I hate almost all government. I tend to believe that almost nothing that they do actually benefits anyone except them and their own egos. I'm not saying anarchy would be better but sometimes I think the government tries to justify their existence by constantly meddling in the lives of the population. The population is getting sick of this shit.
In a recent attempt at forcing the population to bend the knee to their every whim, the local government decided to implement at 17% soda tax in Philidelphia. Of course the official standpoint of this legislation was to cut down on the sugar intake of the citizenry, but I can see through this BS. They find popular products that sell really well, vilify them, and then tax them with impunity because "that thing is bad for you!"
We all know that Coca Cola and other such beverages are bad for us. We knows this, but people like it and we cant afford the organic vitamin-infused dragon-fruit mango kale frappe at Jamba juice for $12. This is a "let them eat cake" situation.
I was actually delighted to see that the end result was the opposite of what those sanctimonious ass-hats in charge over in Philly had hoped.
The overall sales of soda drinks in the Philadelphia area dropped 51% and the amount of soda sales in the outlying areas grew by a dramatic amount suggesting that the people of Philly are not changing what they drink, they are just going somewhere else to get it.
The more favorable "healthy alternatives" saw no increase in sales.
soda distribution factories in the Philidelphia metropolitan area were forced to lay off 100 people (I'm not happy to see someone losing their job unless they are in the government, don't get the wrong idea)
There was a 30% drop in overall tax revenue from soda sales to the city.
I don't drink soda because I try to stay reasonably fit, but I don't want the government telling me that I can't drink it. I also don't like how these taxes are almost always levied on the people with the least amount of power. "sin taxes" almost always target the poorer communities because obviously those stupid poor people don't know how to run their own lives, therefore we will force them to do it our way.
I am a big believer in freedom even if said freedom is detrimental to your own well-being because I don't like the idea of anyone, or any group of people being able to determine what I should do with my own life provided it doesn't hurt anyone else. While I am disappointed that some people lost their jobs I am extremely happy to see these jerk-offs in elected positions get their "holier than thou" legislation shoved back in their faces in such an "FAIL" manor.
I actually miss Tab, it was sugar-free too