Here Comes the Nanny State Period

[ImWithStupid]

Last year the "Progressives" (socialists) in California tried to pass a law that allowed the government to remotely control the themostats in people's homes...

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/us/11control.html

 

 

 

Now the "Progressive" (socialist) Governor of New York wants to put a "sin tax" on soda pop...

 

Governor Paterson proposes 'Obesity Tax,' a tax on non-diet sodas

 

BY GLENN BLAIN and KENNETH LOVETT

DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU

 

Sunday, December 14th 2008, 11:37 PM

 

ALBANY - A can of Coke could soon cost New Yorkers more than just calories.

 

Gov. Paterson, as part of a $121 billion budget to be unveiled Tuesday, will propose an "obesity tax" of about 15% on nondiet drinks.

 

This means a Diet Coke might sell for a $1 - even as the same size bottle of its calorie-rich alter ego would go for $1.15.

 

Governor Paterson proposes 'Obesity Tax,' a tax on non-diet sodas

 

 

 

I wonder what we will be punished for chosing to consume next when national universal health care happens?

[Ahhlee]

Wow, man. Just.....wow.

[Anna Perenna]

Now the <mindless propaganda deleted> Governor of New York wants to put a "sin tax" on soda pop...

 

I wonder what we will be punished for choosing to consume next when national universal health care happens?

 

I actually agree with this. If you have free national health care then you should be made to look after yourself.

 

The thoughtlessly obese masses of America should be made to stop and think before stuffing their bodies with crap to the point where they become a burden on the country.

 

In the same vein, people who smoke cigarettes should be made to pay a large tax so that when they develop lung cancer, their "free" treatment is somewhat deserved.

[ImWithStupid]

I actually agree with this. If you have free national health care then you should be made to look after yourself.

 

The thoughtlessly obese masses of America should be made to stop and think before stuffing their bodies with crap to the point where they become a burden on the country.

 

In the same vein, people who smoke cigarettes should be made to pay a large tax so that when they develop lung cancer, their "free" treatment is somewhat deserved.

 

You would.

 

Your love of government control of personal freedom aside. How about the millions of people who still have their own health care, as the government stuff is to cover those who can't afford it? They get punished, and have to pay more taxes on top of the taxes they already have to pay for the health care of those who don't pay taxes in the first place.

 

The people on universal healthcare are the burden, not the working folk who pay their way.

 

I remember these types of ideas. They were called the National Socialist Party in Germany and the National Facist Party in Italy. They were praised and heralded for their "reforms" and "progressive" movements toward government deciding what was best for the people too.

[Anna Perenna]

You would.

 

<fantasy deleted>. How about the millions of people who still have their own health care, as the government stuff is to cover those who can't afford it? They get punished, and have to pay more taxes on top of the taxes they already have to pay for the health care of those who don't pay taxes in the first place.

 

The people on universal healthcare are the burden, not the working folk who pay their way.

 

I remember these types of ideas. <boring unnecessary history deleted>

 

Soda pop is crap. The only thing that's going to happen to you when you drink it is ... you feel like crap.

 

Everyone should get free health care, and all these evil HMOs and unnecessary pharmaceutical corporations should be phased out.

 

The tax on crap would help relieve the burden on ordinary taxpayers who are good enough not to fill themselves with .... crap.

[ImWithStupid]

Soda pop is crap. The only thing that's going to happen to you when you drink it is ... you feel like crap <opinion>.

 

Everyone should get free health care <opinion that many argue leads to substandard treatment due to lack of resources as in countries like the UK, Canada and France>, and all these <boring unnecessary adjective> HMOs and unnecessary pharmaceutical corporations <that incidentally have developed nearly all of the benficial medicines that the world uses to save lives and improve the quality of life of sick people> should be phased out.

 

The tax on crap would help relieve the burden on ordinary taxpayers who are good enough not to fill themselves with .... crap.

 

And those that are skinny and healthy that want a soda need to be punished with taxes, and those that want to eat red meat should be taxed, and those that want to eat shellfish or poultry should be taxed because of the increased chance of illness due to spoilage, and those who drive small cars should be taxed because they are more likely to be injured in a crash and that would add to medical costs, and anyone who works in jobs like cops, firemen, high voltage electricians, etc... that are more dangerous should be taxed extra because they are more likely to incur medical costs, and anyone who goes out in the sun, or works outdoors in the sun should be taxed higher because of the risks of skin cancer and subsequent cost, or anyone who ...

[atlantic]

The people on universal healthcare are the burden, not the working folk who pay their way.

 

 

 

Taxpayers already pay for so-called universal healthcare, it's called welfare. Hospitals do not turn people away, whether they can pay or not anyways.

 

The problem is greed in the pharmaceutical companies, coupled with not enough preventive medicine to begin with which drives medical costs through the roof.

 

It would be ideal if everyone could work; Although could you imagine the gridlock traffic However, umemployment is at an alltime high, since so many jobs have gone to other countries. Not all jobs offer affordable insurance either.

 

 

Universal is the way to go. Taxes to stave off diabetes in children already borderline fine by me.

 

 

I have to agree with the heat control thing too. My last apt was never under 86 degrees because of the older woman who lived downstairs from me. We had heat included with the rent. So she kept it on 365 days a year. She did it to stick it to the landlord, who was an awesome guy.

 

He told me that for his units last year alone, he paid over $50,000.00 in heating costs. Which I know could have been avoided if most of his tenants closed the damn windows or threw on some slippers and a damn sweater.

[ImWithStupid]

The people on universal healthcare are the burden' date=' not the working folk who pay their way.[/quote']

 

 

Taxpayers already pay for so-called universal healthcare, it's called welfare. Hospitals do not turn people away, whether they can pay or not anyways.

 

The problem is greed in the pharmaceutical companies, coupled with not enough preventive medicine to begin with which drives medical costs through the roof..

 

So, we should expand the amount of people who get free health care on the backs of those who pay taxes?

 

You also want to punish the companies that develop the medicines that cure the sick and save lives. It costs a lot of money for R&D for drugs, and they don't have a very long time to recoup these expenses before the drugs are made available to be copied and sold by other companies as generics.

 

It would be ideal if everyone could work; Although could you imagine the gridlock traffic However, umemployment is at an alltime high, since so many jobs have gone to other countries. Not all jobs offer affordable insurance either.

 

Unemployment rates are not at an alltime high, that's just the how the panic spreading media wants to make it seem. They are lower now (6.7) than they were in 1992 at nearly 8%, and way lower than they were in 1982 where it was close to 10%.

 

Universal is the way to go. Taxes to stave off diabetes in children already borderline fine by me..

 

Not really sure what you mean here, but as for government provided health care, it's a big reason that New York is broke and asking for money from Congress and it didn't work very well for Hawaii either. They just made it apply to children and had to repeal and cancel the program in 7 months because it caused the state to go broke.

 

I have to agree with the heat control thing too. My last apt was never under 86 degrees because of the older woman who lived downstairs from me. We had heat included with the rent. So she kept it on 365 days a year. She did it to stick it to the landlord, who was an awesome guy.

 

He told me that for his units last year alone, he paid over $50,000.00 in heating costs. Which I know could have been avoided if most of his tenants closed the damn windows or threw on some slippers and a damn sweater.

 

So you're saying that because your landlord chose to include the heating cost into the rent the government should control everyones thermostat. Wouldn't a better solution be for the landlord to quit whining about the problem and make the tenants pay the heat bill?

 

I think that if I pay the damn bill, I should be able to decide where it's set.

 

If I understand you right, you are arguing that the government should control people's thermostats because some people who didn't have to pay their heat bill abused the system.

 

What do you suppose people who don't have to pay their medical bills will do? Furthermore, do you really want the government deciding if you get treatment or not?

[atlantic]

IWS I have more faith in our government than you I suppose.

 

To answer your ? yes. I would prefer a child get care before a 90+ year old who keeps getting brought back to life to sit in a nursing home.

 

I would also prefer that people on welfare get drug tested randomly (to keep costs down) before receiving a free handout.

 

You may be right about the unemployment stats, but is that based on the same amount of people that were in this country at that time?

 

My old landlord is probably going to do that, of course he'll have to come down on the rent because it is outrageously high.

 

As far as the heat thing. I believe people are not conserving enough.

[eddo]

IWS I have more faith in our government than you I suppose.

 

 

Really? Why?

 

 

Look at all the Gov't has screwed up thus far:

 

Welfare (let abuse run rampant)

the war in Iraq (poor planning from the get go)

the mortgage crisis (pushing to get people that shouldn't own homes to get those homes)

No child left behind (good intentions, bad idea)

this $700 Billion bailout

our economy

many more examples could be included.

 

What leads you to think those in charge of the gov't will get healthcare right? (and I am not just talking about the President and his staff- congress, senate, local governments, etc, etc, etc are all included in that)

 

America needs more personal responsibility and less government involvement- not the other way around.

 

period.

[atlantic]

Really? Why?

 

 

Look at all the Gov't has screwed up thus far:

 

Welfare (let abuse run rampant)

the war in Iraq (poor planning from the get go)

the mortgage crisis (pushing to get people that shouldn't own homes to get those homes)

No child left behind (good intentions, bad idea)

this $700 Billion bailout

our economy

many more examples could be included.

 

What leads you to think those in charge of the gov't will get healthcare right? (and I am not just talking about the President and his staff- congress, senate, local governments, etc, etc, etc are all included in that)

 

America needs more personal responsibility and less government involvement- not the other way around.

 

period.

You are right about past government. I do believe Obama will do a much better job than has been done in the past.

[ImWithStupid]

Really? Why?

 

 

Look at all the Gov't has screwed up thus far:

 

Welfare (let abuse run rampant)

the war in Iraq (poor planning from the get go)

the mortgage crisis (pushing to get people that shouldn't own homes to get those homes)

No child left behind (good intentions, bad idea)

this $700 Billion bailout

our economy

many more examples could be included.

 

...medicare/medicade ($300 million in known medicare fraud in 2006 alone)

 

social security (bankrupt because the money was spent)

[ImWithStupid]

You are right about past government. I do believe Obama will do a much better job than has been done in the past.

 

 

They have said they want to model their healthcare plan on medicare.

[atlantic]

They have said they want to model their healthcare plan on medicare.

Being that I don't know jack about medicare, I'll have to research it Thanks for the info.

[ImWithStupid]

Being that I don't know jack about medicare, I'll have to research it Thanks for the info.

 

 

Here's some info in a past post of mine...

 

http://Off Topic Forum.com/on-topic-bs/26334-us-government-takes-of-fnma-fmac-2.html#post69106

 

sorry about my misquote on the $300 million in fraud, it's actually a conservative estimate of $2.8 BILLION in improper spending in 2006 alone.

[atlantic]

Here's some info in a past post of mine...

 

http://Off Topic Forum.com/on-topic-bs/26334-us-government-takes-of-fnma-fmac-2.html#post69106

 

sorry about my misquote on the $300 million in fraud, it's actually a conservative estimate of $2.8 BILLION in improper spending in 2006 alone.

Well that was a depressing read. Seems not too many people are honest anymore

[ImWithStupid]

Well that was a depressing read. Seems not too many people are honest anymore

 

Here's the part the I couldn't believe that showed how out of control it is...

 

For example, a Florida businessman was sentenced last year to 37 months in prison for submitting more than $5.5 million of fake claims to Medicare. The businessman operated for months, despite giving the agency an address that was actually a utility closet.

 

I read that he submitted over 100,000 fraudulant claims before they looked into him.

[hugo]

When you give up responsibility you also give up liberty.

[Anna Perenna]

And those that are skinny and healthy that want a soda need to be punished with taxes, and those that want to eat red meat should be taxed, and those that want to eat shellfish or poultry should be taxed because of the increased chance of illness due to spoilage, and those who drive small cars should be taxed because they are more likely to be injured in a crash and that would add to medical costs, and anyone who works in jobs like cops, firemen, high voltage electricians, etc... that are more dangerous should be taxed extra because they are more likely to incur medical costs, and anyone who goes out in the sun, or works outdoors in the sun should be taxed higher because of the risks of skin cancer and subsequent cost, or anyone who ...

 

Gee, your eye roll emoticon has really made me doubt myself!

 

It's a small tax on worthless crap. It's not the boogey-man you're trying to make it out to be.

[ImWithStupid]

Gee, your eye roll emoticon has really made me doubt myself!

 

It's a small tax on worthless crap. It's not the boogey-man you're trying to make it out to be.

 

:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[emkay64]

I really like Diet Pepsi...

[snafu]

The closet I can come to diet soda is Dr. Pepper but I don't gain weight so diet soda's don't help me. Well maybe being boarder line diabetic might be a reason.

 

Never mind.

[ImWithStupid]

Here are some more of the items on the list of tax increases...

 

An ?iPod tax? that charges state and local sales tax for ?digitally delivered entertainment services? - in other words, that new Beyonce song you download.

 

State sales tax at movie theaters, sporting events, taxis, buses, limousines and cable and satellite TV and radio.

 

Costlier driving with the repeal of the 8-cents-per-gallon sales tax cap on motor and diesel motor fuel, plus and increase in the auto rental tax.

 

Tuition increases at SUNY and CUNY, $620 and $600 a year respectively.

 

A 50 cent tax on cigars. The current tax is equal to 37% of the wholesale price, or 34 cents a cigar.

 

No more sales tax break on clothes and shoes worth $110 or less, except during two weeks a year.

 

Higher taxes on wine, beer and flavored malt beverages. He would also impose an 18% tax on non-nutritional drinks like soda.

 

The rich would pay more for luxury items through an additional 5% tax imposed on cars costing more than $60,000, aircraft costing more than $500,000, yachts costing at least $200,000 and jewelry and furs costing in excess of $20,000.

 

In addition, a host of a fees, including those related to motor vehicle licensing and registration, parks and auto insurance, would go up, as would various state-imposed fines.

The Buffalo Bean Governor Paterson?s Laundry List of New Taxes and Fees

 

I'm actually suprised nobody has tried to tax downloaded content before now.

[ImWithStupid]

What to look forward to in "universal healthcare"...

 

Calgary woman delivers identical quadruplets

 

Michelle Lang and Keith Bonnell, CanWest News Service

Published: Thursday, August 16, 2007

 

A rare set of identical quadruplets will be reunited Friday at a Calgary hospital after spending their first night apart Thursday - two in Canada and two in the United States.

 

Karen Jepp, 35, of Calgary delivered four healthy little girls Sunday at a hospital in Montana, after being sent there because of a shortage of neonatal beds in Canada.

 

Here's the best part...

 

However, when Jepp began experiencing labour symptoms on Friday, the unit at Foothills was over capacity with several unexpected pre-term births.

 

Lynda Phelan, a spokeswoman with the Calgary Health Region, said no other Canadian NICU had space for Jepp's four babies.

 

"There wasn't space anywhere in Canada, so we had to turn to our friends in Montana," she said.

 

Jepp was transferred by air to Montana on Friday - the fifth Alberta woman to be transferred to Great Falls this year because of neonatal shortages in Calgary.

 

Nothing like being on a 10 month plan on government maternity care.

 

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=78b28230-d3ff-47d3-ab04-fff760931f1a&k=66758

[eddo]

"There wasn't space anywhere in Canada"

Does this mean the second coming of Christ is a set of quadruplets?

 

 

oh hell....