MLM Directory

Taxing soda and pizza?

As a conservative, I don't agree with New York State's plan to tax non-diet sodas an extra 15% and possibly tax pizza the same amount. It's a form of government interference in the free market, giving other businesses (for example, bottled water companies vs. soda companies and sandwich shops vs. pizza parlors) an advantage. It's also an example of the government taking personal responsibility away from citizens, and a result of what happens when you allow the government to be involved in health care. I'm guessing conservatives feel the same way but perhaps there are some liberals out there who agree, also. So, is creating an obesity tax right or wrong?

Public Comments

1. It is wrong not everyone who buys those items are obese.
2. It is very wrong. But to be expected from a liberal Democrat. Their answer to everything is more taxes.
3. I'm a liberal and I agree that it's wrong. What are they gonna tax next? Air?
4. Just another chip out of the block of our freedoms. It's similar to the 'greenies' wanting to tax me for the wrong light bulbs or wanting to tell me at what temperature my house can be kept. Enough Government Interference!
5. As a Lib, to a point I fully agree with you, however, health care IS a great concern. The uninsured seek help, which you and I pay for. Further, the tax will help the coffers at city hall, and maybe got a long way to curb the debt.
6. There should be no taxes on the necessities of life, and more taxes on the unnecessary items. No tax on bread, but a larger tax on movies.
7. Soda, diet or non-diet, is unhealthy, unnecssary, and there's no reason for soda to even exist in this world. Pizza, however, is delicious, and food is a necessity. what I dislike most about Governor Paterson's proposals is that he wants to tax cable television! Although technically a luxury, how can you live without cable? And he also wants to tax bus rides. Transportation is a necessity.
8. Just more liberal social engineering
9. In a way I understand the reason but I don't agree with it. Obese people cause medical problems we end up paying for sometime. But it's not just soda and pizza that cause it. This could set a bad precedent for governmental control that could get outrageous, next will be steak then I'll be mad. Too many people need to use their heads and their arms to push themselves away from the table period.
10. Actually the libs in New York want to tax EVERYTHING another 8%. so no free market advantage.
11. It is just stupid! Not everyone who drinks regular soda and eats pizza is obese. Where will it stop. Boston should tax bean eaters because it makes them fart more causing methane gas? Regular beer is fattening and bad for people with diabetes, and causes drunk driving? Should their be an extra tax on that? Sugar is fattening it is found in most bakery foods and candy as well as buy the bag, extra tx on that? It just opens Pandora's Box it is ignorant
12. Did you ever hear about the high taxes on tea right before the american revolution. How did that turn out?
13. Natasha is right. The assumption that everyone that consumes non-diet soda as obese is wrong. This is not about conservative or liberal. this is about right and wrong. And this is wrong. this also has nothing to do with health care. this is just about revenue.
14. Its wrong! Government shouldn't be this powerful, and the people are giving it away.
15. That's one of the stupidest ideas I've ever heard, and it's very discriminatory- People in NY that like pizza and soda must be very upset- Who does not like pizza and soda for that matter?
16. That's a weird one... except I guess you could look at it a usage Tax if they put it towards the additional medical cost that Obese incur
17. Taxing food is stupid. If New York wants to cut down on obesity...how about free gyms. It is not rocket science why the wealthy are in better shape than the less fortunate.
18. I disagree with this type of tax. Its very manipulative of both businesses and consumers. Aspartame in diet soda is linked with symptoms of MS. Pizza is one of the healthiest fast foods. What is their basis for choosing which foods to add tax? In their effort to force people to be healthier, they could actually create new health problems. How will they stop people from just making their own pizza? Will they put an extra tax on pepperoni and cheese? These people have already created the environment that has led to this terrible recession. Do we really want them making our dietary decisions as well? We need term limits for congress.