Comments on: Annoying “Juice Drink Tax” Ads Explained

By: sweettbat

sweettbat — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:09:30 +0000

“That would go a long way toward bolstering their motives beyond raising money to plug budget holes by saying “Eff the fatties!””

Interesting sentence. Because it seems that this is the actual motive…”eff the fatties.” The reason this tax is being proposed is not to encourage a healthier lifestyle bla bla bla. They want to tax soda and juice drinks because they KNOW that people will NOT stop drinking these drinks, and when it comes down to it, nobody who drinks soda religiously really cares if it is going to be a few pennies more expensive. What a CROCK to say that a tax would discourage people from consuming these types of drinks. 63% of Americans are overweight (since the issue seems to be going in this direction) and 31% are obese. Let’s pretend that 100% of those individuals consume soda or juice drinks. LOOK AT ALL THE MONEY THAT CAN BE MADE! Let’s be real here!

“The heart of this issue is that (non-diet) sodas and “juice drinks” are really, really bad for us, and a tax would rein in consumption while funding health care programs.”

My FOOT! The heart of this is not to encourage a healthier lifestyle, or more healthy choices, rather it is to CAPITALIZE ON THE CHOICES THAT THEY ARE CLAIMING TO DISCOURAGE.

Typical of the government. Mask the real, selfish, controlling attempts to tax the crap out of us because of their own feeble, ignorant spending with a sugar-coated message tricking the stupid into believing that the government actually cares about their well-being. OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE!

By: mileysmiley

mileysmiley — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:06:54 +0000

I saw this ad recently as well. What % are these juices taxes going to be? The reason I ask is that I have heard some folks talk about a juice tax or taxes on water bottles when those are really deposits for recyling efforts. As people get there 5 cents back when they return the bottles of juice or water, these should not be called taxes, though some politicians/.interests call them that to scare people. So if their is a juice tax for health issues plus additional cost for the deposit (which they pay until and if they return it), discussions could get heated. But in the later case, it is the environment that would suffer. It looks like all the supporters of this are beverage companies and retailers and if the retailer is only making 2 cents on the dollar they would not want to have any additional taxes or costs added to the equation. But then let them be accountable for what gets thrown out later.

By: Magister

Magister — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:11:35 +0000

At least one or two of the Native American nations impose a “junk food tax” and they seem no worse for wear, plus whenever I’ve been on tribal land, I’ve gladly paid it.

By: Dandee

Dandee — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:18:36 +0000

This is only the beginning of taxes. He will also add taxes on Food and air. You will be allowed just a certain number of times to breathe in and out.!

By: doffy99

doffy99 — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:26:40 +0000

I’d like to see, in the Constitution, where it is the Federal, or even a state, governments job to keep me and my family eating right and healthy?

The government taxes alcohol and Tobacco the same way. That hasn’t made people stop drinking alcohol or stop smoking cigarettes. I’m sure the recent jump in the cost of tobacco has convinced some to quit, or not pick up the nasty habit but I’m willing to lay odds that most quit or never started because of education on the dangers of tobacco and nicotine. Same with alcohol.

Now I can see an argument for why the government should step in on the alcohol and tobacco issues. With drunk drivers and second-hand smoke a danger even to those who never touch a cigarette (Remember Dana Reeve?) or a can of beer, there’s an argument to protect the greater good or some such. It isn’t much of an argument but it’s some justification for why the government needs to tell me how to live and raise my family.

There is NO SUCH argument for sodas and juice drinks! Fine, these things may lower the general health of those who drink them. They may raise health care costs for the insured and the uninsured but so do a lot of things. Will we be taxing Twinkies next? Chocolate cake maybe? Or how about Bill Cosby’s favorite, Pudding?

The government should not be even considering TAXING juice drinks and sodas. If they are unhealthy, start a campaign to educate people about other options. Put warning labels on the cans and bottles. There are better ways to do this than yet ANOTHER tax… oh wait, Obama promised not to raise any more taxes. I guess this is another FINE.