Chicopee John Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 Like tobacco tax and others, the intent is to raise revenue - not to curtail useage. Anybody remember 'Elasticity Factors' in Economics 101? The new Robber Barons = U.S. Congress. Soda Taxes Not Making a Dent in U.S. Waistlines FRIDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Current state taxes and levies on soft drinks are slowing consumption, but not enough to curb the obesity epidemic in the United States, researchers say. In an analysis of 16 years of data (1990 to 2006) on how various forms of soft drink taxation affected body mass index, researchers found that taxation has only a minor effect on BMI, which is a measurement based on weight and height. For example, a 1 percent tax increase causes a BMI decrease of 0.003 points -- less than a tenth of a pound for a man of average height. Soft drink taxation had the most BMI impact among people with lower incomes, females, and middle-aged and older people. But even in these groups, the effects on obesity were very small, according to the study findings released online Oct. 15 in advance of publication in an upcoming print issue of the journal Contemporary Economic Policy. "Our results suggest that the current low, hidden rates of soft drink taxation in most states are not effective in substantially changing adult consumption," study author Jason M. Fletcher, an assistant professor at the Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, Conn., said in a university news release. "Our results leave open the possibility that large taxes that are communicated to consumers are still worthwhile to consider as policy options, but small tax changes will not work." Currently, the average tax rate on soft drinks is about 3 percent, but a number of states are considering increasing that rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckofajobbrownie Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 Did you imagine that a adding 3-5 cents to the price of a can of soda would change anyone's behavior? Did anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicopee John Posted October 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 Did you imagine that a adding 3-5 cents to the price of a can of soda would change anyone's behavior? Did anyone? No, Heck, but I would bet a lot of money (cyber money, that is) that the States used this as another 'sin tax' and they said they were doing it for health reasons. 3 cents for each can of soda does add up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieHardBrownsFan Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 Like tobacco tax and others, the intent is to raise revenue - not to curtail useage. Anybody remember 'Elasticity Factors' in Economics 101? The new Robber Barons = U.S. Congress. Soda Taxes Not Making a Dent in U.S. Waistlines FRIDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Current state taxes and levies on soft drinks are slowing consumption, but not enough to curb the obesity epidemic in the United States, researchers say. In an analysis of 16 years of data (1990 to 2006) on how various forms of soft drink taxation affected body mass index, researchers found that taxation has only a minor effect on BMI, which is a measurement based on weight and height. For example, a 1 percent tax increase causes a BMI decrease of 0.003 points -- less than a tenth of a pound for a man of average height. Soft drink taxation had the most BMI impact among people with lower incomes, females, and middle-aged and older people. But even in these groups, the effects on obesity were very small, according to the study findings released online Oct. 15 in advance of publication in an upcoming print issue of the journal Contemporary Economic Policy. "Our results suggest that the current low, hidden rates of soft drink taxation in most states are not effective in substantially changing adult consumption," study author Jason M. Fletcher, an assistant professor at the Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, Conn., said in a university news release. "Our results leave open the possibility that large taxes that are communicated to consumers are still worthwhile to consider as policy options, but small tax changes will not work." Currently, the average tax rate on soft drinks is about 3 percent, but a number of states are considering increasing that rate. I think it might be the large bags of Dorritos, double Whoppers with Cheese, etc. that contributes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicopee John Posted October 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 I think it might be the large bags of Dorritos, double Whoppers with Cheese, etc. that contributes. Those items will be taxed next, IMHO, if they aren't already. If Mike Bloomberg has his way, breathing the air in NYC will be taxed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckofajobbrownie Posted October 16, 2009 Report Share Posted October 16, 2009 I'm not for taxing soda. I'd rather repeal the subsidies that help make it less healthy. But if you're for taxing something, and we need to tax something, why not tax things that cause negative outcomes, like obesity and heart disease and diabetes? It makes more sense to tax that - and pollution, and alcohol, and cigarettes - than it does to tax work. In other words, if you could swap out the sales tax for a sin tax (you couldn't, but just play along) wouldn't you rather do that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicopee John Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 But if you're for taxing something, and we need to tax something, ...... That is a deal breaker, Heck. WHY do we need to add more taxes to an already-over burdened middle class. If we got serious, I am sure you and I could agree on $Billions of wasteful spending. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calfoxwc Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 I'm waiting for them to tax wood. You know, wood burning stoves. fireplaces, campfires. And cow poop. and farm tractors and equipment. and lawn mowers, weed wackers. and go karts and chainsaws. And mopeds. and ATV's. And leaf blowers. and compost. and pot luck dinners, you know, that's a gain of value, so you'd have to ascribe a monetary value on it to pay taxes. And model airplanes. and work horses. (more poop) and chickens (ditto) and turkeys... it never ends with liberals. Their accomplishments are based on yanking people's chains to get at their wallets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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