http://www.qando.net/ - So you want government to be your mommy

In a move he says is necessary to trim the city’s waistline, the decidedly slim mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, has proposed charging big stores a fee when they sell sugar-sweet soda.

The proposal, which was reported by The San Francisco Chronicle on Monday, would put an as yet-to-be-defined surcharge on all drinks with high-fructose corn syrup, which puts the sweet pop in most nondiet sodas and many other food products. The syrup also puts on the pounds, something city officials say strains the health care system.

“There’s a well-established nexus between obesity, which is caused by high-fructose corn syrup, and the increased health care costs for the city,” said Nathan Ballard, a spokesman for the mayor. Money raised by the fee would be spent on a variety of anti-obesity programs in the city, said Mr. Ballard, including Shape Up SF, which challenges residents here to exercise.

A "well-established nexus" between obesity and high-fructose corn syrup? Well what about beer? And pizza? Hamburgers and fries? What about candy of any sort? Chips?

Simplistic solutions, they name is government. But when all you want is to get the old camel's nose under the tent, sodas will do just fine, thankyouverymuch.

Note the line in bold? That's the only excuse they need when they are in charge of your health care.

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The soda proposal will be introduced to the Board of Supervisors early next year, Mr. Ballard said, and would affect only large retailers, not mom-and-pop stores.

I’m surprised you missed this part.

Written By: josh b
URL: http://

The sad part is they could use the money to actually pay for those healthcare costs, instead they want to funnel it into more useless government programs.

Written By: josh b
URL: http://

This just in: There is a well-established nexus between obesity and food. Of all kinds. We should really start giving everyone daily ration coupons - it’s for their on good, after all. /sarcasm

By the way josh, if the measure passes and it excludes small retailers then I think there is no way the law will be upheld in court if the only justification for it is the supposed health concerns of the buyer/user. How could one rationalize that a buyer from a small store should not have to pay the tax?

Written By: metis314
URL: http://

Yeah, its a pretty ridiculous idea to only slap it on the big retailers.

Written By: josh b
URL: http://

The soda proposal will be introduced to the Board of Supervisors early next year, Mr. Ballard said, and would affect only large retailers, not mom-and-pop stores.
I’m surprised you missed this part.

josh b, you have correctly identified the key part. It points out that the health concerns are not the real reason, but just an excuse for expanding government power.

The sad part is they could use the money to actually pay for those healthcare costs, instead they want to funnel it into more useless government programs.

OTOH, you have not yet recognized the larger context. Each time government proposes to "do something" for some group, it co-ops that group in the continual project of power expansion. No "problem" will ever be solved by government action, as that would remove a reason for the expansion of power.

Written By: newshutz
URL: http://

Not that it is in any way justified if the connection between weight and health care costs could be proven, but the latest research is calling that into question anyway. Throw in the controversy over low fat diets, and we have a solution in search of a problem.

Written By: Lance
URL: http://asecondhandconjecture.com

There’s a well-established nexus between AIDS and homosexuality, too. What’s his plan for that?

Written By: Harun
URL: http://

All I can see happening if this ordinance passes is that business will increase at the supermarkets or the Costco’s just south of the city limits in South San Francisco, Colma, and Daly City.

Written By: Andrew V.
URL: http://

First they came for the trans-fat .. and I said nothing.

Written By: Neo
URL: http://

I’m for taxing adulterous politicians.

Written By: MarkD
URL: http://

But when all you want is to get the old camel’s nose under the tent, sodas will do just fine, thankyouverymuch.

And revenue! We can steer the sheep to doing the right thing while increasing revenue for helping the poor. Then when people change behavior and the revenue stream dries up we have an emergency and need more funding. Feel good now and feel good later!

Written By: Ryan
URL: http://

I guess we’ve passed the point where government may do anything except a finite list of things which are forbidden ... and private citizens may do nothing except for as finite list of things which are permitted (or mandatory).

Since the essential difference between government and private action is physical force, this is a recipe for dictatorship.

Written By: Bearster
URL: http://

I’m seeing all these up-in-arms comments, not to mention the original post, but just about everyone who actually lives in SF heard of this plan, shrugged their shoulders, and said, "hey, why not? Soda’s gross anyway."

And Harun — you just made me throw up a little. Why don’t you go check out everything SF does to prevent HIV and care for those who have it (and how much it’s helped) before you shoot your mouth off like that.

Written By: Stinker
URL: http://

I’m seeing all these up-in-arms comments, not to mention the original post, but just about everyone who actually lives in SF heard of this plan, shrugged their shoulders, and said, "hey, why not? Soda’s gross anyway."

Yeah, that makes it right and good, huh? Let the nanny decide - saves time, thinking and making choices in your life, right?

Written By: McQ
URL: http://www.qando.net/blog

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