NY Soda Tax

Soda as with all food in New York is already taxed by the state at 4% and by the county between 3-5%. It already contributes to the coffers of the state. Then add in the fact that the state keeps 80% of the unredeemed bottle deposits. Now these politicians want to add another tax that will amount to 15%-25% levy depending on the liquid to price ratio. On a 20-oz dollar soda, one would pay an extra 33 cents in money that would go to government.

They are singling out soda for punishment when it is NOT the only product that uses HFCS. I personally am a big fan of the new Pepsi made from cane sugar. It would be taxed the same because it is a sugar-sweetened beverage. So this is more then just soda, sorry Starbuck Frappuccino fans, but less then everything. So eat those Hostess cupcakes to your less taxed delight.

Commercial soft drinks have been around since the 1600's, but the obesity problems of the country the last 3 decades. The culprit is lifestyle, so could one get a tax rebate for going to the gym and maybe employing a personal trainer. When Paterson originally proposed the soda tax, he also recommended an addition tax on gym memberships and personal trainers. The politicians are failing to address the issue and are using the health crisis as smokescreen for their Ponzi schemes.

One could go on about the failings of our government to address the issue, like having kids sit in gym class to write papers on the history of volleyball because all education must have a number grade attached under No Child Let Behind. If a person cannot see their toes, they only need to look in the mirror.

We cannot allow the government to legislate personal morality and choice. The 18th Amendment teaches us the lesson of unintended consequence when the government tells the People what is "Sin".