Update - The Philly Soda Tax Scam…5 Years Later

Philadelphia slapped a tax on soda and promised to spend the money on education. 5 years later, here’s what happened.
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Want a soda?
You’ll pay more for it in Philadelphia, because a few years ago Philly politicians voted to tax artificially sweetened beverages.
They said it would discourage people from drinking unhealthy soda.
Soda sales did drop. Liquor sales rose!
The politicians promised the tax would fund early childhood education.
In my new video, I explain what Philly politicians really did with the money.

[@onceagain77]

The arrogance of these politicians is astounding.

[@IdgaradLyracant]

The stupidity of the population that keeps voting for them is the only thing more amazing.

[@Gfysimpletons]

They’re counting on the laziness of the people!

[@tog4867]

What gets me is people still vote these type of people in office...

[@donovanwilliams5424]

Because nobody is tarring and feathering them. I am getting pretty nostalgic right now.

[@ascerta]

Why can they escape the consequences of their action ? Almost every job in every company you have somebody supervising you, your work and your results. The more important and qualified the job is, the harder could be the consequences. How come these people, everywhere in all countries, get different treatment ? Since when is this the norm ?

[@jimwall2291]

I'd like to see a regulation that limits a politician's income to the median income of their constituents.

[@ColinTherac117]

I second this motion, especially for federal level politicians. I would further add that congress should mostly work remotely from an office in their state's capitol with all calls recorded. Centralizing lobbyists and making situations with backroom deals is a hallmark of DC and why DC is the most expensive city in the nation.

[@canisblack]

You might get it for a couple of years then it's quietly repealed as a rider on a bill when nobody's looking.

[@jamessmith785]

Their greed would push them to impose a minimum pay rate at a much inflated rate than it should be so that they will make more and the local business will not be able to afford to hire anyone unless they jack their prices way up in order to recoup the additional payroll expense. That scenario would close a lot of businesses or make everything expensive as hell.

[@totallyfrozen]

I’d be willing to send in 100 mail-in ballots for that one. LOL! Give them a taste of their own medicine.

[@TheHumbleCarpenter]

I love this idea!!!

[@SnoopEastwood]

I'm with the pizza shop owner. Less government involvement the better these scum politicians just pocket huge amounts of that tax.

[@lastswordfighter]

That and end the corn subsidies.

[@lordgarion514]

You should look up what food companies used to do before government got involved. Trust me, you want government all over businesses. And even now businesses get caught doing seriously sketchy things all the time. Such as, they didn't ban pfoa, used in manufacturing Teflon, because it's bad for your health (it is, but not enough is left to hurt you if you ate the entire coating at once) They banned it in 2015 because the companies making Teflon got caught dumping tens of thousands of gallons of it into the environment..... every year. That's the kind of difference as between using 3 drops of bleach to kill germs in a gallon of water before you drink it, and drinking the gallon of bleach directly.

[@ElValuador]

If he votes democrat his opinion is irrelevant

[@cliffmorgan31]

Politicians love their backhand kickbacks from fat contracts…

[@Ghoxtfire]

@@lastswordfighter that will skyrocket the price of soda lol ironic

[@gold_real_money]

I don't blame opportunistic politicians for doing this, I blame ignorance and gullible voters who vote those opportunistic politicians and never learn about it

[@mikesixx7655]

Exactly, I have no sympathy for these clueless idiots who have been voting democrat for seventy straight years

[@SteveSabbai]

I don't blame the Shepard, I blame the sheep.

[@prodyung829]

Bro Blame both. Alot of these polications exploit people and systems. Don't bootlick.

[@thystaff742]

This is why in the old days only land owners could vote.

[@mikesixx7655]

@@thystaff742 and that system never should have changed. I pay a shitload in taxes and employ dozens of people. Why should a drug addicted leech who contributes nothing have an equal say to me? It literally doesn't make any sense whatsoever

[@okeesmokee6658]

The cockiness of the city council member was beyond belief. The notion that you can just keep taxing, as opposed to reduce spending, is what is killing our country.

[@natehill8069]

The United States died when they allowed tax to be collected from paychecks automatically. This eliminated the worker writing a check every quarter and going "Wtf am I paying THIS MUCH for?" Now, if you ask someone how much tax they paid last year you will get an answer of the format "Oh, I got $900 back". They wont remember what they actually PAID.

[@renhoek1967]

I believe it 100%. Anyone who does not hasn't looked into it.

[@renhoek1967]

I believe it 100%. Anyone who does not hasn't looked into it.

[@arnold8746]

​​@@natehill8069 And people think they are getting paid from the government. They dont see it for what it is the government stealing and interest free loan, then repaying that loan when they are good and ready. Imagine gping to thwcbank and telling them you need an interest free loan and if they fill out a bunxh of paperwork and hage in turned it by a certain date requesting their money back, and if that paperwork has no mistakes, then you will repay them withing a few months, maybe more, just k8nda depends if you feel like it or not and if your finances allow for it. That is what the government does every year and people love it.

[@scurvofpcp]

It is not even good spending. I mean for fucks sake if they were legit spending that to productively address social issues it would be one thing. Like say maybe a literacy program that put books and educators on the floor with illiterate adults. Philly as a 50-75% illiteracy rate among adults. Hell get some of those white collar criminals and give them a fucking book and 3 people to do group reading with and set them down wherethefuckever.

[@ronhamm]

Why am I NOT surprised they LIED about how the tax revenues would be used?!

[@davidanalyst671]

because they never tell the truth about tax revenues

[@alexcameron2880]

If I did this same thing, it would be called "fraud" and I'd be jailed.

[@briannieuwenhuis9844]

I miss the good old days when there was still such a thing as misappropriation of funds!

[@PreferredCustomer]

The media is also to blame. They focus on the initial story propaganda but never follow up to check like Stossel here how effective it actually was.

[@weekendwarrior3420]

@@PreferredCustomer Media is an integral part of this scheme.

[@johnchambers8528]

I live in a suburb of Philadelphia and when the soda tax took effect I noticed a lot of people buying cases of soda at my supermarkets. In many cases they were Philadelphia citizens and came out to save on the soda tax. But the city also lost all the other revenue that they spent on food as well that they spent at my suburban store. Thanks for your higher taxes you helped add employees to,my local store and suburban community.

[@d.r.benson5498]

It makes me sick that these politicians make that much money to do absolutely nothing for the citizens

[@TheHumbleCarpenter]

I love how every time Stossel points out the negative consequences of these absurd “policies” aka - taxes - this bureaucrat laughs like it’s all some big joke. He laughs because it has absolutely no impact on him and his family, which is another hallmark of Liberalism. Liberals couldn’t care less about the consequences of their absurd policies because they themselves never have to suffer the consequences. It’s always someone else who suffers, and almost ALWAYS the poor.

[@jeremykraenzlein5975]

This is one of Thomas Sowell's often-repeated principles: the worst person to make any decision is the person who suffers no consequence for being wrong.

[@JRotten]

And yet, the people keep putting the same stoges in office.

[@TheHumbleCarpenter]

@@jeremykraenzlein5975 100% agree! Sowell and Victor Davis Hanson are always talking about how these people are NEVER subject to the consequences of their own policies.

[@MH3GL]

Don't confuse "liberals" with "progressives." Not the same thing. Words matter. It behooves us to use them properly and appropriately 👌

[@evage99]

@@MH3GL I've quit calling leftists "liberals", and appreciate when I'm called "conservative" instead of Republican. Those often aren't the same thing either.

[@garyleahy4537]

Being a politician is the only occupation where the "employee" makes more money than the "employer".

[@furtim1]

Except small businesses. Several of the ones I did payroll for paid the owners less than many of their full time employees; profits were reinvested into the business to hire more people, advertise, buy equipment, and so forth. If only they had been governments. They could have just stolen more money.

[@thanosianthemadtitanic]

think some devs make more than there managers but i get your point

[@DecrepitBiden]

@@furtim1 You DON'T need to steal more money, just PRINT more money. They even said it themselves. Soon we're gonna be like Venezuela, where the money is worthless.

[@safffff1000]

I have them all ever my yard, poli meaning many and tics

[@firebush1343]

And thats just salary. Add in the special interest and you get to be a billionaire on 100k/year somehow

[@boataxe4605]

They tried the same thing in Chicago around the same time and the same thing happened. I and many others were already crossing the county line to save a lot on gas and cigarettes,so we just started to do our grocery shopping there as well. They rescinded the soda tax several months later.

[@elultimo102]

You have to buy grocery bags in Chicago or bring your own---just like Commie-fornia.

[@boataxe4605]

@@elultimo102 Yep! 8 cents a bag.

[@keithmanka6565]

This is what happened in Kansas City and Missouri several years ago with the Casino fight to legalize. Everyone was promised that the majority of the incoming funds would go to schools. That was a half truth. Yes the funds went to schools, but at the same time decrease the amount that was normally given to them, meaning that nothing changed. Something that voters have never forgotten to this day.

[@JohnS-il1dr]

That happened with the Calif state lottery. They promised a percentage of lottery sales and winnings go to schools, but the administrators lowered the funding for schools the same amount it was recieving from the lottery. It was an indirect tax without having to legislate.

[@frotobaggins7169]

When they brought gambling to Pa, they said that the revenue would eliminate property taxs. So People voted for it. In the end, it was mostly used for welfare. People saw a reduction in property tax of about $200 on average. Their school taxes went up the same year by $200. They got gaming and the people got screwed. Government got richer on every side.

[@user-mq4vo3mk1s]

Why should the taxpayer foot the bill for other people who choose to be irresponsible with their sexual behavior?

[@laggismaximus]

Since poor people were supposed to benefit from the soda tax then why shouldn't they fund it as well?

[@davidhakadoober._1-]

​@@laggismaximusbecause it was supposed to specifically fund early childhood education which shouldn't include birth control or anything related to sex unless it's to teach them the danger of trafficking or abuse like creeps in dresses reading to them.

[@johnmicheal3547]

Robbery is wrong no matter how or who get robe or whatever excuses used.

[@dr.floridaman4805]

so i have seven kids while on welfare now you pay for it@@davidhakadoober._1-

[@garycarpenter2932]

@@davidhakadoober._1- well yeah, but democrats vote to have s@x with 5y/o children.

[@maryloumawson6006]

As a refugee from Philly, I can tell you this soda tax has impacted much more than soda sales within the city. The tax applied to most bottled beverages, even those without sugar. I myself began doing my shopping outside the city, and only going to the local market for incidentals. Many formerly busy supermarkets closed entirely. After the BLM riots impacted my neighborhood, I decided Philly was no longer safe as most of my neighbors did. I moved to a suburb with a strong police presence, and a Republican local government. The cities are captured, no one holds their politicians accountable.

[@smelltheglove2038]

I live down in the stadium district. I do all my shopping in NJ. The tax includes tea, Gatorade, orange juice. Everything. The corner stores go to NJ to stock their stores. It’s a joke.

[@smelltheglove2038]

And these murals everywhere just get spray painted over within a day.

[@davidanalyst671]

good for you. Now move to somewhere that isn't depressing like anywhere but the suburbs of PHilly

[@drjdvm]

But do us all a favor and don't vote Democrat in your new home. Otherwise you are just dragging the failed policies you left in Philly to destroy your new home.

[@maryloumawson6006]

@@drjdvm I have never voted Democrat in my life and won't. Democrats are killing this country. Not all Republicans are good, but virtually all are better than Democrats, simply because they almost have to be, because the media is eager to report on Republicans and ignores Democrat corruption.

[@KenGud]

"They can't make more money because you're taxing them to death." I love John.

[@MichalisG1821]

As someone who grew up in Philly and had friends whose parents were in city and state politics, I can say with certainty that almost none of this money is going toward education. The City Government of Philadelphia is one of the most corrupt in the country. Millions have disappeared into City Hall and other institutions never to be seen again and never to offer any return. None of what I’ve heard in this video surprises me at all.

[@uweschroeder]

Of course not. Politicians want uneducated gullible voters, not someone with an education and critical thinking skills. They'd never be elected.

[@AdamSternberg]

"We need another tax" is code words for "We're too incompetent to know how to manage your money". They pulled this same crap here in Las Vegas. They told everyone that taxes from the marijuana dispensaries would go to fund education. Instead it just goes into the Rainy Day budget.

[@PrezVeto]

That's probably for the better since the teacher unions would just sponge it. At least in the "rainy day" fund, it could be used for something beneficial and reduce pressure to raise taxes.

[@BA-jc7nq]

nah, it's code speak for we want to control your life even more, and elevate ourselves by stepping up on your necks

[@tandr3w]

They did the same thing in Colorado.

[@phredphlintstone6455]

@@Pierre-gu5vx pass

[@howardmcginniss6663]

The people of Philadelphia continue to vote Democrat and then they complain. I personally live in Philadelphia and have only voted for one Democrat his name was Frank Rizzo. All to have to do is look around . 27 of 30 of the poorest cities in America are run by Democrats. You get what you deserve!!

[@michaelmilitello5644]

The smile on politicians face is evil.

[@vipermustang42]

That, or he legitimately doesn't get it. I, however, think it leans more to evil/doesn't care.

[@timgraziani]

The irony is, those drinks that were $.99 then, are nearly $3 everywhere now thanks to government actions over those same 5 years.

[@C_HILL_OUT]

The most feared words to hear “I’m with the government and I’m here to help”

[@ILovePancakes24]

A lot of lotteries claim they help education but a lot of the money goes general fund

[@TheWaywardCat90]

As always, government doesn't have a money problem, it has a spending problem.

[@Ghoxtfire]

people seems happy no one is moving

[@khrisstake2210]

But we want our free stuff

[@majermike]

i continue to be blown away by how good stossel's videos are, he only gets better with age

[@spankynater4242]

Not this one. It's just an old video rereleased with a new title. You might call that a scam.

[@corymatthews6778]

Why does these people keep voting the same way and getting the same results and complain. Vote them out!

[@JohnS-il1dr]

Because its all rigged

[@yt.damian]

Governments rarely have income problems. They almost always have spending problems.

[@Redmenace96]

When will the voters learn? I blame them. The money never goes where it is intended. A few years pass, and nobody even asks questions, anymore. Thanks Mr. Stossel for following up 5 years later.

[@jacquelineking5783]

Look at Social Security as an example.

[@breadfan9]

Dont use the word "politician" Use the word "democrat". It's much more accurate.

[@WhiteLivesMatterPL]

People that vote for liars, traitors and thieves are not their victims. They are their accomplices.

[@mushyroom9569]

You say that like it matters who they vote for.

[@robvegart]

Absolute best comment on here.

[@DJ_Force]

Every tax is "for the children". US children should be the most pampered in the world for all the taxes collected in their name.

[@TheBenjammin]

That scumbag politician has no business being in charge of anything.

[@thisisscorpio6024]

One more thing. It's not preschool. It's subsidized daycare. Preschool education is like parsley on the educational plate.

[@Maidthatkoolaid]

Going to work for $ to pay childcarers to raise your child hmmm

[@nefariouspersephone9447]

"daycare", oh hes lets trust highschool and college brainwashed kids to watch your children. thatll turn out great

[@TheRealBrook1968]

Nice analogy.

[@ColinTherac117]

My sister was a stay-at-home mom for the first year and a half after my niece was born. She started getting severe mental problems from the isolation with her husband being gone at work most of the day and limited community interaction even with her church events. And she became listless with the lack of things to do besides, in her words, "just making sure my niece was still breathing", since modern conveniences make chores take minutes a day instead of a full-time job that it used to be in our great grandparent's day. My sister kept feeling like she was failing her daughter as my sister was not self-motivated enough to do all of the active teaching and playing the way I or our mom did when we came over to babysit. That being because my sister was stuck in the same house 24/7, while we were only there for a few hours at most and could go home to recharge. Even worse since she is not a gamer or anything that would keep an introvert like me happy. So now she goes to work and barely makes more than the daycare, but it is worth it as when she is home, she is fully motivated to be a better mom as she has discipline, focus, motivation, and a set schedule from working. The downside has been that daycare, even with all the best hygiene practices available, are still cesspools of communicable diseases as multiple children in the same spot with multiple kids per adult means that the kids can be gross and get germs everywhere. My niece has been sick for a large portion of this summer. @@Maidthatkoolaid

[@Fahrenheit4051]

Interesting perspective. Historically, women would do at-home crafts like pottery and weaving with other women. Kids need socialization, but I'm skeptical of outsourcing parenting and socialization to institutions. Entering the formal labor force and being a housewife all day aren't the only options.

[@Stevarooni]

"We'll fund X with this new tax!" What happens: Legislators reduce General funding of X by the amount of the tax.

[@jeremykraenzlein5975]

That's exactly what happens in most states that have lotteries to fund schools. Technically, they keep their promise that all lottery monies go to the schools. However, they simultaneously take other revenues from the schools to fund whatever they want, so the actual increase in school budgets is little to none. And then they have the inherent conflict of interest of schools, which are responsible to teach mathematics, being financially dependent on people who don't understand mathematical probabilities enough to see why playing the lottery is such a terrible idea.

[@LizRealGirlBeauty]

It's very easy with a general fund. It all ends up in the same pool.

[@mfrank86]

Wait to see what the department of education does with funds

[@MaxDangerPower]

Stossel, just run for president already, man! America needs you!

[@ashash4tube]

We need to get rid of the income tax there's no reason that my dollars should be taxed twice

[@brentevje5939]

When you buy a gallon of gas remember the government makes more money on that gallon than the place selling it and they did nothing

[@DavidinSLO]

True. But how would you propose paying for infrastructure and roads?

[@ARockRaider]

​@@DavidinSLO that's not the point, people get mad at the oil companies for high fuel costs when it's the government actually taking the biggest single cut for doing nothing. roads can be payed for from the general fund as they are one of the few legitimate tasks for the government, or if you really have to tax mileage driven mabey augmented on vehicle weight. IFTIA already balances diesel taxes payed by trucks based on miles driven in each state. i still stand by the idea that the benifit of having roads is such that targrted taxes are unnecessary, states should be paying for the interstate and other main routes while towns should pay for local roads, then mabey they might change zoning to reduce the nead for the heavy roads that cars use because bikes and walking are just as fast.

[@scrappy4508]

The smile on this guys face when he says we have a liquor tax too! So proud of his work; shameful

[@america1st277]

Evil politicians everywhere

[@herbertfawcett7213]

Whenever politicians want to add or increase a tax, they say it is for education. But no one seems to learn from it!

[@HamguyBacon]

he said it would help 2700 kids, what kind of bs is that? that's not worth it. like 2 and a half schools.

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

One of the big tricks they play is to actually route the money towards education. However, what they don't tell you, is the pot of money that used to be used for education is then funneled elsewhere. Magicians have been using this slight of hand trick for years.

[@tohopes]

ba dum ts.

[@anderander5662]

Nancy Pelosi..... It's for the "children"

[@thatoneofakindasshole8964]

ha ha ( ;

[@ilikethiskindatube]

They raise taxes to fund their pet projects and funnel money to their cronies.

[@fraydnot]

The old saying " the more you make, the more they take". Thanks for your time!

[@ohno837]

Keep it up stossel…keep doing great reporting like this and you will always be relevant. Don’t skimp on quality or investigation or stop taking chances on tough subjects. Keep it up!!! Excellent!

[@pixo6016]

"Like we need that." That should go on a t-shirt

[@ghost307]

Whenever politicians get more money they never use it to pay their bills, they start another program and when the money for the new program dries up they double down rather than cancelling the new program.

[@sprgeorge333]

How is there not a constitutional amendment pegging politicians pay to median household income is insane.

[@OnlyCowardFascistSilenceSpeech]

Because they don't work for us they work for themselves. They won't give themselves a pay cut.

[@boataxe4605]

“Pegging” is what a lot of these politicians need!😂

[@mmallow6481]

AND the people in Philadelphia will keep voting these people in office!

[@susansmith493]

Yup. They've been voting for democrats for nearly a CENTURY.

[@irelandishsac13]

The day people stop listening to politicians is the day this country will prosper.

[@RunnerPack]

I know what you mean, but we clearly need *more* people to listen to the nonsense they spout, and subsequently vote out these Marxist lunatics!

[@MrCarlosj0]

It used to be the state reps listened to our grievances and brought them to the attention of Congress. Nowadays, it's Congress crying their grievances at the people demanding we should do better. Fuck the politicians.

[@alwaysfreedom9354]

No. Listen. But know they are lying. Like FDR and Hitler. Both racist Jew-haters. We have a racist president now. He said allowing blacks in white schools would turn them into racial jungles.

[@josephbrown9685]

Not gonna happen in large enough numbers. Too many sheeple.

[@alwaysfreedom9354]

@@josephbrown9685 What? Fighting back? 120 million gun owners. Many are vets.

[@joeamen1]

"Stop stealing! That would be nice!" -Every Philadelphian

[@BruceAUlrich]

"It's not unusual for those in office to make more..." Yeah, that's the point. It's a problem everywhere.

[@joemarwil]

Councilman: "Well, I don't know about that." Exactly.

[@PrimetimeBJJ]

You know a tax is garbage when Mr. 50% income tax bernie himself is against a tax

[@PreferredCustomer]

It's a tax specifically designed to exploit the poor, which is what Bernie pounced on. In this case, the progressive was right only because the corporatist Democrat showed his true colors.

[@robertsanders339]

When will people stop believing what or anything a politician says Learn that they lie

[@trueliberty6033]

They won't!! Philadelphia could repeal this tax anytime through ELECTIONS.

[@NobleOmnicide]

That's the problem. It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. To convince them they've been fooled is to convince them they're wrong and people hate being told they're wrong.

[@johnmeckel2319]

The Poor People of Philly are continually Promised Something For Their Votes every Election Cycle, But Absolutely Nothing Ever Materializes! Yet They Fall For it Year in and Year Out, and They NEVER Learn!

[@alwaysfreedom9354]

FDR said we have nothing to fear but fear itself. Then he starved Americans to death and punished farmers for not plowing crops under as children were eating out of garbage cans in the big cities. And he did zero about his KKK. FDR put known KKKers on the Supreme Court.

[@Frostgnaw]

I had a stroke reading this.

[@wandameadows5736]

Politician's make a living off YOUR MONEY & the POWER you give them.

[@riothead1240]

Philly is a dumpster fire anyway.

[@michaela6902]

And this surprises anyone. It's philly. Corrupt

[@SuperChicken666]

When the politician says, "I don't know about that," he's saying, "I reject your reality and substitute my own."😊❤❤

[@howardmcginniss6663]

You mean Democrats?

[@bartsanders1553]

​@@Pierre-gu5vxThis is antisemitic hate speech. I'm persuing legal action.

[@thisisgettingold]

RIP mythbusters

[@frotobaggins7169]

He's saying that he knows but doesn't care.

[@jscan4442]

He's not rejecting "your reality"... he's just rejecting reality period.

[@bobbyadkins6983]

Want to raise money? Cut the politician's pay!

[@Kashaww]

Absolutely disgusting.

[@sailor_gaia]

"Who should pay $3 for a drink that they used to get for 0.99?" Fast forward to today and thanks to politicians, their mismanegment of our resources and their greed, inflation has us *all* paying over $3 for fountain sodas, tea and coffee at any restaurant in America! We all know we very rarely if ever see prices come down after they're raised.

[@PreferredCustomer]

We may as well just build it-- ignoring their process--and let the government waste the same money on legal costs trying to tear it down for not following their laws. At least then, we'd actually have the stuff.

[@charlesnewborn3760]

Pretty stupid on these small local businesses. A 20oz soda goes from $.99 to $1.29. I don't know why they would make it $3. its literally 1.5 cents per oz.

[@stoneman623]

But in Philly it’s 4 dollars we still got the soda tax lol

[@dracos24]

Stupid ? If a tax raises the price of something by 5%, the business can raise the price by 100% and blame it on the government while raking in the profits.

[@stoneman623]

@@dracos24 it wasn’t 5%. It is 1.5 cents per ounce. So a 20oz 99 cent Arizona ice tea,for example, is .30 cents more so the people would be paying 50% more for something they can leave the city and buy for a dollar. It’s a 30% tax. And it’s on everything but water. It was supposed to be on sugar sweetened drinks but even diet and no sugar added drinks are taxed. Plus why should people pay even more taxes? The city lied making it about the children when it goes into the cities general fund cause of a bad policy years ago. I live here it’s a bad tax that targeted minorities and the poor. The nicer areas of the city are closer to the border and they drive so they avoid the tax by leaving the city. Same with alcohol and cigarette taxes. Most don’t buy any of those things in the city. And to make it worse we already pay on of the highest wage taxes just for living in the city. They literally tax everything and the city is ran terribly. Just talk to ones that live here

[@TheVagolfer]

A private corporation could have done it for 1/3 the cost, but politicians can't get their sticky fingers on that money.

[@src4409]

It hurts the poor and middle class... just like everything else.

[@murrismiller2312]

put political officials in prison for lying

[@crashnbl1]

It always makes me laugh when I hear these people wildly cheer that they voted for the government to take more from them!

[@TanukiDigital]

It's sickening.

[@devilsatan2973]

Yep. That shows just how STUPID a LOT of the electorate is! Very sad.

[@robvegart]

It's what happens when we give up on Nurturing value virtue and principals to give way to "Education". You can't teach commonsense which is a nurtured and instilled value.

[@CartoonLab]

You make money- Get TAXED You buy stuff- Get TAXED You own property or some type of vehicle- Get TAXED You run a business- Get TAXED You get hurt or sick- Get TAXED More than half my paycheck goes to BS these career politicians make up, so they can line their pockets. Meanwhile, the rest of us are barely struggling with chump change.

[@jarryc]

we ain’t nothing but slaves.

[@missmoneypenny3303]

They did this in Seattle quite a while ago...monsters!

[@officeradams30]

Should abolish all taxes. Taxation is theft!

[@Sicari42]

Stossel is one of the most undervalued members of our society. Keep healthy, brother.

[@Sicari42]

You know what? I'm convinced. Sign me up.

[@shragamildiner8472]

The lack of self-awareness is stunning. "We feel it's for a good cause" "Oh I don't think that's out of the ordinary for an elected official"

[@analyticalmind4493]

The dude is a typical rich liberal politician. They have no concept of what it means to have average of less means. They also don't live in the areas that are directly impacted so they never come face to face with their choices. Start electing normal people if you want a truly representative government.

[@rrmackay]

I would bet if that elected official had his finances audited that he is living far beyond a 120k per year lifestyle.

[@nothingnew765]

​@@rrmackayAbsolutely, I'm really not too upset by the 121k salary.

[@c.daubz.5386]

🐂💩‼️ these politicians should be jailed‼️

[@davidanalyst671]

I feel like someone said this a long time ago "The problem isn't that the people arent taxed enough.... the problem is that the government spends too much!!!"

[@sexistspaghettios]

"Remeber! We're raising enough money to put 2700 kids in pre K and open 11 community schools." *under his breath* (so we can teach more kids to vote for us to take more of their money) and call anyone who doesn't agree with us "bigots, racist, facists, etc" Edit: "Well, idk about that! WE GOT A LIQUOR TAX TOO! HAHAHAHAHAHA" The pure elation he experienced bragging about theft!

[@h.mandelene3279]

They also always tell voters 'pay $100 in new taxes and you will get $200 in benefits" really, politicians give back $10 if anything. But hey, guys can get a pap smear, so we got THAT going for us.....

[@PreferredCustomer]

If we cut this jerk's salary by $50k, we'd get that much in benefits, too. Politicians never seem to like that idea.

[@sexistspaghettios]

@@h.mandelene3279 PROGRESS! 🥳

[@fighterpilot5105]

Remember when they sued the tobacco companies saying the money would go towards quitting smoking programs? That was a lie also. Seems to be a trend with politicians...

[@williamreading3292]

They’re lining their pockets Yeah, if that happened in Nevada, we just banned the soda out of the state

[@ghost307]

They did this in Crook County, Illinois. I bought my soda in a market just over the county line. I didn't see any point in making 2 trips to buy groceries, so I ended up doing all my shopping out of the county. When they finally dropped the tax, my habit of going elsewhere for groceries was already established.

[@johnmeckel2319]

Many People Do, yet they continually Vote for the Same Democrat Politicians That Basically Forced them to Change their Daily lives just to Survive.

[@jimgrady7458]

Politicians need to start living in fear of the people they (purport to) represent

[@pearce123456789]

Maybe people should vote better.

[@stoneman623]

It’s Philly all you have to be is democrat

[@philliposborne5403]

Maybe the people should give them a reason to be fearful.

[@cheesemaker10238]

T&F.

[@thystaff742]

And they need to live on a fixed income no more than what the average person makes.

[@gregorygrant8856]

Hi. Colorado here, we were the 1st to legalize Marijuana with a 19% tax. The money was to better our roads and money to schools. Years later our roads still suck and our schools operate on a 4 day week.

[@ianmcgeehan4627]

"Politicians take the money mostly from poor people, then they spend it on their pet projects and other ways to buy the votes of those poor people to get them to keep voting them into office" there I fixed your last statement for you John

[@patrickbateman1660]

40% of the money went to kids getting an education. Hardly a pet project

[@devilsatan2973]

@@patrickbateman1660 What about the rest though? I'm betting right into someones pocket!

[@maytons]

After nearly 3 decades, I'm ready to leave Pennsylvania, and it's not just the Democratic politicians that make this place horrible. In fact it was the last Republican Governor that imposed the third highest gas tax upon us, and the billions collected were supposed to be spent on the 5000+ deficient bridges and crumbling roads. As you can guess, it didn't go there. The state also holds a tax surplus which is never returned to the tax victims, and the wage floor is lower than every state that it borders.

[@gextreme2381]

Just get the courage to go do it. I left after 20 years and couldn't be happier. I wish I would have done it 20 years ago. No go make a plan and do it.

[@PreferredCustomer]

Yup. Don't talk and just do it. You'll be surprised how easy it actually was, and how much better you feel afterward!

[@wvmountaineer69]

They would tax us to breath air if they could!

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

They lied, what a shock.

[@gextreme2381]

How do you know when a politician is lying? They open their mouth.

[@coreydeluna5258]

and laugh about it

[@thatoneofakindasshole8964]

nice o(￣▽￣)ｄ

[@Sb129]

they live

[@amazincrackmonkey7176]

I remember philly saying they used it to pay pensions, everyone knew it wasn't going to schools.

[@nadineb2726]

He doesn't seem to know anything about anything..... " I don't know about that"..... Just WOW.

[@coreyjohnson8749]

I wish the citizens realize they vote for this!

[@keithweiss7899]

My state got gambling approved with the promise that it would go to schools. But after it was passed with that promise, the politicians voted to put the money into the general fund. That way they could get their dirty, thieving hands on it. Almost none goes into education now!

[@TheBlackJester]

Worst thing, not only is it crooked, is it's bahavioral control.

[@chriswu8514]

Politicians along with fortune tellers run the oldest grift in our history

[@tehpurplepills]

End all taxes.

[@kevinward7498]

There is one tax I would like to see, a politician tax. Basically if you're a politician you pay five times the income tax rate of the people you serve and no loopholes apply to you.

[@denisegaylord382]

I like it, but then it will deter many. It will reinforce the notion and ability that only the elites can afford to be in office to pay for the taxes (minor to them) and run a campaign. We need fewer elites in office, not more. Term limits would be a great start. For all positions and posts across America. From city, state, to federal levels. In addition, we implement the same on all government jobs. We need to remove the deep seated bureaucrats. They don't need to be in the same office for 20+ years. Our country is big and diverse enough, that every one should take a turn at being in the public eye.

[@PreferredCustomer]

Just pay them half the median salary for the area In this case, only $15,000 for Philadelphia. Even if we only get the same wealthy, bloated plutocrats in office, at least we can save a few bucks.

[@kevinward7498]

@@Pierre-gu5vx I am not religious, I did not come to believe in my God through religion, but through having many experiences with God. The one true God was with me when I was born, revealing himself to me in all sorts of ways, such as showing me future events, protecting me in all sorts of unbelievable ways,...I knew God before I was born into this world. To give an example of my faith, when I was six years old I saw a big snake swimming across a lake and wanted to touch it. For some reason God told me to run and jump in the lake and go out to the snake and touch it. Without hesitation I did. I had no idea how deep the water was, I couldn't swim, but I kept running and jumped out far as I could into the water, to my surprise I was able to walk out very far. The snake turned and came to me and I put my hand on it's back as it swam by. Not long after that God told me of a copperhead snake that was about to try to bite my throat. I was running down a very steep hill, he told me to hold my arms out and back, stick my chest out, and hold my head back. Sure enough a big copperhead snake was right in front of me and I saw it's open mouth coming up toward my face. I bounced it's head off my chest and kept running. I'm almost 60 now and God has never failed to protect me from serious harm. He told me when I was 2 years old that I was protected for these end times. Yeshua/Jesus put something in my head for these end times when I was in my twenties. Anyway, I reject all religions and agree with Jiddu Krishnamurti when he said all religions stand in the way of truth. I don't have a religion, I have a relationship with the one true God.

[@ralphholiman7401]

I remember when they sold casinos in my state by saying the taxes on them would go to the schools. And, people fell for it.

[@theelmobad1]

Tax is to put more money in their pockets.... screw the government...

[@Rich32262]

The great thing about bureaucrats is there's always a new generation of the uninformed that think all of these goodies they promise are helpful, only to grow up hearing what we've all heard all of our lives, empty promises. Who can do better with "your" money, you or a bureaucrat/politician?

[@Calico5string1962]

Once again, those that were "elected" to "serve" the people (that elected them), end up enriching themselves at the expense of those they govern. "We're from the government, and we're here to help". Yeah... right.

[@tedbaxter5234]

The country needs re-founding to the original ideals. It’s sad and unsustainable, what’s happened.

[@WolfStory]

Whats happened? Umm its called the Democrat party and liberal policies.

[@lloydritchey]

@@WolfStory Don't let the greasy snakes in the GOP across this country off the hook. 9 times out of 10, they don't do jack shit about anything. The GOP *enjoys* its role as the Washington Generals to the Democrat Globetrotters.

[@GregZentTrumpetMan]

But who would teach the children how to break dance?

[@bryanutility9609]

only allowing white men of good character to vote would fix all this indeed.

[@DerpyRedneck]

@@WolfStory They ain't liberals, call them what they are, corporate socialists

[@MWB18]

Pennsylvania doesn't claim Philadelphia.

[@Ocyla]

They tried this in Illinois and it failed MISERABLY.

[@jamessmith785]

With government, it's always a problem of spending, but the politicians will always try and spin that and say it's a fundraising problem to justify additional taxes. This is not at all the tax system that our founding fathers had in mind. They left England due to stupid taxes like this very same one. Tea Tax anyone????

[@kewrock]

In the beginning, NY Lottery revenue went to the school system. About 20 years ago, it started getting dumped into the general fund. NY spends more on Lottery than any other city or state. Yet we still have some of the worst schools in the developed world.

[@ebradley2357]

Politicians abusing taxes, who would have thought!

[@christ9460]

I feel sick of these people who steal via taxes

[@susansmith493]

Blame the people who vote for democrats.

[@darintemplet7508]

We need a constitutional amendment banning excise taxes and placing a cap on all taxes.

[@trueliberty6033]

Problem is we already have a constitutional amendment against excise tax and so forth... Actually it's not an amendment It's the Constitution itself and it mandates ELECTIONS.

[@generalawareness101]

Most states have that on sales tax, but my state 15-20 years ago tried every year for almost a decade to remove the max of 9.75 to end up with citizens revolting and throwing rocks through the capital building for it to finally stop. Now they tax everything else. I bet if that had passed we would have a 15-20% sales tax in this state, and look out the Feds want a European like GST National sales tax of only 10-15%.

[@strategygaming5830]

Doesn't sound like a good plan. There will be a larger push in the coming decades to remove the majority of taxes such as income tax as the average person will be slowly explained to like a toddler that they stealing the money and literally wasting it. Once those taxes are removed there must actually be some kinds of taxes for local areas to operate and it'll be decided then.

[@canisblack]

Excise taxes and Tariffs were the one thing the federal government was given the constitutional ability to do. It's income and property taxes that need to go the way of the dodo.

[@Pellbort]

We need a constitutional amendment empowering Brock Lesnar to hand out F5s and german suplexes as needed throughout state and local government

[@uncaboat2399]

I remember when California started their Lotto, and it was sold on the idea that the money would support our schools. Turns out, the money does go to the schools, about 3% of their budget. But the legislature said, "Hey, you're getting all this Lotto money" and promptly lowered what they get from property tax by 3%. Bottom line, the Lotto doesn't really help schools at all. *SURPRISE SURPRISE!* I bet you didn't see that one coming.

[@alexs5744]

Lotteries and gambling are taxes that poor people and morons pay for, which is why I don’t gamble.

[@willardjohnson3832]

Right on!

[@frotobaggins7169]

When they brought gambling to Pa, they said that the revenue would eliminate property taxs. So People voted for it. In the end, it was mostly used for welfare. People saw a reduction in property tax of about $200 on average. Their school taxes went up the same year by $200. They got gaming and the people got screwed. Government got richer on every side.

[@uncaboat2399]

@@frotobaggins7169 These days I'm amazed people still believe anything the government tells us. I'm at the point where if a Government Weatherman tells me it's bright and sunny outside, I bring an umbrella, just in case.

[@kharnthebetrayer1575]

Same in Va.