As further evidence that America has been hijacked by nutjobs and our move towards solidifying our nation as a Nanny State, New York Governor David Paterson has proposed an 18 percent tax on nondiet soft drinks and other sugared beverages. Dubbed an “obesity tax” (presumably because “fat tax” wouldn’t fly), this is just one of 137 new or increased taxes and fees.

In some media outlets it is presented as part of an effort to close the state’s $15.4 billion budget deficit. While avoiding broad-based tax increases in order to balance the budget is to be commendable, this tax proposal is ridiculous on several fronts:

 
1. The obvious one (to reasonable people): It is not the role of government to enact policies which will interfere or punish people’s personal decisions. If I’m trying to decide what I want to drink for lunch, I should not have to weigh the added cost for a particular item because the government deemed that I should not drink it due to health reasons. I can destroy Governor Paterson in ANY physical test, and I drink non-diet soda. Piss off.
 
2. This is being sold as part of a larger package to close the budget deficit. Yet, the estimated $400 million it will bring in will be used for health programs.
 
3. Even if this was sold solely as a means to combat the nation’s obesity problem, it has been proven that taxes on food do not change long-term food choice behavior.
 
4. If you want to be fat, you should have every right to do so.
 
5. There are plenty of other poor food choices. What’s next - fried foods?

This loony health nut actually applauds the Governor.

She states:

More people of power need to take action in order to protect children from this horrible condition that not only harms their health but also their self-esteem and body image….If citizens are unwilling or somehow unable to regulate their own health, a tax on harmful “luxury” items like this may be a good answer.

These people of power that she suggests are called PARENTS, not politicians. It isn’t the role of the government to become a parent. Citizens have every right to do as they so choose, provided they do not infringe on the rights of others. We got Social Security, the greatest Ponzi scheme ever, because the government recognized that people weren’t good at saving on their own. The more the government intervenes, the more it all goes to hell.

I’m pissed off. Time to go on a Mountain Dew binge.