Hospital Trouble? – Soda Sugar Tax, Candy Next? – Fab Four Webcast
Will a hospital crisis be the next economic bombshell to hit America? It could be. Several large city and suburban hospitals, mostly non-profits, are facing a difficult year, with the negative elements of an uncertain economy starting to trickle down. Is it an emergency yet? Not quite, but if the employment picture doesn’t improve soon, it could worsen quickly.
The problem is two-fold. Layoffs and expiring Cobra coverage are forcing many of our fellow citizens to put off necessary medical testing. Expensive co-pays are forcing some Philadelphia region families to put off important visits and treatments. The result – layoffs along with a cutback in the purchase of new and valuable equipment.
So the question remains. If there is a health care overhaul, will hospitals be ready for the new patient load? Or better yet, will they be around when the demand suddenly outpaces the supply?
SODA TAX – A CAN OF WORMS? WHAT ABOUT BEER?
The proposed tax on soda in Philadelphia offers a chance to open up a new debate, and it’s all about the limits of government. You can assume that if it were legal to tax lethal cigarettes, it would be legal to tax anything that might be harmful to your health. On paper, it is not a bad idea. But on a closer look, it might make one of life’s guilty pleasures become less available to thousands upon thousands of people. And then, if sugar were bad for your health, why wouldn’t excessive drinking of beer be even more taxable? And then, if government taxes drinks with sugar, would it try to impose extra taxes on Tastycakes or candy? We all know that extra taxes on Tastycakes and beer, in Philadelphia, would be political suicide. But this issue of sugar in soda might also be dangerous. For example, owners of sports teams might pass the extra taxes on to the already super-taxed fans. And what if sugar-craved soda drinkers switched to candy bars to get their fix?
Would City Hall try to impose heavier taxes on caramel crunch and nutty chocolate candy bars? Where will it stop? Are Tootsie Rolls next?
These are interesting questions as the Nutter team moved forward with the proposed tax increases.
BEATLE MANIA-
My thanks to the hundreds who showed up for the first three shows of my Ticket To Ride multi-media at the Franklin Institute. Nine more shows are slated starting this coming weekend. See the banner ad above.
Just a “program note.” At 1:30 P.M. Wednesday, the Philadelphia Daily News will be featuring a “live web chat” with me and it is all about the Beatles. Go to philly.com, on Wednesday for all the details.
Questions about the proposed increased taxes for soda are allowed.

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