US Federal tax on soda?

[Heartless Angel]

Caring so much that they'll cost most businesses to stop providing GOOD healthcare so we ALL get stuck with this shitty government controlled crap? I don't know about you, but I really don't want my expensive medical descisions to be made by a government on a budget thatt's several trillion dollars in debt. Something tells me they probably aren't going to go out of their way to pay for the BEST possible care.

[Maridia]

It's like the movie Demolition Man with Sly. Who wants to live in a world of pussies, and 0 chance of excitement.

[RagnaToad]

Caring so much that they'll cost most businesses to stop providing GOOD healthcare so we ALL get stuck with this shitty government controlled crap? I don't know about you, but I really don't want my expensive medical descisions to be made by a government on a budget thatt's several trillion dollars in debt. Something tells me they probably aren't going to go out of their way to pay for the BEST possible care.

Lol.

The USA is the only fully industrialised country that doesn't have a universal healthcare system. And the government doesn't "decide" anything, they just fund it.

I've had this discussion too many times in the ID forums, so I'll leave it at that.

Anyway,

BOOBS!!!

[Heartless Angel]

Lol.

The USA is the only fully industrialised country that doesn't have a universal healthcare system.

And it works so well everywhere else. Like in canada, where I have several friends who complain that it takes em over a month to get a checkup, or that they have to schedule a flu shot more than a month before flu season even starts. That's exactly what I wanna see here! </sarcasm>

But, the bill isn't the topic of this particular thread, so I'll leave it at that.

[OnOneRyder]

I see no problem with having higher taxes on food's that are known to be extremely bad for you and contribute to the rise in obesity and diabetes. If you want to consume these items, thats fine...but you have to willing to cough up a little more scratch to aid in the inevitable healthcare costs. Maybe you consume a lot of bad food, maybe you don't. The fact is you're still consuming something that is causing the problems that demand healthcare. If you're complaining about it because it's the principle of raising taxes, well unfourtunately the money has to come from somewhere.

As for canada's healthcare, despite what your "friend" experiences, I've yet to ever wait more than a few days to see a doctor and for flu shots you simply have to go to your local walk-in clinic and they'll take care of you regardless of who you are. Say what you want, you can't get that in the states atm.

[Heartless Angel]

With good reason. Nobody gets something for nothing. And I don't know about you, but I really don't feel like being the one to cough up the cash for someone else's failure to thrive. Especially since in doing so, not ONLY will I be paying for someone else's healthcare, but downgrading my own. Not to mention all the pork and race laws buried in that piece of shit bill. And let's not forget all the 'doctors' that were endorsing the bill during an Obama interview! By 'doctors' I of course mean people that Obama had wearing white coats and pretending to be doctors. Not a single 'doctor' there had ever practiced medicine. So, he's lying to get people to like the bill, trying to force it through when people DON'T like it, and trying to skip that bit of the constitution that says it MUST be read completely 3 times before a vote is even poissible. Yeah, sounds legit to me. </furhter sarcasm>

[Sasquatch]

But the fact that you're seriously bitching about 0.03$ is ridiculous.

It's not the amount that I have a problem with, it's the entire idea of controlling behavior through taxation to support a bill that has proven to fail in its two most similar situations (Britain, Canada).

The government is going to have their way with you no matter what, be glad it wasn't a worse idea for the tax. I think it's pretty good, given the circumstance. They could have taxed something else, and been far more pricey.

So we're supposed to be glad they're screwing us, because at least they used lube?

The government won't change for a long, long time.

It has changed a lot in the past 20 or 25 years. Do you think Reagan or the Congress that Clinton had to deal with in his last two years would have put up with the shit that Obama's squeezing out?

We used to be able to change shit in this country. That was back when we first arrived here and stole our land from the people already living here, and we made our own way.

And we bought it from them, and we fought them for it, and we took over uninhabited land. I don't buy into the sob stories about how we destroyed Atlantis to form America -- we bought and fought for land from groups of people who had very little control over it anyway, who weren't even technologically advanced enough to draw maps. I understand it's a different discussion, but if you want to have that discussion, start it somewhere else instead of interjecting with one piece of it that you don't expect to get a response to because it's "a different discussion".

You have to have a majority of people stand up for stuff, and most people are too worried about going on with their daily life to change things that you guys bitching about your 0.03$ isn't going to get anything done.

Not saying you are making the wrong decision. I'm saying we all need to stand up at once and change the stuff we think needs to be changed.

If what you are trying to say is, "pick your battles," I can definitely agree. A lot of things need to be changed, and a three-cent tax isn't anywhere near any of the important things.

If you're complaining about an extra .3 cents being taken from you, then why aren't you complaining about the price of the soda your buying? If .3 cents is really such an issue, why isn't the money your spending already?

Because the rest of the cost of the drink is put towards materials, manufacture, labor, bottling, transportation, and marketing. (And quite a bit of taxing at every step of the process, but still ...) It's not the cost that people have a problem with, it's the idea of taxing something "bad" for us to pay for a system that is abysmally shitty at taking care of people who have something wrong with them.

Obviously, the most ideal thing for government to do would be to cut all the pork from bills, but that will never happen. Ever.

Cutting pork wouldn't help generate revenue, it would only lower expenses. And as much as I'd like to see pork cut out of our legislative bodies, like you said, that'll take a long, long time. I think that, eventually, Americans will get angry enough about it to start reading the Constitution and supporting the Ninth and Tenth Amendments ... and with the rejection of the nanny state that Obama's administration is trying to push us towards, hopefully Americans will smarten up quickly.

Yeah. It's called caring about your civilians.

If they cared about their civilians, they would let them control their own healthcare instead of forcing them to submit to a low-quality HMO.

The USA is the only fully industrialised country that doesn't have a universal healthcare system.

Which is why tens of thousands of people every year -- mostly from Canada, which does have socialized healthcare -- come to America to get quality healthcare.

And the government doesn't "decide" anything, they just fund it.

Do you actually believe this? Honestly? The government in countries with socialized medicine never rejects operations or treatment for its citizens, they just throw money at them and finance them with no questions asked?

I see no problem with having higher taxes on food's that are known to be extremely bad for you and contribute to the rise in obesity and diabetes.

Then why not take it further? Anything with sugar on it gets an extra tax. Anything with saturated fats get an extra tax. Fast food gets an extra tax. Artificial sweeteners get an extra tax. Processed foods get an extra tax. Foods with high sodium get an extra tax. Foods made with white flour instead of whole grain get an extra tax. Foods treated with pesticides or hormones get an extra tax. Hey, it would only make us healthier, right?

If you want to consume these items, thats fine...but you have to willing to cough up a little more scratch to aid in the inevitable healthcare costs.

Under a free system, people already do cough up a little more scratch -- when their own bills come. And they get better healthcare.

If you're complaining about it because it's the principle of raising taxes, well unfourtunately the money has to come from somewhere.

Not if we don't decide to socialize our healthcare system, forcing most working citizens to pay for the care of every other citizen despite their health habits and income level.

As for canada's healthcare, despite what your "friend" experiences, I've yet to ever wait more than a few days to see a doctor and for flu shots you simply have to go to your local walk-in clinic and they'll take care of you regardless of who you are.

Anecdotes of Canada's horrible healthcare are more plentiful than those that credit Canadian healthcare, but if you want actual facts, Canada doesn't have a leg to stand on. And that's not just because people have to wait years for hip or knee replacements. (But from my experiences, supporters of socialized medicine don't want facts at all, so I guess, nevermind.)

Say what you want, you can't get that in the states atm.

Doctors in the States are legally prohibited from making treatment decisions based on method of payment. So yes, you can and do get that in the States.

[smurphy]

Im actually quite surprised this tax got passed considering how much power the drinks industry has what with Coca Cola and Pepsi being some of the biggest brands in the world. I thought they would have been able to canvass a small majority of politicians into voting against it. And I feel sorry for any population that converts to the "nanny" state mentality which results in less freedoms.So this tax is the antithesis of what Americans stand for really. And dont get me started on social healthcare. Most of the money that gets thrown into it goes towards bureaucracy and not towards treating patients.

[Heartless Angel]

Oh, and did I mention that around page 1500 of this bill, which I'm guessing around a third of actually has to do with heealcare, there is a new law that says only the government will be able to approve student loans? That sounds like a provision that will benifit the health of those people the government cares about. Seriously, when you have a month or two to kill, go read that piece of crap, it's hilarious.

[Tallulah]

In Britain we have a 17.5% value added tax (VAT) on pretty much anything not considered essential, such as sweets, biscuits and processed foods.

No idea where the money from that goes, but it's definitely not going on the NHS. :/ Or anywhere else for that matter; probably in the government's pockets!

Only time will tell whether this will work in America. If it doesn't work they'll keep the taxes on as the governmemnt will be making money either way.

[Zargabaath]

Yay. More government intervention to control our own choices, done only to support the largest and most flawed bill in the history of the United States.

So it's only three cents. Does it matter whether it's three cents or three dollars?

Some people might be alright with their government trying to control people's choices and protect them from their own habits. Some people are quite fine with their government squeezing every possible cent from its citizens here and there because it can't function on a budget. Hell, some people are even happily accepting of any new taxes, as long as they think they won't be affected.

But I'm not.

I second that.

It is a thing of principle which some people tend to dismiss easily when they shouldn't. How a person decides to live their life is up to them and a government should not be controlling what they do. A lot of people don't eat healthy or live a healthy lifestyle; could that be a contributing factor as to why their bodies are not that strong? If people chose to live healthier that would be somewhat of an equivalent of insurance companies being forced to cover pre-emptive care and/or pre-existing conditions. Isn't that so wierd too, the government telling a company what they can or can not sell - that sounds like a dictatorship to me.

But lets go into unhealthy lifestyle choices. The government is thinking that soda needs to be taxed because it is unhealthy and they are trying to discourage the purchase of that item - which could lead to the company having to shut down plants and/or let go of people if their revenue takes a big hit - and the government supposedly cares about jobs? Now I'll take this to an area that we are more familiar with than the drinking of soda - videogames. Videogames can lead to a very stationary lifestyle where people aren't active enough; videogames can be time-sinks, such as WoW. The government could put a new tax on videogames, one that could really hike their prices up; how would you guys take that? It only hurts when it conflicts with something that "you" care about. That is why it is important to stick by the principle of this instance because if the government can get a foot in the door eventually their whole body will be in the room. A government is to protect its citizens not to dictate how they [the people] should live their lives.

[Heartless Angel]

I second that.

It is a thing of principle which some people tend to dismiss easily when they shouldn't. How a person decides to live their life is up to them and a government should not be controlling what they do. A lot of people don't eat healthy or live a healthy lifestyle; could that be a contributing factor as to why their bodies are not that strong? If people chose to live healthier that would be somewhat of an equivalent of insurance companies being forced to cover pre-emptive care and/or pre-existing conditions. Isn't that so wierd too, the government telling a company what they can or can not sell - that sounds like a dictatorship to me.

But lets go into unhealthy lifestyle choices. The government is thinking that soda needs to be taxed because it is unhealthy and they are trying to discourage the purchase of that item - which could lead to the company having to shut down plants and/or let go of people if their revenue takes a big hit - and the government supposedly cares about jobs? Now I'll take this to an area that we are more familiar with than the drinking of soda - videogames. Videogames can lead to a very stationary lifestyle where people aren't active enough; videogames can be time-sinks, such as WoW. The government could put a new tax on videogames, one that could really hike their prices up; how would you guys take that? It only hurts when it conflicts with something that "you" care about. That is why it is important to stick by the principle of this instance because if the government can get a foot in the door eventually their whole body will be in the room. A government is to protect its citizens not to dictate how they [the people] should live their lives.

I absolutely agree. It's a shame the rest of the world lacks the intellect to think that way. Far too many people are willing to just let it go if it doesn't concern them. If we all stood against the crap together just because it's wrong, rather than because it directly affects us, we'd be much better off. A government recieves the right to rule from the people. Their power comes from us, not the other way around.

[Che]

I absolutely agree. It's a shame the rest of the world lacks the intellect to think that way. Far too many people are willing to just let it go if it doesn't concern them. If we all stood against the crap together just because it's wrong, rather than because it directly affects us, we'd be much better off. A government recieves the right to rule from the people. Their power comes from us, not the other way around.

It has nothing to do with intellect.

As I said before, you guys are ridiculous. This change directly affects me, and I am fine with the change.

Yes, governments should not control how people spend their lives, but neither should some of the people living in this country.

Let's forget about the healthcare bill for a second. Do you think the government is just taxing us to tax us? Taxes pay for things, and that's why he have them.

A government recieves the right to rule from the people. Their power comes from us, not the other way around.

Are you blind? That should be the case, but the government clearly controls us already. That's why I'm saying you're so ridiculous for complaining about 0.03$ tax on a soda. Using my 5 soda/day for 365 days in a row it came out to what, 54$? Nobody drinks near that much soda. Quite possibly half that would be a good estimate, so 27$. A videogame costs ~65$ with tax. So stop complaining that you won't be able to buy one extra videogame. You will. If you make the exact same amount you did last year (which is impossible for most people given sick days and schedule changes etc etc), you probably aren't even going to worry about that 27$ for your 365 days.

Nevermind, you will. Because you are ridiculous.

This will be the last time I post in this thread because all of you guys who mean well are just acting like you are a hero. You're not. You aren't going to change anything back by speaking out against the government. Yes, fukc the government, but to change something you need a lot of the population to stand up against it. It won't happen over this.

If you really gave a shit you'd actually do something about it, but you're just bitching about it on a Final Fantasy forum. "Don't tax my soda!" <- put a lisp in there when you say it too for how gay you sound.

[Heartless Angel]

It has nothing to do with intellect.

As I said before, you guys are ridiculous. This change directly affects me, and I am fine with the change.

Yes, governments should not control how people spend their lives, but neither should some of the people living in this country.

Let's forget about the healthcare bill for a second. Do you think the government is just taxing us to tax us? Taxes pay for things, and that's why he have them.



Are you blind? That should be the case, but the government clearly controls us already. That's why I'm saying you're so ridiculous for complaining about 0.03$ tax on a soda. Using my 5 soda/day for 365 days in a row it came out to what, 54$? Nobody drinks near that much soda. Quite possibly half that would be a good estimate, so 27$. A videogame costs ~65$ with tax. So stop complaining that you won't be able to buy one extra videogame. You will. If you make the exact same amount you did last year (which is impossible for most people given sick days and schedule changes etc etc), you probably aren't even going to worry about that 27$ for your 365 days.

Nevermind, you will. Because you are ridiculous.

This will be the last time I post in this thread because all of you guys who mean well are just acting like you are a hero. You're not. You aren't going to change anything back by speaking out against the government. Yes, fukc the government, but to change something you need a lot of the population to stand up against it. It won't happen over this.

If you really gave a shit you'd actually do something about it, but you're just bitching about it on a Final Fantasy forum. "Don't tax my soda!" <- put a lisp in there when you say it too for how gay you sound.

You know why we can't change anything? Because of idiots like you. a few people complaining doesn't acomplish anything, you're right. A whole country bending over and accepting being butt****ed out of their money solves less. The whole population won't stand up against anything because of useless people like you everywhere. And for the record, I do drink 5 or more sodas in a day, and the average game costs 50$ unless you're buying brand new first party releases for the ps3.

[Block]

I don't want my soda to cost anymore than it already does.

On the note of the government already controlling us... well it's true.

Last note here... this seems very much like an ID thread to me.

*Thinking VERY hard*

You know why we can't change anything? Because of idiots like you. a few people complaining doesn't acomplish anything, you're right. A whole country bending over and accepting being butt****ed out of their money solves less. The whole population won't stand up against anything because of useless people like you everywhere. And for the record, I do drink 5 or more sodas in a day, and the average game costs 50$ unless you're buying brand new first party releases for the ps3.

^Is it necessary to name call and be a douche about things? (rhetorical so don't bother answering)

[Heartless Angel]

^Is it necessary to name call and be a douche about things? (rhetorical so don't bother answering)

Answering's no bother. I responded to a comment which resorted to name calling with name calling, much like you responded to that comment with name calling. I see no problem here.

[Block]

Answering's no bother. I responded to a comment which resorted to name calling with name calling, much like you responded to that comment with name calling. I see no problem here.

you just answered

[Heartless Angel]

I'm aware of that. I said it was no problem lol. Didn't have to, but I chose to.

[chrono]

Are you blind? That should be the case, but the government clearly controls us already. That's why I'm saying you're so ridiculous for complaining about 0.03$ tax on a soda.

This will be the last time I post in this thread because all of you guys who mean well are just acting like you are a hero. You're not. You aren't going to change anything back by speaking out against the government. Yes, fukc the government, but to change something you need a lot of the population to stand up against it. It won't happen over this.

The lie down and die philosophy does not stick well with me. And are you sure we are not doing anything?

If we were to play a team sport i would pick you last because it seems like you are not a "come from behind" type of guy.

[Sasquatch]

It has nothing to do with intellect.

No, it has everything to do with greed and complexes of superiority.

As I said before, you guys are ridiculous. This change directly affects me, and I am fine with the change.

And because you're fine with it, the rest of us should be ... and we're ridiculous?

Yes, governments should not control how people spend their lives, but neither should some of the people living in this country.

Except you, of course -- you should, but nobody else. At least, not people that disagree with you.

I mean, if you don't have a problem with specific taxes and tariffs, then obviously there's nothing wrong with it.

Let's forget about the healthcare bill for a second. Do you think the government is just taxing us to tax us? Taxes pay for things, and that's why he have them.

If we "forget about" all the crap we allow our government to spend money on, there's no reason to tax anyway. So let's not "forget about the healthcare bill" -- because without this outrageous waste of time and money (and lives), there would be less need for stupid taxes.

Are you blind? That should be the case, but the government clearly controls us already. That's why I'm saying you're so ridiculous for complaining about 0.03$ tax on a soda. Using my 5 soda/day for 365 days in a row it came out to what, 54$? Nobody drinks near that much soda. Quite possibly half that would be a good estimate, so 27$. A videogame costs ~65$ with tax. So stop complaining that you won't be able to buy one extra videogame. You will. If you make the exact same amount you did last year (which is impossible for most people given sick days and schedule changes etc etc), you probably aren't even going to worry about that 27$ for your 365 days.

True, there are bigger things to worry about. But if you're trying to say that we shouldn't worry about the little things adding up ... no, just, no.

Nevermind, you will. Because you are ridiculous.

Yes, we know, everybody that disagrees with you is ridiculous.

This will be the last time I post in this thread because all of you guys who mean well are just acting like you are a hero. You're not.

We're bitching about a useless tax being initiated to support a horribly flawed program. Who is acting like a hero?

You aren't going to change anything back by speaking out against the government.

Because nothing ever changes because people speak out against their government.

Yes, fukc the government, but to change something you need a lot of the population to stand up against it. It won't happen over this.

Because it's a "little thing" and there are bigger things to worry about. However, some of us don't want to wait until the one last little piece of straw breaks the camel's back, we'd like to keep that many pieces of straw from getting to the camel in the first place.

If you really gave a shit you'd actually do something about it, but you're just bitching about it on a Final Fantasy forum.

Because the internet is a horrible place to talk about political views or raise awareness, and nobody here is in any way politically active, or even of voting age. Wait ...

"Don't tax my soda!" <- put a lisp in there when you say it too for how gay you sound.

And apparently you have nothing better to do than bitch about and insult others who speak out against stupid government policies and flawed programs. Congratulations. You are such a winner.

The lie down and die philosophy does not stick well with me. And are you sure we are not doing anything?

If we were to play a team sport i would pick you last because it seems like you are not a "come from behind" type of guy.

Actually, judging by the complacency with being screwed (but with lube!) by his government and strange fascination with gays and lisps, I'd say he's exactly a "come from behind" kind of guy.

[OnOneRyder]

I'm curious to see where the people so against this tax stand on the high taxes on alcohol and tobacco. A known contributor to health problems and which has much higher taxes than normal products because of this.

[OceanEyes28]

The trolling really needs to stop. You know if you're doing it (at least you better, or I'll be sure to make it clear the next time you do it ).

[Sasquatch]

I'm curious to see where the people so against this tax stand on the high taxes on alcohol and tobacco. A known contributor to health problems and which has much higher taxes than normal products because of this.

I'm prettymuch against all "sin taxes". Yes, they contribute to health problems, but if I smoke and drink for twenty years and develop liver disease and lung cancer, I will pay the price myself -- the poor sap who has a beer or a cigar once or twice a year should not be forced to pay any extra to support my bad health, or the costs of my own health care. That's my job.

And if I drink and smoke for twenty years and don't suffer any severe adverse health effects, I should be forced to pay no more for those who do than anybody else who doesn't have poor health because of them.

[Heartless Angel]

Exactly... the only time where contorbuting to bad health is a problem, is when you socialize healthcare. It's not a rpbolem for the country, unless they make it their problem. And trust me, I'd much rather it stay my problem.