Does / Should The State Or Federal Government Have The Right To Punish Americans For What They Buy?

[easyt65]

It is not intended to punish them. It is intended to save them from themselves.

Therein lies part of the problem...The political elites and politicians believe they are more intelligent than the American people, that they know better what is 'best', know how to spend your money better than you do, etc...and they are proven so wrong in so many ways so often...

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

s it okay for the government to subject it's citizens to negative financial reinforced behavior modification?

It is not intended to punish them. It is intended to save them from themselves. It also serves the purpose of keeping health care costs down - costs that we all bear.

It is not intended to punish them. It is intended to save them from themselves.

If people need to be saved from sweetened drinks, just ban them.
Think of all the heath care savings.
Ban tobacco too.

That should be the Dem platform in 2018 and 2020.

"We know better, we're gonna save you from yourself"

 

[petro]

That new soda tax in Seattle is working out about as well as Chicago's - Hot Air

'Another year, another soda tax. This one was shoved through in the city of Seattle by the municipal government. As usual, its purported intent was to improve the health and lives of residents by “modifying their behavior” and having them drink fewer sugary beverages. And it’s definitely a muscular incentive for new behavior to be sure. The price of soda has nearly doubled overnight.'


Is it okay for the government to subject it's citizens to negative financial reinforced behavior modification?



"Behave ... conduct yourself in a way pleasing and / or acceptable to the STATE or punishment will be imposed upon you to force you to change...."


REALLY?

it absolutely has the power. taxation isn't "punishment" but tax policy has always been used to encourage/discourage behavior.

Big government controlling the masses. Why am I not surprised.

Funny, you consider taxation punishment for the rich who dare to make income.

 

[Two Thumbs]

That new soda tax in Seattle is working out about as well as Chicago's - Hot Air

'Another year, another soda tax. This one was shoved through in the city of Seattle by the municipal government. As usual, its purported intent was to improve the health and lives of residents by “modifying their behavior” and having them drink fewer sugary beverages. And it’s definitely a muscular incentive for new behavior to be sure. The price of soda has nearly doubled overnight.'


Is it okay for the government to subject it's citizens to negative financial reinforced behavior modification?



"Behave ... conduct yourself in a way pleasing and / or acceptable to the STATE or punishment will be imposed upon you to force you to change...."


REALLY?

bit of a situation for me;

my conservative hard line thinking vs the reality that it's not a small problem.

and I'm not just talking soda, there's a massive and expensive problem when many, if not most, Americans are over weight.

The cost of handling this issue is passed on. So why should I pay b/c some fat fuck couldn't drink water instead?

however

where duh fuck is it written that big gov has a say?

 

[jillian]

That new soda tax in Seattle is working out about as well as Chicago's - Hot Air

'Another year, another soda tax. This one was shoved through in the city of Seattle by the municipal government. As usual, its purported intent was to improve the health and lives of residents by “modifying their behavior” and having them drink fewer sugary beverages. And it’s definitely a muscular incentive for new behavior to be sure. The price of soda has nearly doubled overnight.'


Is it okay for the government to subject it's citizens to negative financial reinforced behavior modification?



"Behave ... conduct yourself in a way pleasing and / or acceptable to the STATE or punishment will be imposed upon you to force you to change...."


REALLY?

it absolutely has the power. taxation isn't "punishment" but tax policy has always been used to encourage/discourage behavior.

Big government controlling the masses. Why am I not surprised.

Funny, you consider taxation punishment for the rich who dare to make income.

riiiiiiiiiiight.... rightwingnuts only support big government when it imposes theocratic rules on the rest of us. right?

 

[petro]

That new soda tax in Seattle is working out about as well as Chicago's - Hot Air

'Another year, another soda tax. This one was shoved through in the city of Seattle by the municipal government. As usual, its purported intent was to improve the health and lives of residents by “modifying their behavior” and having them drink fewer sugary beverages. And it’s definitely a muscular incentive for new behavior to be sure. The price of soda has nearly doubled overnight.'


Is it okay for the government to subject it's citizens to negative financial reinforced behavior modification?



"Behave ... conduct yourself in a way pleasing and / or acceptable to the STATE or punishment will be imposed upon you to force you to change...."


REALLY?

it absolutely has the power. taxation isn't "punishment" but tax policy has always been used to encourage/discourage behavior.

Big government controlling the masses. Why am I not surprised.

Funny, you consider taxation punishment for the rich who dare to make income.

riiiiiiiiiiight.... rightwingnuts only support big government when it imposes theocratic rules on the rest of us. right?

Nice attempted generalization.
Don't support theocratic principles. You wouldn't know that with the broad brush you paint everyone who thinks you ramble nonsense.

 

[Manonthestreet]

s it okay for the government to subject it's citizens to negative financial reinforced behavior modification?

It is not intended to punish them. It is intended to save them from themselves. It also serves the purpose of keeping health care costs down - costs that we all bear.

Funny that didn't happen with the cig tax

 

[easyt65]

Funny, you consider taxation punishment for the rich who dare to make income.

So everyone buying soda who have to pay that tax is 'rich'?

You can call it an 'incentive' if you want, but just like the financial punishment placed on everyone who could not / would not buy Obamacare, it was a tax - a punishment - 'a financially punitive incentive' to get them to do what the govt wanted them to do.

 

[petro]

s it okay for the government to subject it's citizens to negative financial reinforced behavior modification?

It is not intended to punish them. It is intended to save them from themselves. It also serves the purpose of keeping health care costs down - costs that we all bear.

Funny that didn't happen with the cig tax

And if he believes that...we need to save fat people from themselves, and costing the health system.

 

[easyt65]

And if he believes that...we need to save fat people from themselves, and costing the health system.

Save The 'Fat People' -

Tax Carbs
Tax Sugars
Tax Candy
Tax Soda
etc...



That is kinda funny...

 

[petro]

Funny, you consider taxation punishment for the rich who dare to make income.

So everyone buying soda who have to pay that tax is 'rich'?

You can call it an 'incentive' if you want, but just like the financial punishment placed on everyone who could not / would not buy Obamacare, it was a tax - a punishment - 'a financially punitive incentive' to get them to do what the govt wanted them to do.

I was mocking jillian.

 

[Spycraft]

That new soda tax in Seattle is working out about as well as Chicago's - Hot Air

'Another year, another soda tax. This one was shoved through in the city of Seattle by the municipal government. As usual, its purported intent was to improve the health and lives of residents by “modifying their behavior” and having them drink fewer sugary beverages. And it’s definitely a muscular incentive for new behavior to be sure. The price of soda has nearly doubled overnight.'


Is it okay for the government to subject it's citizens to negative financial reinforced behavior modification?



"Behave ... conduct yourself in a way pleasing and / or acceptable to the STATE or punishment will be imposed upon you to force you to change...."


REALLY?

Should Americans have a right to emergency medical services?

Since the answer to that is "yes" and they receive those services regardless of anything else, then the answer to laws keeping Americans relatively healthy also make sense.

Why should I pay for some fat ass diabetic to get an ambulance ride because they can't stop drinking fat ass sodas?

 

[TheProgressivePatriot]

It is not intended to punish them. It is intended to save them from themselves.

Therein lies part of the problem...The political elites and politicians believe they are more intelligent than the American people, that they know better what is 'best', know how to spend your money better than you do, etc...and they are proven so wrong in so many ways so often...

It is not a matter of what anyone believes . It is a matter of what is know....and what is known is that shit causes health problems. We also know that
when you have endemics like obesity and diabetes, it is a drain on society and the health care system. Should we also lift prohibitive taxes on tobacco?

 

[Skylar]

That new soda tax in Seattle is working out about as well as Chicago's - Hot Air

'Another year, another soda tax. This one was shoved through in the city of Seattle by the municipal government. As usual, its purported intent was to improve the health and lives of residents by “modifying their behavior” and having them drink fewer sugary beverages. And it’s definitely a muscular incentive for new behavior to be sure. The price of soda has nearly doubled overnight.'


Is it okay for the government to subject it's citizens to negative financial reinforced behavior modification?



"Behave ... conduct yourself in a way pleasing and / or acceptable to the STATE or punishment will be imposed upon you to force you to change...."


REALLY?

Its certainly legal. Especially for State governments. The States have far broader powers than the Federal government, constitutionally. And taxation authority is already very broad.

'Should' they? That's up to the voters.

 

[easyt65]

Its certainly legal. Especially for State governments. The States have far broader powers than the Federal government, constitutionally. And taxation authority is already very broad.

TOO broad, IMHO...

 

[easyt65]

I guess, right or wrong, it is what happens next that counts. How much will they tolerate...? If citizens cause a backlash, vote politicians out of office over it, things will change. It's up to them now.

 

[Skylar]

Its certainly legal. Especially for State governments. The States have far broader powers than the Federal government, constitutionally. And taxation authority is already very broad.

TOO broad, IMHO...

Perhaps. But that's definitely for the voters to decide. The constitutional authority absolutely exists, especially for the States.

 

[Skylar]

I guess, right or wrong, it is what happens next that counts. How much will they tolerate...? If citizens cause a backlash, vote politicians out of office over it, things will change. It's up to them now.

I agree. The voters can change any such laws they don't like by voting out of office those who enacted them.

I don't think that will happen in this case, though.

 

[easyt65]

I agree. The voters can change any such laws they don't like by voting out of office those who enacted them. I don't think that will happen in this case, though.

We'll see ...

 

[Manonthestreet]

Still waiting for my promised windfall of cheaper healthcare thru cig taxes