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Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit[W:141]

Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Jetboogieman said:
Soda is a massive contributor to the obesity epidemic, we tax cigarettes, we tax alcohol for those reasons, I don't see any issue with taxing massively unhealthy foods and beverages. :shrug:
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That's a very reasonable position, however, those taxes tend to impact lower income people in a disproportionally large and negatively way.

Those taxes also tend to be circular in impact, in that those that are on government assistance tend to use that government assistance to purchase items that are taxed at higher rates, meaning that the government (in a way) is taxing itself.

There's gotta be a better way than punitive taxation which doesn't change behavior, it just harshens an already harsh existence for low income people.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Ikari said:
Soda certainly isn't good for one, but to have the audacity to think you have the rightful power to make that choice for someone, or punish them for making it. Not only that, but this tax is far and beyond what is placed on alcohol. It's not something that is there to "force people to reconsider" their choices, it's a money grab by government.
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Do you want to make a statement? Shake up the man? Don't drink pop.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Renae said:
BUT, the real kicker is the political arrogance:

Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit | Fox News
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To make this easy math wise

The tax comes out to approximately two bucks for a twelve pack of soda

So something that used to be around 4 bucks for a twelve pack is now six bucks

A nice hefty 50% increase.....

Sounds perfect for killing the drink market and capitalism
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

I think they should start taxing abortions since they are unhealthy and cost us future tax contributers.

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Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Brewdog said:
In a supposed free society.. it's our government's purview to impose taxes to influence our behavior? Which section of the US Constitution covers this? The commie section?
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In an ideal world a Quart of Rum would be $10 instead of $30, Weed and prostitution would be legal, but here we are, people who freak out about these kinds of things and want to break out their Gadsden Flags over soda, need to gain a little perspective. :shrug:
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

gdgyva said:
To make this easy math wise

The tax comes out to approximately two bucks for a twelve pack of soda

So something that used to be around 4 bucks for a twelve pack is now six bucks

A nice hefty 50% increase.....

Sounds perfect for killing the drink market and capitalism
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Just like it killed the tobacco market? Addictive products tend to do pretty well even with a modest rise in price.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Jetboogieman said:
In an ideal world a Quart of Rum would be $10 instead of $30, Weed and prostitution would be legal, but here we are, people who freak out about these kinds of things and want to break out their Gadsden Flags over soda, need to gain a little perspective. :shrug:
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Or maybe sin taxes are a bad idea in general, and we should not have more of them.

You need to win the argument before making such proclamations as that I dont understand the rank of things.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

The amount of outrage in this thread is truly perplexing. Too many people seem stunned that the government can tax things. Even colonial Philadelphia had the right to levy municipal taxes on the distribution or offloading of certain goods. But I suppose the modern libertarian would have lynched Ben Franklin too.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Sherman123 said:
The city desperately needs the revenue in order to bolster essential education infrastructure. There has been a renaissance of sorts developing in center city and around graduate hospital, but the flight to the suburbs wont stop until families feel that they can safely send their kids to school in the city.
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You can bet that those suburbs will gain lots of new business selling tax free "soda pop" and likely other grocery items as well.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Sherman123 said:
Do I care about what? I don't quite follow your question.
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This is another tax on top of the 1 cent temporary sales tax you are already paying. So temporary that it will never go away. And for those non-locals on the thread, in addition to your 4% city wage tax.


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Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Sherman123 said:
The amount of outrage in this thread is truly perplexing. Too many people seem stunned that the government can tax things. Even colonial Philadelphia had the right to levy municipal taxes on the distribution or offloading of certain goods. But I suppose the modern libertarian would have lynched Ben Franklin too.
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Sounds like you need to get out more.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

HenryChinaski said:
Do you want to make a statement? Shake up the man? Don't drink pop.
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...what? Why would the "man" care if I drank pop or not?
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

ttwtt78640 said:
You can bet that those suburbs will gain lots of new business selling tax free "soda pop" and likely other grocery items as well.
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I think you underestimate how easy it is to go from Center City or South Philly to the 'burbs' just for the sake of grocery shopping. Especially for the average person.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Jetboogieman said:
In an ideal world a Quart of Rum would be $10 instead of $30, Weed and prostitution would be legal, but here we are, people who freak out about these kinds of things and want to break out their Gadsden Flags over soda, need to gain a little perspective. :shrug:
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I spend a lot of time in South America. Do you know that down there powder cocaine is $3 a gram and I can walk through the streets carrying a beer without being molested by the police? Prostitution is also legal and people smoke weed at soccer matches. Does that freedom lead to some sort of anarchy in the streets down there? Nope. It just means the government stays out of my business. And that's how it should be.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Ikari said:
...what? Why would the "man" care if I drank pop or not?
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My point is you can't pay taxes on what you're not utilizing or consuming. If people were that bothered by it, they would stop drinking pop en masse.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

AliHajiSheik said:
This is another tax on top of the 1 cent temporary sales tax you are already paying. So temporary that it will never go away. And for those non-locals on the thread, in addition to your 4% city wage tax.


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Right, we keep extending the 2% Philadelphia sales tax (on top of the 6% state sales tax). I'm glad the didn't enact a genera sales tax hike because I think its extremely high as it is. This kind of targeted measure raises funds and doesn't have as broad an impact on commerce or peoples wallets.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Brewdog said:
I spend a lot of time in South America. Do you know that down there powder cocaine is $3 a gram and I can walk through the streets carrying a beer without being molested by the police? Prostitution is also legal and people smoke weed at soccer matches. Does that freedom lead to some sort of anarchy in the streets down there? Nope. It just means the government stays out of my business. And that's how it should be.
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I really wouldn't use South America as your example of a libertarian wonderland just because you can jet down there and walk around with some cocaine and beer.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Sherman123 said:
I think you underestimate how easy it is to go from Center City or South Philly to the 'burbs' just for the sake of grocery shopping. Especially for the average person.
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The tax on one gallon of "soda pop" would buy a gallon of gasoline. It does not take much to venture just outside the city limits for a (weekly?) grocery run.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Sherman123 said:
I really wouldn't use South America as your example of a libertarian wonderland just because you can jet down there and walk around with some cocaine and beer.
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If you haven't been down there, then you can shut your ****ing face. Right? You don't know ****. thanks.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Sherman123 said:
Just like it killed the tobacco market? Addictive products tend to do pretty well even with a modest rise in price.
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Is everyone who drinks soda fat and unhealthy?

What is it with people who believe we need more and more control in our lives?

Didn't your mommy teach you about moderation?

I don't need or want a government trying crap like this....

Never have liked it, never will....
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

ttwtt78640 said:
The tax on one gallon of "soda pop" would buy a gallon of gasoline. It does not take much to venture just outside the city limits for a (weekly?) grocery run.
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I would be shocked of your average Philadelphia family started loading up the car and going to the suburbs just to grocery shop because of the soda tax. I'm sure some will, but I'm very skeptical that grocery stores or other chains will actually take a meaningful hit.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

BrewerBob said:
Just a matter of time before someone is choked to death by the cops for selling untaxed Mountain Dew.
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Yeah, some of the local businesses will complain that someone's selling cheap Coke on the sidewalk, and all hell will break loose. "Psssst. I got 2 liter Cokes here for two dollars less than the same stuff you're gonna buy inside. Wanna deal? It's up to you. It's your money." Soda may be terrible for you, but the government needs to just give it up before they cause an outright revolt. This won't work.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

Brewdog said:
If you haven't been down there, then you can shut your ****ing face. Right? You don't know ****. thanks.
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I've been down there a lot. And not to indulge in my libertarian fantasy.
 
Re: Philadelphia residents up in arms over soda tax hit

HenryChinaski said:
My point is you can't pay taxes on what you're not utilizing or consuming. If people were that bothered by it, they would stop drinking pop en masse.
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That point is dumb. It's not the government's place to price me out of purchasing decisions because they feel it is "good" for me. While there can certainly be some level of appropriate taxation, sin taxes are dumb.
 
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