UPDATE 1-New York governor defends soda tax

Diet soda is actually worse for you from what I’ve read. With all the problems we have, I can’t believe our officials are mulling this over and over. Yes, taxes hurt the economy too! When is spending going to be cut?

Besides, we have so many other problems to deal with right now. Let’s get serious about where the real problems are.

Why should I be taxed on sugary drinks when I drink them in moderation, eat healthy, and exercise regularly. If costs to treat people with diabetes and other diseases related to obesity are so high, then charge those people accordingly. Why should I have to pay a single penny to subsidize someone’s bad health habits.

It’s unbelievable that the NY liberal democrats want to add ANOTHER TAX on the poor people of New York State. But then, what do you expect from the idiots that run the state. It’s the down state dolts that have ruined that state.

What next? How about a tax on reality shows to curb stupidity?

TAX TAX TAX…they always think that raising taxes is always the answer, because they are not smart enough to think of something better. Taxes drive down a persons purchasing power, which means that the government gets less… they’re clueless

Why don’t they just tax all of the state workers who’s pensions unlike the private sector were never affected by the down turn. After all, this is why NYS is broke, paying for all of the legacy cost of state workers.

This is a no-brainer. Sodas right now are subsidized by the feds via the money they hand out to corn and sugar farmers, and states are well within their right to recoup some of that money. It’s easy to make jokes about “soda taxes,” but the cold reality is that artificially cheap junk food is a core cause of America’s obesity epidemic, which is an economic and human tragedy.

@meBrian – If you drink soda in moderation, then you have little to worry about, which is the point – to get people to drink in moderation, a novel concept for many people.

@apistogramma – The government should not be society’s ‘go to guy’ to protect people from their own lack of personal responsibility, poor fiscal planning, unhealthy eating habits, inability to get up off the couch, failure to recognize their 10 yr. old weighs 175 lbs., and overall general stupidity involving very simple decisions that the rest of us work hard to manage plus take on the burden of the morons the government thinks is our civic duty to provide for.
Do you really think a tax is gonna change that behavior? Really? Stop kidding yourself. Wanna make a difference, trying raising their health care premiums to the point they can’t afford all the junk food. That might get their attention…and get my pocketbook out of their healthcare.