Obama "not opposed" to sin tax on soda

[dcgf05]

President Obama says 'sin tax' on sodas is food for thought, despite Gov. Paterson's failed proposal

"It's an idea that we should be exploring," the president said. "There's no doubt that our kids drink way too much soda. And every study that's been done about obesity shows that there is as high a correlation between increased soda consumption and obesity as just about anything else."

I am actually speachless.... sorry if already posted.

 

[dickens821]

I'm all for sin taxes... but on soda? A little ridiculous. I say legalize pot, and prostitution. Sin tax the hell out of them, cut down on crime/violent crime in the process. Not sure I see a downside.

 

[IBlvNTmWrk]

Ridiculous thought/statement from Obama. What's next... a sin tax on candy, fast food, and ice cream? Did I mention that this was ridiculous?

 

[myrobbins7]

Ok, so like what's going to be the tax on free refills? Hope and Change baby!!

 

[kptvol]

Is there a lighter tax on Diet Coke?

 

[Daddy Gee]

what about Coke ZerO?

 

[kptvol]

what about Coke ZerO?

Can't be taxed.

 

[JTrainDavis]

Ridiculous thought/statement from Obama. What's next... a sin tax on candy, fast food, and ice cream? Did I mention that this was ridiculous?

whats ridiculous is how many of you guys seem surprised to hear Obama saying things like this.

 

[kptvol]

whats ridiculous is how many of you guys seem surprised to hear Obama saying things like this.

The only thing that surprises me a bit is that I feel like this will affect poorer folk more than anyone else. Not his usual MO.

 

[IBlvNTmWrk]

President Obama says 'sin tax' on elected officials thinking is food for thought, despite Gov. Paterson's failed proposal

"It's an idea that we should be exploring," the president said. "There's no doubt that our elected officials think of dumb ideas way too much. And every study that's been done about stupidity shows that there is as high a correlation between politicians thinking and dumb ideas as just about anything else."

fyp

 

[IPorange]

The only thing that surprises me a bit is that I feel like this will affect poorer folk more than anyone else. Not his usual MO.

Surely you jest.

 

[kptvol]

Surely you jest.

About what?

 

[IPorange]

About what?

A lot of his policies affect the poor more than anyone else. What do you think "Cash for Clunkers" is going to do for the cheap used car market that many poor Americans can only afford to shop in?

Who's going to get hurt more by a "Cap and Trade" program that's going to significantly increase the price of groceries?

The cold hard reality is there is no way to ONLY target the wealthy without affecting the poor. And usually the effect on the poor will be more hurtful, due to the less margin for misfortune they have from their economic situation.

 

[kptvol]

A lot of his policies affect the poor more than anyone else. What do you think "Cash for Clunkers" is going to do for the cheap used car market that many poor Americans can only afford to shop in?

Who's going to get hurt more by a "Cap and Trade" program that's going to significantly increase the price of groceries?

The cold hard reality is there is no way to ONLY target the wealthy without affecting the poor. And usually the effect on the poor will be more hurtful, due to the less margin for misfortune they have from their economic situation.

Those all seem like more indirect effects that, while obvious to some, might not be evident to the casual observer that isn't thinking these things through. Taxing Mountain Dew will piss some people off.

 

[IPorange]

If they're not smart enough to connect the dots on the other stuff, then they'll be stupid enough to demand "price controls" on soft drinks in the wake of tax increases raising the price. And they'll stand a fair chance of getting it.

 

[TennTradition]

Is there a lighter tax on Diet Coke?

Last week, I actually toyed with making an avatar almost just like yours, going back and forth between what you have and "Berrium" (But I didn't like the Ba vs. the Be, so I like your choice).

I ended up going this route instead, but it is a little small.

 

[allvol123]

President Obama says 'sin tax' on sodas is food for thought, despite Gov. Paterson's failed proposal

"It's an idea that we should be exploring," the president said. "There's no doubt that our kids drink way too much soda. And every study that's been done about obesity shows that there is as high a correlation between increased soda consumption and obesity as just about anything else."

I am actually speachless.... sorry if already posted.

Does not make sense. According to yesterday, Obama is a personal responsibility type of guy. This wreaks of government intrusion, not his type of deal.

 

[therealUT]

Our current POTUS is in favor of additional taxes??? No...

I am surprised though that he is in favor of a sin tax on soda. He seems to be all about taxing the rich and, well, I am going to have to believe that wealthier people might just drink less soda than poor people. Drinks like Propel and Vitamin Water are not exactly marketed towards the poor. I am going to assume that there is a marketing strategy behind that...

 

[allvol123]

I'm all for sin taxes... but on soda? A little ridiculous. I say legalize pot, and prostitution. Sin tax the hell out of them, cut down on crime/violent crime in the process. Not sure I see a downside.

I don't get this mentality. As if government needs more money? It is as if people have taken on the attitude of...give them more money so they can find something to spend it on.

 

[lawgator1]

We have to pay off these ridiculous budget deficits left over from George Bush and the Republican Congress, plus pay for the stimulus required to bail us out from 8 years of economic ruin thrust upon us by Bush & Co. How else would you propose we pay for it?

 

[allvol123]

We have to pay off these ridiculous budget deficits left over from George Bush and the Republican Congress, plus pay for the stimulus required to bail us out from 8 years of economic ruin thrust upon us by Bush & Co. How else would you propose we pay for it?

Tax stupidity. The revenue generated from the state of Florida alone would have us floating in a surplus by this weekend.

 

[droski]

We have to pay off these ridiculous budget deficits left over from George Bush and the Republican Congress, plus pay for the stimulus required to bail us out from 8 years of economic ruin thrust upon us by Bush & Co. How else would you propose we pay for it?

obama has trippled bush's deficit. and the way to pay for all this crap is to a) cut a lot of it and b) encourage economic growth.

and is there any tax obama isn't in favor of?

 

[allvol123]

We have to pay off these ridiculous budget deficits left over from George Bush and the Republican Congress, plus pay for the stimulus required to bail us out from 8 years of economic ruin thrust upon us by Bush & Co. How else would you propose we pay for it?

So you solve a "ridiculous" deficit by outdoing it? That about right?

Not sure you understand the word "required."

 

[utvolpj]

I'm going to pay off my house by getting a 2nd and 3rd mortgage. Obama said that's the way to go

 

[lawgator1]

My post was a bit tongue in cheek about blaming it all on Bush. Both parties share the blame for our fiscal situation, if you ask me.

But there is the question of how we will deal with it. I don't view the proposal to tax soda as really oriented on being the answer to our budget woes, more of a tax designed to modify bad behavior and encourage good.

In principle, I don't necessarily have a problem with that theory. But in practice, it has always seemed to me that to have the desired effect on behavior the tax has to basically rise to truly punitive levels in order to have any real effect. Is a can of Coke going to have to cost $2 before anybody opts for water, instead? Probably.