That’s a 12 cents add-on for a 12 oz can of soda. That seems a little excessive. That’s close to 10 teaspoons of sugar in a can of soda. That’s excessive too. So is the fructose, corn syrup and 250 empty calories in a can of soda. While I opposed the defeated tax initiative on new and excessive cigarettes tax, this proposed tax is too much — but a lesser tax I would favor.
By Patrick McGreevy | LATIMES | February 26, 2013.
A proposal to tax sweetened soda in California has renewed debate over the state’s role in preventing obesity among its residents.State Sen. Bill Monning (D-Carmel) has introduced legislation that would levy a 1-cent-per-ounce tax on sweetened beverages, including sodas, as part of an effort to fight obesity among young people. The money paid by beverage distributors under SB 622 would go to a Children’s Health Promotion Fund to pay for a statewide childhood obesity prevention program. “This bill will combat the obesity crisis and ensure that our children– and future generations of Californians– are not doomed to a shorter life expectancy and can instead live longer, healthier lives,” Monning said. In addition to funding the program, Monning said the measure “is intended to discourage excessive consumption of sweetened beverages by increasing the price of these products.’” The legislation was condemned Monday by the food-industry backed Center for Consumer Freedom, which said the levy will not slim down consumers. “Taxes shouldn’t be a tool for social engineering or an instrument to penalize Californians for doing nothing wrong,” said J. Justin Wilson, senior research analyst at the center. “Residents of California don’t need a PhD in nutrition to tell them that eating or drinking too much of anything is unhealthy; it only takes a little common sense and personal responsibility.”
Nanny State
The state pays billions in health care for the unhealthy who make unhealthy choices. You, I, and everyone pays.
Note also that auto fuel tax may be going up if the Board of equalization decides to raise it. March is the deadline for the 2013-14 year. BOE hasn’t raised gas taxes in two years and they are seriously considering it.
This isn’t going to help those folks in YV who want another 30 year general tax mixing sewers again with roads, parks (one of which named after the local publisher’s father).
Such short memories: 29 rejected a fire tax and YV rejected their 30 year tax. Now YV may be back again with a retread tax.
“The state pays billions in health care for the unhealthy who make unhealthy choices. You, I, and everyone pays.”
What a crock of crap Branson.
Does that mean that people that make unhealthy choices are uninsured?
What percentage of the choices are from sugary drinks?
Same goes for smoking.
You sure do tow the line well Branson.
When are you going to wake up and see that all these kinds of taxes are and always will be just another revenue stream for politicians to reach their grubby fists into?
And another way of limiting L I B E R T Y !
Good to hear from you desertrider. Your comment is noted.
Thanks Branson, I’ve been busy trying to keep our heads above water with all that “change” you guys voted for, but that’s a subject for a different time.
On this subject when does it stop, do we tax whole milk, salt etc.?
Life is unhealthy, while even your favorite pastime walking is unhealthy thousands of people are injured each year even more so lately with distracted walking, maybe there should be an extra tax on handheld wireless devices, the list is endless, and cannot be reasonably addressed without draconian intrusions into peoples lives.
I do thank you for noting my comment and do not expect you to back your reasons up with reason, but as always ask you to maybe do some research, before you approve more intrusions into my life.
PS. have you ever noticed how you lefties pick and choose what is bad for society?
Desertrider, how many times do I have to tell I am not a liberal or a lefty or a democrat or a Republican. I am issue-orientated. Period.
Say what will Branson, your issues always seem to follow right along with the left. This article is proof of that your own words spell it out loud and clear “— but a lesser tax I would favor.” You guys make no sense, Pot should be free on damn street corners, homosexuals should be allowed to marry, etc., etc. but damn the torpedo’s if someone wants a sugary drink or a business owner wants to allow smoking in his establishment or someone wants to exercise their first amendment rights at the stupid ass oscars’s or a private club or establishment has rules for entry and you don’t meet them.
This is not the first and will not be the last time where you favor the nanny staters in some manner or altogether.
Call yourself a “free thinker” as many times as you feel necessary your words tell the truth.
I am not even going to ask when the last time was you voted (R) for President.
Desertrider, (Mark) you’re a good guy and I like you, but your whining just gets old and goes no where. You beat a dead horse to death until it’s dead on every single issue you tackle.
What the F are you talking about: “Pot,” and “homosexuals”? What’s the link to soda? Okay, I would favor a very SMALL tax on sugary drinks should it go toward a good use. Get over it man.
I’m beginning to think you have some sort of Freudian hangup with with gay members in our society?
Branson, you’re a good guy also, but as I suspected you would resort to the rules for radicals to dismiss me and as I also suspected the point would fly right over your head.
Like any similar tax has been put to good use, and who determines that good use, one of your honest government bureaucrats?
I am by no means whining, but speaking of old your posting of the same lefty agenda stories wrapped in different packages and then denying your a lefty has been old for a long time.
I could careless if you are a homosexual, that was not the point, the point was and then I will stop “whining” (at least on this issue) was that you guys will fight tooth and nail on keeping others out of peoples life choices but then think nothing of completely intruding in others all the while claiming you are for “fairness and equality.”
Until next time Branson.
What the… If you want play this gay thing, Mark, you can go f yourself. Understand? Sorry to disappoint you. I am straight and will die straight. That was a cheap shot.
Yes there are gay people in our society. Get over it man. They are equal in ever respect. You have some really weird hang ups. Bring youself into the 21Centry. Cease thinking like a Taliban tribsman.
I am likely one of the most fiscal conservative guys you know.
Well… there you go again…, Mark, with the “lefty agenda” thing. It’s no wonder our country is so freaking divided.
To you, a serial child murder or Al-Qaeda terrorist is better than a so-call lefty.
So this where we are at? Accusing one another of being not straight. How ‘ing pathetic.
Sorry Branson, you are the one who grasped onto the gay issue, as I said it was meant as example to a larger point, but as usual you saw a issue at which you thought you could shut me down with.
Mine was a cheap shot but your “I’m beginning to think you have some sort of Freudian hangup with with gay members in our society?” wasn’t meant to be?
You can’t be fiscally conservative and also be for every damn entitlement program that comes down the pike or for every irreverent idiotic tax that is pushed on society in order to control it.
We are so freaking divided because the left (and I am not calling you a lefty this time because I know how irritated you get) has an agenda and will not work with others.
You need to take your own advice Branson…and not take yourself so serious.
Have a nice day.
Ben, That father you are talking about is giving this town a park! It will cost him about three million bucks. Coming from some useless ass like yourself that wont give the time of day, to your community the least you could do is be respectful. Why don’t you go see someone about your bitterness and take your pal Margo!!
@Timmy Humperdink-The Brehm park maintenance fees are too high for this little town. As per Mr. Brehm AND Michael Hildebrand’s past comments…the maintenance should be OUTSOURCED.
http://www.vote29.com/newmyblog/archives/43846
TIM, you disgrace the public office you hold. That seems to be the norm from some of you people over there.
Mark, I give promise you if you ever call me gay again I will sue you in superior court for libel per se. If I were I would be proud to announce it. you brought out the gay issue by using a pejorative term (homosexual).
As stated, be prepared to defend yourself in superior court on a few causes of action; if you don’t defend a costly suit, I will get a default and go after your assets. That is a promise. I never promise or bluff without backing it up.
Bring yourself up the the 21st Century. There is nothing wrong with the gay community. Using the ‘H’ word is like the calling Black people the “N” word, or calling women the “C” word.
Why is it you cannot accept people different than you, including democrats and all the other parties, as well as liberals and lefties?
Dude, you need to work on that.
Branson in typical fashion of your side when you lose the fight or have nothing of substance in retort or can’t get regulation passed you threaten legal recourse.
First off I never said you were homosexual, I said and I quote “I could careless if you are a homosexual, that was not the point,”… If you took it that way I cannot help it. But do what you think is right.
I still think you need to take yourself a bit less seriously.
As far as what point you are trying to make with the following:
“Bring yourself up the the 21st Century. There is nothing wrong with the gay community. Using the ‘H’ word is like the calling Black people the “N” word, or calling women the “C” word.
Why is it you cannot accept people different than you, including democrats and all the other parties, as well as liberals and lefties?”
I guess you would be right I did not know that the word homosexual had become a negative only allowed use by specific groups, to me it has always been an encompassing word covering both the male and female.
I could go on and on about the hypocrisy but I won’t.
Who said I cannot accept people that are different, as I said I could careless if you are homosexual, “you” being an encompassing word covering all not just you.
As I have said before those claiming tolerance are usually the most intolerant.
I do however have to point out that after you insinuated I had some hidden issues,
or was covering up something “I’m beginning to think you have some sort of Freudian hangup with with gay members in our society?”
at no time did I or have I ever threatened legal action against you.
desertrider, should you unwisely do that again you will have done it with “reckless disregard of the truth.” since you have been informed otherwise. Do it again and reckless disregard of the truth will be malice. Malice is punitive damages. There is no need to prove damages.
I covered my base. You make your own choice. Note that I have not asked for an apology or a retraction since both of us have unclean hands. Your first bite of the apple was extended as a courtesy.
I’d pay money to see this…..
“Vortex Public Persons: More common are those persons who, by their actions, voluntarily thrust themselves to the forefront of public attention in an attempt to influence the outcome of a public issue or controversy.”
I want to see the factious Branson Hunter file a suit in the Morongo Superior Court against the equally Fictitious Desertrider….. This should be a bang up drama right out of the comic books.
I know that I myself have a suit pending against the Green Lantern and the Shadow in the Gotham County Superior Court…. My lawyer Bruce Wayne tells me I have a better chance of winning my case as the City of 29 Palms has of winning their suit against the State of California.
Dan, you ougtht to keep your spoon out of my soup. Thanks
Sorry I thought it was my Tupperware….
Piece of cake Branson! You can whip him. Go ahead, “give em what for”…big lawyer man…
Mikey, I don’t make the laws. Calling calling someone that is libel per se. I will defend myself and what I stand for. So can I assume that if anyone publishes a statement calling you a homosexual, or does it by way innuendo, that’s fine with you?
I have some left-over used razors, would you like a couple to change your appearance? You look like grandpa from the Hillbillies…
Btw, my favorite cake is carrot cake. The ones a Shermans Deli in Palms Springs cannot be beat. Next is chocolate cake. Apple fritters came in right behind carrot cake. I take cake or fritter wherever I can.
Let’s see, I work as a paralegal and research cases all day. So we need to take this incident apart to find the legal issues, if there are any. I am assuming that “Desertrider” is a fictitious/pseudonym and that “Branson Hunter” is likewise. So the legal question is, “Can a fictitious entity cause damage to another fictitious entity by innuendo?”, and then there is the issue of determining damages (injury/harm)…”to what extent was the fictitious entity damaged by the other fictitious entity’s actions?”. I think maybe you both think you are more important and well-known than you really are, as I live in LaQuinta and have no clue of the identity of either of you. I thought these blogs were supposed to be a place of free expression under the freedom of speech doctrine. If either of you are so thin-skinned, or lack the vocabulary to fling your own barb, then maybe you shouldn’t participate in the blogging process. Frankly, I thought you were both holding your own in this verbal battle, and I enjoyed it, and was LMFAO. C’mon, a good battle has to include a few jabs or its just not fun to read.
Lindag, people know me around here as Ben Holstrom. In and out of government circles. Hopefully this matter is over, if not the courts can sort it out. Mark is NOT a fictious person. I know him and I know his name. We have personally talked before.
Check out NY Times vs. Sullivan and Libel per se as well as case law. I will protect who I am. There are indeed limits on free speech.
Say, if I call you a bank robber, a lesbian or a child molester and you are not, that is not protected speech. That is libel per se. Especially if it is done with reckless disregard for the truth.
I don’t know how many marks that are targets of bloggers here but you will never see me hiding behind a ficitious name.
Branson the name is Mike. Why do you call me “Mikey”, are you gay or something?
Howkins, do you molest your grandchildren?
That is really uncalled for and distasteful… this is getting out of hand…it’s starting to be not funny now.
No shit LINDAG. That was my point. It IS not funny.
Mike cover his behind by asking the question knowing very well it was not far removed from desertriders innuendo. I slammed him back. And you seem to believe it okay for someone to call someone else a “homosexual” when they are not gay.
You see, LINDAG, CT has a reputation in the community for gay bashing people who are gay. I will not stand for that either. Some of the same people that chimed in or diverted the tax issue are the ones who help give CT a bad rap.
Now lets get back to the tax. Good, Bad, too much… What? It seems to me an important issue is for what purpose would it be used? But the 1 cent per oz is unreasonable.
Cactus thorns has a reputation bashing gays???
Since when??
Since way before you began to make comments in here, Carey. Best to let it pass.
Say What?????
Bullshit Branson… that was a ugly rumour started by a San Francisco Lecturer that got caught stomping an the American Flag. It was the same liar that said this site and its owner was antisemitic.
Both accusations are bold faced lies, and for you to perpetrate those lies in unforgivable.
You can not change 10,000 years of biblical teaching. The rabbinical teachings of the Old Testament are not like a field of tall grass, bending to the fickled winds of popular beliefs at any particular time in history. They are set like stone. They are a contract with human kind.
We are told to love the sinner. Whilst one my hate the sin, I think everyone here, at least likes the sinner.
You sir owe me and this website an apology.
[See Correct immediately below] If I speak my mind you will cut me off… or forge my post. Although you have every right to defend CT. I defend it all the time.
CORRECTION: You “may” monitor my posts. I don’t think you have every cut me off in the ten years I’m been active in CT.
You said, “Since way before you began to make comments in here, Carey. Best to let it pass.” when asked, “Cactus thorns has a reputation bashing gays??? Since when??”
Did I “Forge” that statement, Branson? Did I?
You call me names, and accuse this site of things that are not true because you are getting your ass kicked in a flame war, and you want me to just idly stand by and let you accuse me personally of things that are not true out of the blue? And you want others to feel sorry for you? Really?
It might be time for you to check to see if senility has finally done your brain in….. Can I give a call to Dr Sahaltra to make you an appointment?
Okay Dan, if you really want to get into this and make it an issue. First I need a commitment from you will not forge my post with another vulgar gay comment concerning yourself (and you know exactly what I am talking about) Then we agree on defining ‘gay bashing.
Btw, you have a peculiar habit posting someone is getting their ass kicked, as though they really were. Hogwash.
Here you go Mr. Hunter…
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Libel+and+Slander
Good luck with those ridiculous threats, big lawyer man.
FYI, big lawyer man, I have no beard. The picture is Uncle Jesse of Dukes of Hazard fame, (courtesy of Cactus Thorns). I didn’t like the show much, it was kind of gay.
LOL! My picture was also awarded by Catus Thorns. I think it is a picture of Linda Ronstadt…I think she is cute, maybe I am gay.
Well Branson, it would take a long time to explain to you the difficulty of proving evidence of libel per se. However, the fact that you link a “bank robber, lesbian or a child molester” into the same category tells me that I could never be the one to make you understand a legal issue. Suffice to say that if you called me a lesbian, it would do me no damage as neither I, nor the people I associate with and whose opinions count, would ever consider that to be a pejorative. However, if you (wrongfully) called me a bank robber or a child molester, now that’s is a different category altogether. That’s for starters. The courts would be full of these libel cases if we followed your line of thinking…and they are not. If Bugs Bunny called Elmer Fudd a homosexual would that be libel per se? That is an example of two fictitious entities, and do we know if, in fact, Elmer was not a homosexual?…who would file suit, Elmer or his creator… against Bugs or his creator?…and, more importantly, who gives a damn!
And what ever happened to the discussion about the tax?
The tax… well desertrider diverted the discussion as usual. Then Hawkins decided to run with it. Then the paralegal chimed in. And Dan had to put his two cents in…
all of which were seriously off-topic.
Yes, Michaelv, the tax. Given that we are the fattest nation on planet earth and 40% of the children may face life-threatening diseases due to being as fat as little pigs — what about the tax.
Good question.
It is my humble opinion that since parents seem not to be able to control their pudgy children, or themselves for that matter, that the Govt once again decides that it knows best and will just tax it. Like taxing is actually going to stop the consuming of the product. As we have all seen in the past, when Govt taxes anything, the population complains, rants, raves, calls everyone names who don’t agree with their point of view (sorry had to get that in there) and then…..for the most part, pays the increased price anyway. I understand that there are a few who will not buy the product, but the majority will put their 32 oz drink on the counter right next to the pack of cigarettes and pay whatever is charged.
Since they have taxed cigarette smoking almost to death… Less than 25% of the population now smoke and the numbers are steadily declining…. Who better to pay for all those left wing programs that have been supported from the tobacco tax than … The Soft Drink industry.
Lets tax sugar… first sugar in drinks, then in cupcakes and even in candy… Transfer the post Tobacco public health Leviathan and sic it on Sugar… tax it to death and move on to meat or wheat…. Big Brother at its finest.
And liberals eat this stuff up… They feel so righteous when they support another government attack on personal liberty… Remember the liberal does not have to actually do anything… just send money to the Socialist Politician of their choice and then brag about it at the next cocktail party at The Art Guild.
Fat people live longer ‘because their brains get more nourishment under stress’, says obesity doctor | Mail Online
Hey I read it on the internet
Yep you can always find yourself a supporting story on the internet! This was from the British LA TEA DA Press too… What better way to back your stuff… Just reference the London Daily Mail!!
Thank you LINDAG, that has been a long standing problem with branson, he only understands what benefits him.
This post is a perfect example, he grasped onto one issue and went on a rampage with it, threatened me, and shut down the discussion.
I did not divert the discussion mr. hunter you did.
I don’t ever expect you take your blinders off. The point was not about homosexuals or pot houses etc.etc. the point was you guys feel you are the only ones that are smart enough to know what society’s ills are and how to fix them and all others that don’t tow your line are caught in the past neanderthals that need to come into whatever century you tell them to.
Am I to assume now that anything I say to you may be held as threat over my head because I don’t agree with you? So be it.
The problem is as I asked earlier on where does it stop, tax hiking and walking shoes, whole milk, (now mind you I asked these questions earlier in this very post but you diverted)pick your poison.
I still question why you people that want tax something into oblivion, claim the user of said something are somehow more of burden on society than users of other somethings, the example in this issue is sugary drinks are drinkers of sugary drinks somehow in your twisted world more likely be uninsured?
I also question the numbers, numbers can be sqewed anyway someone wants depending on the situation, one time we are the fat another time we are hungry.
I don’t expect you to read this completely you never have before or maybe you read but don’t comprehend.
Bringing it up again, eh? The topic was soda pop and you bring up *homosexual*. Beat that dead horse again. The reason the country is so divided is because of people like desertrider.
Thanks branson, you couldn’t have made my point any better than if I asked you to.
Just as I said, you don’t read the comments any further than you think necessary to push your point.
you saw the one word you wanted so you could dismiss the whole without comment.
You are a lost cause,
you are a the reason the country is so divided and heading for ruin.
THAT’S ALL FOLKS…………….