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[BronsonLee]

You want to educate Pre-K on the true troubles of our country, teach them that anime is wrong

 

[Deleted member 752119]

I drink soda everyday as a way to stay up during work. I know its bad as fuck for me tho. I don't think forcing people to be healthy is a great way to go about anything, if they want to be unhealthy then let them...

Fine. Then let them pay more for their health premiums and us healthy folk that rarely use our insurance pay less.

 

[samn]

Jesus christ just drink water. And eat your vegetables.

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

Also in Philadelphia. Smoking way down from where it was. Though the city banning smoking from most bars and restaurants probably was a contributor

Which is a good thing. These diseases have costs. We just hide it well. Who pays for Medicaid? Medicare? People without healthcare who use the emergency room as their primary health provider?

But don't tread on my tongue is what the people are yelling. What about ism over sweet water. Health care costs will keep rising. The government has a legitimate reason to tax these drinks.

Cardiac disease is already down from smoking bans. And business won't police themselves. You have to tax and regulate to promote healthy behavior.

Just think of coke as a luxury, made for the 1%.

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

I would start with a buyout option for pensions. Again, my numbers are from last year, but that's what $11B in obligations? Even if, say 1/4 of those took up the offer, the savings would be a bundle. The pension board ran numbers for a 50% adoption rate (which I think is insanely generous-- I'd expect a number far less) which would save $3.7B. Again, I don't think $3.7B happens. Half of that? Meh. Maybe. Along with that would require eliminating the loophole that allows them to return of course.

Philadelphia (as of 2015) pays the 4th highest percentage of average income in taxes in the country and that's till not going to be enough?

No city is ever going to be perfect. But 4th in the country already and looking for more? Know who else is in such illustrious company? Newark, NJ and Detroit. Neither one particularly well known for solid fiscal management in its city government.

Hey guys, i have an even better plan to fuck over both poor people and the middle class. Nice pension plan. It would be a shame if something happened to it.

 

[Ron Mexico]

Hey guys, i have an even better plan to fuck over both poor people and the middle class. Nice pension plan. It would be a shame if something happened to it.

A lump sum distribution as an option I would argue is even more of a benefit than what is in place currently.

Hell, ignoring that-- get rid of the giant loophole (DROP? I think. My work is more Fed-based in Philly but I have some local overlap) that allows a "retiree" to take a lump sum distribution then come back to work almost immediately, all the while double-dipping in salary and pension. There's more savings for you. IIRC, that was estimated at a couple hundred million.

Mind you, I've worked in the private sector my entire career and haven't had a pension offering since 2004, but that's neither here nor there.

 

[BronsonLee]

lol my god y'all wanna talk about DROP

 

[TyrantII]

Does taxation actually drive down consumption? Will it change core user's drinking habits? Or will people just have to spend more money to get what they want? I feel like these answers are out there.

From real world examples, yes.

Pricing in negative externalities does reduce consumption.

It's why things like cigarettes, pollution, carbon, and cheap food additives (linked to public health problems) should be taxed.

Not only will it reduce consumption, it provides a market incentive to find a better substitute to the products and services that tend to cause harm over time for ones that do not.

 

[TyrantII]

I'm not "pro" white sugar, I'm anti new tax.

Most of these externality taxes are either revenue neutral taxes like carbon (taxpayers get lower bills elsewhere like on income) or they go directly to public health programs. Usually a mixture of both.

I do agree these taxes should never go to and be spent from a general fund, and I do realize there's always that specter when some Govonor in a tight spot had a gap to fill.

But, bills can be written to keep them nutral or fixed on specifics if done right.

 

[Rentahamster]

Ok but where is the line? DO we start saying you don't need hamburgers, pizza, fatty pastas, sodas, juice alcohol. I mean I guess if you are a health nut that doesn't consume those thigns anyway then that would be fine for you. But how much are we going to start controlling the decisions people make in their lives. Is it a slippery slope?

I'm slightly surprised to see you take the libertarian argument on this issue.

 

[BronsonLee]

If you try to take my hamburger from me I will probably bite you

 

[perfectchaos007]

You want to educate Pre-K on the true troubles of our country, teach them that anime is wrong

Should be a sin tax on anime buyers over 18

 

[BronsonLee]

Should be a sin tax on anime buyers over 18

12 cents for each year the supposed 9000 year old demon is

 

[necrosis]

it was a thing here (in washington state) back in 2010 i believe? it didn't last very long

 

[danm999]

Is on basically everything in Australia (cigarettes, booze). Correcting for negative externalities.

 

[Coffee Dog]

I don't think it is just to levy higher taxes on people with health problems.

 

[jello44]

lol my god y'all wanna talk about DROP

Imma drop YOU for that anime quip.

If you try to take my hamburger from me I will probably bite you

OK, now this I can jam with.

We cool...

Spoiler

for now

 

[orthodoxy1095]

This is an unjustifiable sin tax then. Sin taxes should go to correct the sin, not fill budget shortfalls in other areas or introduce new programs. Taxing the poor to pay for education that they're already underserved by is an assinine regressive tax.

I absolutely agree with this.

You want to educate Pre-K on the true troubles of our country, teach them that anime is wrong

Bronson you need to stop.

12 cents for each year the supposed 9000 year old demon is

Okay, wait. I'll co-sign this.

 

[Zaventem]

That tax is to tell you not to buy sugary crap.

Other cities would have a soda tax too, but the soda lobby has fought tooth-and-nail to stop them.

yeah soon we'll have a cake tax and a candy tax.

 

[Brazil]

yeah soon we'll have a cake tax and a candy tax.

Yeah, sure. Call us when your strawman turns into something else.

 

[Soapbox Killer]

lol my god y'all wanna talk about DROP

"That's how it starts. The fever. The rage. The feeling of powerlessness that turns good men cruel."


The DROP program is the work of Satan

 

[Freshmaker]

Make the tea yourself?

Less than ideal for me since tea tends to lead to acid production which GERD intensely dislikes.

 

[Iorv3th]

Jesus christ just drink water. And eat your vegetables.

JC drank wine dude.

 

[Xe4]

My statement wasn't ambiguous. I meant destroy, as in literally erode the enamel on your teeth. Phosphoric acid destroys your teeth. It's unhealthy. It's crap.

Just because diet soda doesn't contain a ton of sugar automatically make it a healthy drink.

I mean look, yeah it erodes the enamel, but that doesn't mean it destroys your teeth. Worst case scenario you're talking increased tooth sensitivity and pain, and you'll have to get a dental surgeon to add back enamel. I think that's a pretty far cry from destroy, and diet sodas are still 1000x better for you teeth than any other drink short of water and carbonated water.

You and I certainly have different definitions of crap. Diet sodas are the last thing we should be looking at getting rid of or taxing right now.

 

[grumble]

There are many links, just do a google search. http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/10/health/diet-soda-may-do-more-harm-than-good/

The evidence to date is NOT compelling that diet soda is harmful. The studies that show an impact are poorly controlled.

https://examine.com/nutrition/is-diet-soda-bad-for-you/

As for this tax, I'm all for it. If you are going to cost the system money by shredding your body on sugary drinks, then pay up so others can be saved and your healthcare costs can be covered.

The the OP: stop buying your children sugary drinks. It is really bad for them and you are instilling habits and preferences that they will have for life. Please reconsider.