You may recall that the loathsome former NYfC Mayor Bloomberg once declared war on super-sized drinks in that poxy city because people were getting too fat from the drinking thereof, or something. So as an actual ban would essentially be unenforceable, he slapped a consumption tax on them.
How nice: promote health while raking in the dollars. (I’m sure the latter had no bearing on his action, of course. [eyecross] )
I was reminded of this when I read that the equally-loathsome British Labourite Wes Streeting has slapped a tax on sugary drinks. (Okay, he just extended and raised the “temporary” tax on food on this particular category, but the effect is the same.)
The oily little shit then made this nauseating statement:
“This government will not look away as children get unhealthier,” the Health Secretary told the Commons.
Makes you want to give him a swift slap, dunnit?
And as with Bloomberg, the poison is in the details, as the tax may raise as much as £45million a year or more for the Treasury.
What about all those obese children?
Whitehall’s own estimates suggest it will only trim 0.3kcal off the daily intake of 5 to 10 year olds and 0.4kcal off 11 to 18 year olds.
Well, there ya go, then.
What I really love is all the contortions necessary to make all this happen:
The change will affect packaged milkshakes and coffees, but not drinks made in cafes and restaurants.
The exemption for milk-based drinks will be replaced with a ‘lactose allowance’ to account for the natural sugars in the milk component of the drinks.
I’m thinking that HMG could save a lot more than £45million a year by just firing all the goblins involved in implementing and enforcing all these tax minutiae, but no doubt that might be seen as too simplistic.
Whether control freaks like Bloomberg or unctuous figures like Streeting, they’re all just bastards.
I think a consumption tax should be put on all purchases made with EBT (Every Body’s Taxes) SNAP cards.
Every transaction will be a 10 percent fee – 5 percent goes to the store for having to process the EBT card (much like some stores have credit card fees) and 5 percent goes to a fund for the taxpayers
If you are on EBT and don’t like it? Well the pay for your own shit with your own money!
To paraphrase “ This government will not look away as the deficit and debt get larger,” could be the slogan
Or just cut welfare out all together and only send money to people who need it and deserve it.
The only people who should get help are veterans and anyone disabled.
# Defund the Government (all of them)
# The Crown is commie Run
# Fuck tyrants
I could easily be convinced that the idea to tax came first and it was pushed under the guise of health to make it more palatable to the morons.
Ignoring the government rapaciousness for a minute, 16 ounces (roughly half liter) of soda is between 150 (fanta) and 240 (Mountain Dew) calories.
So removing 300 to 400 calories a day, or 15 to 20 percent of a 2000 calorie a day diet *could* have an impact on obesity.
It won’t, because people will pay the tax and drink the drink. Because it’s *very* tasty.
Those &!@*&&* assholes intentionally make laws and regulations overly complex to perpetuate regulation writers’ and government lawyers’ employment, and to confuse the populace with overwhelming bullshit in order to maintain control. They tell themselves they’re doing good for those (that’s everybody else but them) not as intelligent as they are.
Don’t forget to bring your lawyer and dietician when you shop for groceries.