Was having a “discussion” on Twitter with two of New Mexico’s leading union officials. Both men strongly support Mayor Javier Gonzales’ plans to impose a 2 cent/ounce tax on sugary drinks sold in “The City Different.”
In doing some research on the issue I noticed that the Teamsters Union in Philadelphia was among the leading OPPONENTS of that City’s 1.5 cent/ounce tax on soda and sugary drinks. The following Tweets outline the exchange with Jon Hendry, head of the New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFL/CiO:
So, as I gather from Hendry’s comments, if Santa Fe’s bottler were unionized, his position might be the exact opposite of what he holds now. It would indeed be interesting if Santa Fe’s Coke distributor were unionized. Perhaps Mayor Gonzales wouldn’t even be undertaking this plan against a political ally?
There are all kinds of alternative scenarios, but the fact is that the unions have real political muscle and the way those muscles are used is less about political principle and ideology than it is about grasping self-interest. Easy for us think tank folk to lose sight of.
The Tax Foundation has a good article, published recently, making the case against soda taxes. Here’s the link: https://taxfoundation.org/case-against-soda-taxes/?utm_source=Tax+Foundation+Newsletters&utm_campaign=cd904be0e4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_03_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8387957ec9-cd904be0e4-427641601&mc_cid=cd904be0e4&mc_eid=640bfb0f83
Philly’s tax has been an unmitigated disaster.
45% drop for the Pepsi products and a 17% drop for retailers.
The tax is not producing anticipated revenue.
The tax is being blamed for the loss of 100’s of mid-level jobs.
Of course that won’t phase the geniuses in charge in the Fanta Se.
You are ignoring the health effects of sugar. I went low carb and started eating bacon and eggs every morning for breakfast (protein lasts all day). My blood pressure and cholesterol dropped to normal inside a month. Keep feeding people sugar and health costs will continue to skyrocket. Sugar and flour are bad news.
Tax bads, not goods.
There is a lot of food out there that is bad for you. Do you really want the government in charge of telling its citizens what to eat by taxing the heck out of certain products? I appreciate the fact that sugar is not good for you, but there have also been plenty of food fads over the years.
I don’t think any tax should be inappropriate, and I agree there have been plenty of food fads over the years – look at low fat foods. Sugar is frequently substituted for fat for flavor and look at what’s happened to Americans. We’re fatter than ever. Eating fat doesn’t make us fat, eating sugar and flour makes us fat – not to mention the diabetes factor.
Both Obamacare and the proposed Obamacare Light usurp the Constitution, requiring those of us who eat healthy foods to pay for those who don’t. They should pay for their own healthcare, and taxes on junk food helps in that direction and raises awareness.
In the 1970s the feds banned the cyclamates used in diet soda as a health hazard. My mother-in-law consumed diet soda by the case, so I figured she was a goner and prepared for her demise. To my dismay, she lived another 30 years. I have not trusted government health warnings ever since.