

[MaggieMay]

I was at Larry's market at Redmond Town Center. The gentleman next in line bought a pack of cigarettes, it was a little over $6. I told him he had better start voting Republican, the Democrates before long,were going to raise his cigarettes to $10 a pack. I don't care if espresso is 4,6 or 10 dollars a cup, I will not pay a extra 10 cent tax on it. I'm like the guy buying his cigarettes, espresso is my vice and the government should stay out of our pocketbook's.

[Cultural Jihad]

...espresso is my vice and the government should stay out of our pocketbook's.

No one is forcing you to buy an espresso from anyone else. If you really want to, you can make one yourself, and save a ton of money even without the added dime.

[Alissa]

How about a $1 tax on booze served in gay bars to take care of people with AIDS???

Good question! Why is alcohol getting a pass with the liberals? It's much more destructive to humans than tobacco and McDonalds! Is Ted Kennedy that powerful!

[tpaine]

I think we need an investigation into the question:

What is Fundamentalism?
Address:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/729941/posts

And, just how far 'gone' you really are in this terrible socialistic fundamentalism you are exhibiting here tonite, CJ.

[Pining_4_TX]

The morning chick on Fox News interviewed people on opposite sides of this the other day. She's OK, but I was screaming at her to ask the pro-tax guy some serious questions. Like - why don't you donate your own money and go out and raise contributions if this cause is so important to you? Or, she could say this, "You obviously think you know how your neighbors ought to spend their money, but you are too lazy to try to persuade them to donate it and too much of a coward to break into their homes and steal it outright. So, you and other "compassionate thieves" use the power of government to do it for you.