Should New York Adopt An 'Obesity Tax'?

Are they nuts??????Who the hell died and left them God.First smoking ,now anything with sugar,come on poeple this is or WAS a free country.

Obesity tax in NY, Oregon wants to tax the miles you drive...why not just take all our money for the govt, and we will all just go live in a cave and eat worms. Stupid govt people, about time to tell all of them to take a hike.

I am usually one for personal responsibility, but if medical care costs go up for all of us because some or most people can't control themselves and get too fat maybe a tax would deter ill-advised behavior.

However, I would rather see overweight folks pay their own medical bills and eat whatever they want. Too bad they won't be able to afford it.

And you see, the truth behind it all is that they will become DEPENDENT on those taxes. So getting people to stop eating junk food and smoking will be the last thing they'd want.

I know whereof I speak. Our "beloved" idiot governor has become so dependent on the ridiculously high cigarette taxes in this state that the guv goes after 70+ year old smokers who legitimately buy outside the state, charging them for all the "lost" tax, 7k in one case. And how much does the guv spend doing that?? Including all the internet snooping that had to be done to find those horrible criminals.

With the likelyhood of even more socialist policies on the way this is just another gnawing away of our rights. Let people smoke as much as they want, let people get as fat as they want, and let those people alone suffer or enjoy the results of said choices.

I think it is a brilliant idea to tax people for consuming whatever is self destructuve whether it be cigarettes, alcohol, sugary drinks and deep fried salty foods. Desperate times call for desperate measures but if in the process they achieve better health more power to the tax. While taxing to increase revenues and improve health how about taxing red meat, butter and whole milk shakes. Kill two birds with one stone improve the health of the nation while generating revenues to pay of budget deficits. I hope all the states latch on to this innovative way of keeping the nation healthy.

You have to be kidding me, right! Taxes never go down only up. Temporary taxes always become permanent. We raised taxes to build roads then the gov sold the roads to private ventures who turned around and made them toll roads. What part of "land of the free..." don't you folks understand. If we're just going to be a communist or socialist society can't you see how well that worked for Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, etc., etc. Besides, money is tight right now and some of thsoe beverages are a whole lot cheaper than 70% natural fruit juices. How about government learn to manage their finances better instead of just taxing more and more. Another thing, does everyone pay the "fat tax" or only people that are fat? I thought so....

This is ridiculous. Soda & sugary drinks are not the only things that cause people to be overweight. I am overweight & I don't drink soda. I don't drink sugared drinks. I rarely eat processed foods. People can become overweight on ANY food. Maybe the government should start regulating all the crap that gets put into processed food instead.

Yes, we should do away with individual liberties wherever they rear those ugly freedoms.

Actually, this is a GREAT idea! It's too bad but it seems the govt. has to sometimes introduce laws as this to protect people from THEMSELVES and their own stupidity! If people would wake up and start taking responsibility for their own actions - what a great day that would be! Until then, I hope they'll keep passing laws as this one. These sugary drinks and juices ARE a problem - especially when one has to consume several per day.

Don't insult our intelligence. This has NOTHING to do with fighting obesity and has EVERYTHING to do with generating tax revenue for our economically devastated state of NY.

WE'RE not blind, Patterson!
(pun intended)

The fine people of New York should enjoy paying the sugar taxes. After all, they vote for tax loving Democrats then, complain the most. Just wait for the $1.00 a gallon, gas tax hike they are proposing and then, the coming carbon taxes!

Yes as long as the money goes to healthcare costs.

Sugary drinks are indeed a source of many extra calories per day.
Diet drinks are just as good.
Water is even better.
Tax it. It will help pay for the diabetes and hypertension cases that are skyrocketing in this nation.(hopefully)
Or - they'll stop making these drinks.
It's a win-win situation.

As citizens we complain about increasing taxes. However, who causes those inceasing taxes? We, the citizens, who want more and more from our goverment. The more we want; the more they supply. But we sure hate to pay for it.

Did we forget all the money the states collected from the tobacco industry which was to be used for the medical expeneses for those suffering from smoking related illnesses?Instead,the funds went into the states tresury.What will NY do with the fat tax?That's the answer I want.

What will they tax next, the air we breath? Enough with the TAXES,it's time to get rid of these idoits. they should be cutting spending instead of increasing TAXES

Give me a break. If they want to increase taxes on sugary drinks, fine, go ahead and do it, but stop pretending you care for us and it's for our own good. Just call it what it is, just another tax, but don't justify it by saying it will curb obesity and you care about us. If New York state really cared they wouldn't be cutting the healthcare aid. Just a bunch of hypocrites.

"If you drive a car I'll tax the street
If you try to sit I'll tax your seat
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk I'll tax your feet
Tax man" - Lennon/McCartney

btw, make sure you New Yorkers declare the pennies on your eyes before it's too late.

: o )

If the people in New York want to have an extra tax for the politicians to use for their own agenda, Fine! Let them vote for it. My problem here is the precedent it can set for more and more taxes on everything people enjoy, good for them or not. And if it passes, the precedent it will set for other states to adopt such taxes on an already burdened public.