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.
Comments(14)
Larry – you took 6 days to come up with this? PS – your constant mentioning of your minor association with the beatles is pathetic.
Waiting for the delegates to return to the conference room. Everyone thinks I’m sending top secret emails back to the White House. Truth is I’m blogging here and checking out Israeli porn sites.
Did you see me on Hardball last night? I was very presidential. Except I said “Listen” before I started each thought. Not sure why I do that. Must be because Dr Jill ignores me around the house. Maybe it’s a delaying mechanism as I collect my thoughts and figure out what I’m going to say. Better question is why was the first VP from Scranton doing an exclusive interview with Chris Freak’in Matthews? Brian Williams wasn’t available? Katie Couric can’t travel? Diane Sawyer was getting her hair styled? Chris Freak’in Matthews? Throwing the Philly Boy a bone? Perhaps. He is such a putz. And MSNBC had a view of the wailing wall behind me but shots of Chris in his hotel room. What’s up with that? Anyway I endured the 60 minute session with Chris and slogged through incredible minutia with Netanyahu.
You know you can’t find a good Ruben here in Jerusalem. Sandwich that is. Go figure. You’d think there would be a great deli on every corner.
Barack is trying new tactic. Attack fat cat health insurance companies to win over the American people. I told him it won’t work. It’s him the American people don’t trust. They hate him now. Too much distrust to turn this ship around. Time for VP Joe to become President Biden.
Biden/Biden in 2010. Let’s hold a special election in November to replace Comrade Obama.
Yo, you already pay emergency taxes on liquor and beer in Philadelphia. Where do you get off saying they aren’t taxed? Hurrrrrrr.
If we are taxing things that are bad for you, how ’bout the local newscasts and newsreaders? They waste 1/2 hour or more of people’s time each night with a bunch of hype and clap trap. That’s bad for everyone. Tax them!
A tax on sugar soda is a great idea. Water is virtually free, so the poor can drink that, plus its healthier, which will save on the medicade expense of treating the poor. For anyone who has seen Precious, taxing sugar soda, especially in the inner city is agreat idea. Increasing the cigarett tax comparable to NYC is also a great idea, so as to reduce the interstate arbitrage of about $50 per carton, which is the current spread beteen PA and NYC for a carton, crazy right? Sin taxes are a great source of revenue and have the greatest health and welfare benefit to the poor, what’s not to like?
Things go better with Coke
It’s the real thing
Larry drinks winecoolers which are wine and soda. Does he get taxed?
As US2 wings its way back across the Atlantic I take great pride in my missionary and herculean efforts in Israel. Barack has scared the Israelis into believing he’s more pro-Arab than pro-Israel. His prevailing message has not been received well in Tel Aviv. Israel already feels alone in the region surrounded by hungry wolves. Their best deterrent was the US. Mess with us and you are messing with the US was their credo. Now they are not so sure. America elects a Muslim as President. He tries to smooth over tensions with the Jihadists. He visits the towelheads before he visits Israel. He is no longer welcome or trusted by the Israelis.
Enter the old political salt. Well I’m not really that old. Don’t be fooled by my hairplugged gray hair or my younger wife. Don’t be fooled by my incessant gaffes or diarrhea of the mouth. Don’t be fooled by the old man smell or the Lincoln I drive. I am the MAN now. I’m the one making key decisions. I’m the one pulling the strings. I’m the brains behind this operation. Like the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz I hold the future of this nation in my meticulously manicured hands.
Did you like the way I told Israel that we were their best friend? Then told them as their best friend we had to tell them they were making bad decisions in the Gaza. Genius. Pure genius. Do you think they bought that crap? I’m not sure. I was off to my return flight immediately following the speech.
I missed American Idol while I was gone. Who did well? Who went home. This is a real bad bunch of men this year.
Biden/Biden in 2010! Impeachment is the ultimate solution.
Patrick Kennedy will be remebered for coming
unhinged over the lack of press covering
Congress. He had a point, but it was so shrill,
where was this crazy convition when he was not
a lame duck. He actually helped voters see why
they dislike the current crop of politcians.
There will be quite an upheaval this November
thanks to weaklings like Kennedy.
Massa is a sick puppy, likes to actually sleep
With his staffers and boasts he does it to save
his own money. I can’t wait for this up or down
vote on healthcare. Men like Kennedy and Massa
are Gods gifts to Republicans and to the the
failure of Obamacare
I just saw the Patrick Kennedy meltdown on a CNN feed here on US2 as we approach Andrews AFB. This complete idiot would be a DMV clerk in RI had he not inherited a multi-million dollar trust fund as a Kennedy. He is an embarrassment to the Kennedy name and that is really saying something.
How can the apple fall so far from the tree? I guess Ted would blame that too on Joan and genetics. The curse of fat Ted continues at least until November.
Biden/Biden in 2012! Is there no legit Dem left in DC except for me?
See my show with Massa? He was my Massa. I waste your time.
How about this Rahm Emanual running around naked trying to get votes. Is that so wrong? Massa use to give his young subordinate roomates enamas to cleanse their bowels, that seems much crazier than just going without a towel.
I needed an enema. I almost died when our lousy healthcare system botched my rectal surgery. And I got to see the good doctors. The smart ones. Kill healthcare reform! Go Massa! Tickle me!
It will be interesting to see what type of health insuance coverage Harry Reid’s wife will enjoy after her horrendous car accident versus what would have been covered if they had the public option or whatever the Congress proposes as coverage for the uninsured under the current Bill. Would Mrs Reid be able to get the same treatmnet and specialist that she is getting tonight? Lets use this tragedy to further politicize healthcare.
Fox News said the settlement disaster was just one of a “trail of stinging snubs, cringe-worthy blunders and one-word headlines in Israel newspapers: ‘Embarrassment.’”
Were they on the same trip I was? I was talking tough to Netanyahu and the Israelis but hid behind the pomp and circumstance and smiled at photo ops. I was a Tiger. No Dr Jill I don’t mean I visited 6 or 7 mistresses. God knows I have far fewer than that in Israel. One to be exact. Another one in Jordan and one in Lebanon but they don’t count right? I was focused and aggressive and spoke from the heart. Photo op smiles concealed the burning rage. My once good friends are putting the screws to me and our country to save face in their own country. I told them off. I told them good!
Nice to be back on American soil. We are only on an Orange Alert here. Everyday in Israel is Code Red. This nutjob in Iran needs to be neutered. His sabber rattling has created incredible tension in the region. Israel wants to launch F-16 strikes on all known missile and nuc development sites. I’m not sure how long we can hold them off. They would prefer that we do it. We are out of Iran’s missile range.
I’ll be out celebrating St Patty’s Day tomorrow night after my Saturday routine at St Patricks Parish in Wilmington. Green beer. Corned beef and cabbage. Green tie. Green sweater. Oh yeah I’m Irish. I’m bummed that they canceled the parade. As long as they don’t cancel the drinking!
Ahhh I long for the Summer and those special nights at the Parrott. Jack Russell will be joining me at the Parrott this Summer. He’s joined my campaign. He’s sponsoring a bike ride from Rehoboth to Cape May using the ferry. Or is that fairy?
Biden/Biden in 2012! Hillary is starting to look better and better.