Philadelphia Freedom Takes a Hit at the Soda Counter

The we-know-best, busy-body, do-gooders never rest.  And so enamored are they with their own perceived intellectual superiority, they never seem to anticipate the unintended consequences of their actions when applied in the real world.

Welcome to Philadelphia soda tax.

Health-nanny politicians there decided that sodas were bad for people and slapped a 1.5-cent-per ounce tax on the popular drinks last January.  The money, of course, was to be earmarked for education.

Nothing sells a tax hike like helping “the children,” right?

But according to an editorial in the Wall Street Journal this past weekend, things haven’t quite worked out as anticipated.

Soda sales in the city have cratered, with many consumers simply making their purchases outside the city limits to avoid the tax.  As such, and not unsurprisingly, tax collections are some $7 million below projections and city grocery stores and soft-drink companies have laid off workers.

Ronald Reagan was right: “The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

Plea to Philly Politicos: PLEASE STOP HELPING!