HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

Stossel: The Philly Soda Tax Scam

Views:890
@ReasonVids

John Stossel fights with a Philadelphia City Councilman about the city's new soda tax.


Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/reasontv

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reason.Magaz...
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reason
Subscribe to our podcast at iTunes: https://goo.gl/az3a7a

Reason is the planet's leading source of news, politics, and culture from a libertarian perspective. Go to reason.com for a point of view you won't get from legacy media and old left-right opinion magazines.


Want a soda? It costs a lot more in Philadelphia thanks to a new tax on artificially-sweetened beverages.

A 2-liter bottle of Coca-Cola that once cost $2 now goes for $3. Politicians and activists applauded when the bill was signed. They said the tax was needed to fund early childhood education.

But John Stossel points out that the tax has unintended consequences. It harms local businesses.

"It's a bad tax," Melvin Robinson, owner of Bruno's Pizza, told Stossel. His store is on the outer edge of Philadelphia, so his customers just cross the street to avoid paying the tax.

Philadelphia City Councilman William Greenlee defended the tax, saying "we're raising enough money to put 2,700 kids in Pre-K and to open 11 community schools."

The pizza parlor's customers didn't think their taxes were being well spent. "Preschool? I doubt that very much," one man told Stossel. "The Mayor says he is helping people," Stossel replied.
"He ain't helping me. He is tearing me up," the customer answered.

Another unintended consequence is that soda sales are down in Philadelphia, but liquor sales are up. When Stossel mentioned that to Greenlee he replied. "I don't know about that," laughing, "cause we have a liquor tax, too!"

Philadelphians already pay 44 taxes: including state income tax, sales tax, cigarette and alcohol taxes. "You should be rolling in money," Stossel told Councilman Greenlee. "But there's a lot to do out there, John," he responded. Yet a lot of the money goes to non-essential projects. The Office of Arts and Culture receives $4 million, to fund things like "Hip Hop Fundamentals."

"They're funding the arts," Stossel told Melvin, the pizza store owner. "What arts? People trying to live!" he replied.

Melvin has just one request for the politicians: "Stop stealing. That would be nice." Stossel doesn't think the politicians are stealing, but they do pay themselves three times Philadelphia's median wage, and pass bad laws like the soda tax.

libertarian
,
reason magazine
,
reason.com
,
reason.tv
,
reasontv
,
soda
,
sin tax
,
sugar tax
,
education
,
philadelphia
,
city
,
philly
    Thumbnail for Mostly Weekly Series Finale: Creative Destruction7:58
    Mostly Weekly Series Finale: Creative Destruction
    ReasonVids
    883 views
    Thumbnail for Obamacare at the Supreme Court: Day One1:40
    Obamacare at the Supreme Court: Day One
    ReasonVids
    944 views
    Thumbnail for The Sheeple Song - early version of Pink Floyd's Sheep1:58:27
    The Sheeple Song - early version of Pink Floyd's Sheep
    bestofvoatxyz
    946 views
    Thumbnail for Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and Why Civility Can't Return To Politics2:31
    Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and Why Civility Can't Return To Politics
    ReasonVids
    1036 views
    Thumbnail for You can be a working-class contributor on a shoestring budget, or be a worry-free welfare nigger.0:55
    You can be a working-class contributor on a shoestring budget, or be a worry-free welfare nigger.
    AOUisgay
    524 views
    Thumbnail for Dr. Helen Fisher on How Brain Chemistry Determines Personality and Politics45:15
    Dr. Helen Fisher on How Brain Chemistry Determines Personality and Politics
    ReasonVids
    936 views
    Thumbnail for Marion Barry Doubles Down on "Dirty Asians"1:39
    Marion Barry Doubles Down on "Dirty Asians"
    ReasonVids
    715 views
    Thumbnail for The Anti-Science Left: Author Alex Berezow on Why Both Parties Fail at Science5:35
    The Anti-Science Left: Author Alex Berezow on Why Both Parties Fail at Science
    ReasonVids
    939 views
    Thumbnail for L.A. Is Creating Traffic Jams to Push Commuters to Ride Bikes and Rail4:53
    L.A. Is Creating Traffic Jams to Push Commuters to Ride Bikes and Rail
    ReasonVids
    951 views
    Thumbnail for National School Choice Week Lights Up Chicago2:02
    National School Choice Week Lights Up Chicago
    ReasonVids
    854 views
    Thumbnail for Bradley Manning Trial Discussion: The Verdict Approaches36:02
    Bradley Manning Trial Discussion: The Verdict Approaches
    ReasonVids
    869 views
    Thumbnail for What Drives Donald Trump? 'He's got money, he's got fame...Power is what's left'8:08
    What Drives Donald Trump? 'He's got money, he's got fame...Power is what's left'
    ReasonVids
    882 views
    Thumbnail for Parade goose step of the Black Guards - Hitler's personal army.0:56
    Parade goose step of the Black Guards - Hitler's personal army.
    Gviduser
    541 views
    Thumbnail for Join us LIVE for Jesus School Preview Day | April 17th, 2025 | Jesus Image1:00
    Join us LIVE for Jesus School Preview Day | April 17th, 2025 | Jesus Image
    invidious
    93 views
    Thumbnail for Capitalism vs. Socialism: A Soho Forum Debate1:38:45
    Capitalism vs. Socialism: A Soho Forum Debate
    ReasonVids
    734 views
    Thumbnail for Robert Higgs on The Decline of American Liberalism9:39
    Robert Higgs on The Decline of American Liberalism
    ReasonVids
    923 views
    Thumbnail for Long Jump • U20 Italian Indoor Championships ᴴᴰ | bluetvsports10:33
    Long Jump • U20 Italian Indoor Championships ᴴᴰ | bluetvsports
    invidious
    364 views
    Thumbnail for @DirtyWhiteBoy owns the vegans1:01
    @DirtyWhiteBoy owns the vegans
    bestofupgoat
    108 views
    Thumbnail for Nobody needs a 30 round magazine for hunting. Noisy warning.0:24
    Nobody needs a 30 round magazine for hunting. Noisy warning.
    bestofsaidit
    855 views
    Thumbnail for The Rise And Fall Of Bart Ltd. (The Simpsons)3:17
    The Rise And Fall Of Bart Ltd. (The Simpsons)
    clips
    848 views
    Thumbnail for Funny stump-mic moment caught between Akash Deep & Travis Head! | #AUSvINDOnStar | Star Sports0:25
    Funny stump-mic moment caught between Akash Deep & Travis Head! | #AUSvINDOnStar | Star Sports
    invidious
    112 views
    Thumbnail for omg Killer Cyclone! It's the end of the world! Climate Action now!!!! 1:17
    omg Killer Cyclone! It's the end of the world! Climate Action now!!!!
    bestofupgoat
    420 views
    Thumbnail for America's Future Foundation: Roger Custer on Millennial and the Liberty Movement5:35
    America's Future Foundation: Roger Custer on Millennial and the Liberty Movement
    ReasonVids
    968 views
    Thumbnail for Great Moments in Unintended Consequences (Vol. 3)2:33
    Great Moments in Unintended Consequences (Vol. 3)
    ReasonVids
    822 views
    Thumbnail for Launch the missile now0:08
    Launch the missile now
    bestofvoatxyz
    489 views

points

Permalink
Reply
libertarian
,
reason magazine
,
reason.com
,
reason.tv
,
reasontv
,
soda
,
sin tax
,
sugar tax
,
education
,
philadelphia
,
city
,
philly
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle