Philadelphia became the first major American city with a soda tax

[Al Doggity]

When you order a larger size, its cheaper as you will be getting more calories per gram at a lower price than you would had you not "ordered up".

Which is not at all what is talked about in the thread that was linked

[Las Vegas]

I'll admit to not quite being 'there' with the price thing, in that I don't understand it (and don't recall ever seeing it).  I don't believe it is widespread, longstanding, etc.

So why now?

[HTexan]

Tax shit food, subsidies healthy food.

This. By the problem is healthy food isn't calorie dense and is $$$. Poor people can't afford it.

[Al Doggity]

I'll admit to not quite being 'there' with the price thing, in that I don't understand it (and don't recall ever seeing it).  I don't believe it is widespread, longstanding, etc.

So why now?

I would like you to know  that I think you are an idiot. I only answered your question in this thread as it related to what someone else said, but I would probably have just ignored you otherwise. We've interacted in the past and those interactions led me to believe you have some sort of learning or personality disorder. Both times you picked up on a fairly innocuous point and dragged out a non-sensical debate over a few pages.(Maybe that makes me an idiot and you a genius troll  ) Once again, you seem to be doing the same thing.  I wouldn't feel comfortable thinking someone was stupid just because we didn't see eye-to-eye on the board, but in that Apple thread other people pointed out how stupid your line of reasoning was, so I generally feel okay with ignoring most of what you have to say.


The reason I was compelled to address this is because  of the "Why now? " line in your last post. I can understand being skeptical or flat out not believing that larger drinks have been sold for less money (which, of course, is something I can't prove with a link. Few McDonald's post their prices online), but when I posted that, it was part of a larger point about the cheapness of soda syrup, which isn't really debatable. Your last post seemed to be asking me about how McDonald's prices are connected to the new Philly law. This is just so rainman-ish to me that I don't think there's a reasonable conversation to have here. I will debate with anyone as long as it's in a reasonable fashion, but sometimes I feel like you just have to let it go. I suppose you can keep addressing me if you want to, but if you ever wonder why I am not responding to your posts, this is an explanation. Of course, if you address me enough, I probably will not be able to resist myself in responding (likely negatively), but I sincerely hope that you just choose not to do that.


BTW, here are a few more links of people talking about  McDonald's soda price discreprancies. It's pretty easy to find that this is something that happens, as I said earlier:
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2f8nek/eli5why_is_mcdonalds_large_drink_cheaper_than_the/

http://mhsstobbs.weebly.com/mcdonalds-soft-drink-pricing-strategy.html

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080309165302AASh4n0

[Pray_4_War]

That wording is subjective interpretation and not really indicative of what's going on. Punish? What court levies $0.45 punishments?  At best, it is a price correction, at worst it is a user fee for a product with very clear health risks associated with it.

The Government absolutely uses taxes and fees to punish things they don't like.  They do it all the time have no problem admitting it.  Listen to Obama talk about fossil fuel industry some time.

[The Abdominal Snoman]

They should put a $100 tax on all cans of fart powder so that these snake oil salesman are put out of business

[Al Doggity]

The Government absolutely uses taxes and fees to punish things they don't like.  They do it all the time have no problem admitting it.  Listen to Obama talk about fossil fuel industry some time.

Please post a link. 

[Pray_4_War]

This was while he was running for President.  Just one of the memorable ones that I can think of right off the top of my head.  Certainly not the only clip like this that exists.

 

Which looks interesting when you compare it to this CNN article from 2015

http://money.cnn.com/2015/08/03/investing/coal-obama-climate-change/

[Las Vegas]

I would like you to know  that I think you are an idiot. I only answered your question in this thread as it related to what someone else said, but I would probably have just ignored you otherwise. We've interacted in the past and those interactions led me to believe you have some sort of learning or personality disorder. Both times you picked up on a fairly innocuous point and dragged out a non-sensical debate over a few pages.(Maybe that makes me an idiot and you a genius troll  ) Once again, you seem to be doing the same thing.  I wouldn't feel comfortable thinking someone was stupid just because we didn't see eye-to-eye on the board, but in that Apple thread other people pointed out how stupid your line of reasoning was, so I generally feel okay with ignoring most of what you have to say.


The reason I was compelled to address this is because  of the "Why now? " line in your last post. I can understand being skeptical or flat out not believing that larger drinks have been sold for less money (which, of course, is something I can't prove with a link. Few McDonald's post their prices online), but when I posted that, it was part of a larger point about the cheapness of soda syrup, which isn't really debatable. Your last post seemed to be asking me about how McDonald's prices are connected to the new Philly law. This is just so rainman-ish to me that I don't think there's a reasonable conversation to have here. I will debate with anyone as long as it's in a reasonable fashion, but sometimes I feel like you just have to let it go. I suppose you can keep addressing me if you want to, but if you ever wonder why I am not responding to your posts, this is an explanation. Of course, if you address me enough, I probably will not be able to resist myself in responding (likely negatively), but I sincerely hope that you just choose not to do that.


BTW, here are a few more links of people talking about  McDonald's soda price discreprancies. It's pretty easy to find that this is something that happens, as I said earlier:
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2f8nek/eli5why_is_mcdonalds_large_drink_cheaper_than_the/

http://mhsstobbs.weebly.com/mcdonalds-soft-drink-pricing-strategy.html

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080309165302AASh4n0

lol 

[Tapeworm]

Psst, yo man.  I got demerara, caster, sticky brown.  What you want?

[Las Vegas]

Yeah, the link I posted gives the idea that it may be happening.  That's why I put it up.

[Al Doggity]

This was while he was running for President.  Just one of the memorable ones that I can think of right off the top of my head.  Certainly not the only clip like this that exists.

 

Which looks interesting when you compare it to this CNN article from 2015

http://money.cnn.com/2015/08/03/investing/coal-obama-climate-change/

I figured this was what you were going to post. Like I said, "subjective interpretation". You said  " encouraging things and punishing things are two very different concepts." They're not. In the instance you posted they are exactly the same thing. What you describe as punishment is meant to encourage cleaner technology. Subjective interpretation.

If you are going to make the specious argument that we should leave the "punishment business" to the courts, then the distinction is relevant. I don't think you can separate the massive agricultural subsidies from this issue.

[The Scott]

If they can't get away with a tax, they will call it a fee and say, "It's for the children."  And for the greater part, a calorie is a calorie.  What you do with it is another thing.    Don't believe that?

Eat 6,000 calories a day of "healthy food" and do not exercise.  Its highly likely that you will still get as fat as if you were eating the same amount of calories in "junque food".

[Pray_4_War]

If you are going to make the specious argument that we should leave the "punishment business" to the courts, then the distinction is relevant. I don't think you can separate the massive agricultural subsidies from this issue.

You might be 100% right.  I'm not sure.

That's why I stated before that I wasn't very informed about agricultural subsidies.

Just to satisfy my own curiosity, you do admit that Obama is trying to punish and bankrupt the coal industry right?

[MAXX]

bs taxes they pretend are for health and enviroment... just to milk kapable working people

[Al Doggity]

You might be 100% right.  I'm not sure.

That's why I stated before that I wasn't very informed about agricultural subsidies.

Just to satisfy my own curiosity, you do admit that Obama is trying to punish and bankrupt the coal industry right?

According to those links you posted, he isn't. In the video, he's talking about curbing the construction of NEW coal-powered plants. He explicitly says "the notion of no coal is an illusion" because we get too large an amount of power from coal.


According to that CNN link, the coal industry has been it's own worst enemy. Coal prices have collapsed since 2009 peak as a result of less demand from China. On top of that,many large companies went on buying binges and tried to consolidate at the top of the market!!
These aren't things that Obama caused. Coal mines aren't closing and coal use isn't declining, but the corporate structure is falling apart. It's true that Obama wants to encourage cleaner fuel use, but the coal industry has caused more of its problems than the president.

(Incidentally, that CNN link says the one company that bucked the trend, Consul, managed to do so because it diversified into natural gas.)

[Las Vegas]

In case anyone's wondering about the pricing strategy, at least in the case of a larger combo bring cheaper than a smaller one...

The idea is to get people into the habit of buying the larger one, so that they will choose to pay a higher price when it goes off 'sale'.   Sort of an experiment, I guess.

[Pray_4_War]

According to those links you posted, he isn't. In the video, he's talking about curbing the construction of NEW coal-powered plants. He explicitly says "the notion of no coal is an illusion" because we get too large an amount of power from coal.


According to that CNN link, the coal industry has been it's own worst enemy. Coal prices have collapsed since 2009 peak as a result of less demand from China. On top of that,many large companies went on buying binges and tried to consolidate at the top of the market!!
These aren't things that Obama caused. Coal mines aren't closing and coal use isn't declining, but the corporate structure is falling apart. It's true that Obama wants to encourage cleaner fuel use, but the coal industry has caused more of its problems than the president.

(Incidentally, that CNN link says the one company that bucked the trend, Consul, managed to do so because it diversified into natural gas.)

So, no then?  You don't think that Obama has attempted to punish and bankrupt the coal industry.

Good to know.

[BodyMachine]

wtf is happening to this country? generation nothing, taxed to oblivion, poor services for avg working man (tons of opportunities, grants, aid for poor, however). Fuck.  Why aren't we standing up against this, we used too (Boston Tea party, Vietnam war protests, etc)

[Al Doggity]

So, no then?  You don't think that Obama has attempted to punish and bankrupt the coal industry.

Good to know.

Do you think he's attempted to bankrupt the coal industry?

If so, what specifically do you think he's done? In your opinion, is he responsible for the problems currently plaguing the coal industry?

[TTfit]

Some people have very few pleasures in life. Why try and take away what little they have? I doubt that that particular tax will deter people from buying what they crave and love. Soda isn't that expensive anyways. There are better things to tax than this.

[Las Vegas]

Wondering how the McExperiment is going.

[Al Doggity]

Some people have very few pleasures in life. Why try and take away what little they have? I doubt that that particular tax will deter people from buying what they crave and love. Soda isn't that expensive anyways. There are better things to tax than this.

If you doubt that the tax will deter anyone from buying what they crave and love, how is it keeping anyone from their limited pleasures?

The Philly bill was actually never sold as something to deter people from drinking soda. Every article/newspiece I've seen on this has emphasized how the mayor has only talked about how much revenue it will generate. There is speculation that the reason diet sodas were added to the bill at the last minute was because there was a fear too many regular soda drinkers would switch to untaxed diet soda.

[KnightXavi]

Is this really a tax or a "disguised" designated tax?  What I mean is, soda has been taxed in my state for years.  They just count it as a "Non-food" tax.  Which means it's taxed like clothes, appliances, etc..  Which is 7%.  Everything else is taxed 2%.

[drkaje]

New York state taxes tampons.