Everyone seems angry, everyone is suspicious of his neighbor and even of some family members. Government could stop it all if it backed off, but Obama&Co keep moving the goalposts farther left, creating new crises, and fanning flames.

No good can come from this.

Liam on February 23, 2013 at 1:36 PM

I am seeing evidence of this type of angry hopelessness here in ND as well.
It’s permeating every part of society that I’m a part of where I live. IT’s in everyone’s mind & on their lips.
Everyone is getting disgusted with all forms of government.
And they get angrier everyday.

The only source for the figure is a page on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website dating from 2008. No details are provided except that $96.8 billion is attributed to lost productivity and $96 billion is attributed to medical costs.

This is how the nanny-statists justify taking away freedom to engage in unhealthy or risky behaviors – on the grounds that the medical costs of these behaviors result in higher insurance premiums and higher taxes for others.

But it’s not necessarily true.

Those who live healthier lives live longer. But they still eventually get sick and die.

Coming soon: The Government Swear Jar.

Axeman on February 23, 2013 at 1:14 PM

Here’s $50 – that should cover me til dinner….

dentarthurdent on February 23, 2013 at 2:43 PM

Anybody know the cost for a season pass or lifetime membership? Asking (or is it axing?) for a friend.

but this rose to 72 percent when told the money would be used for “obesity prevention.”

I suppose the question was phrased “would you support this tax if I told you it meant you wouldn’t have to look at fat people.”

I just wish they didn’t cut it off while the guy was making a very good point.

And, some pruning. (As in cutting off some of the dead limbs; you can tell by their deep blue coloration.)

GWB on February 23, 2013 at 3:05 PM

Yes – must trim those off before they infect the rest of the tree enough to kill it.

Singing to the firearm I’m cradling…..

GWB on February 23, 2013 at 3:01 PM

My son borrowed most of mine to go target shooting with some friends up in the mountains this weekend. Only 2 left (for now) that I can cradle and sing to….

The Liberty tree needs watered again, unfortunately.

Badger40 on February 23, 2013 at 1:24 PM

And, some pruning. (As in cutting off some of the dead limbs; you can tell by their deep blue coloration.)

Obama is conditioning everyone to think that owning guns is a “sin”.

redguy on February 23, 2013 at 11:40 AM

Singing to the firearm I’m cradling…..

Coming soon: The Government Swear Jar.

Axeman on February 23, 2013 at 1:14 PM

Here’s $50 – that should cover me til dinner….

Link not working

pilamaye on February 23, 2013 at 12:28 PM

It’s a classic quote (blunder) by Gov Rick Perry during last years primary.

Government could stop it all if it backed off, but Obama&Co keep moving the goalposts farther left, creating new crises, and fanning flames.

No good can come from this.

Liam on February 23, 2013 at 1:36 PM

Yes. It never stops and it’s getting worse. Nothing is getting better.

…unstinking believable!

KOOLAID2 on February 23, 2013 at 1:13 PM

NY wanted its money, and come hell or high water it intended to get it.

Coming soon: The Government Swear Jar.

Axeman on February 23, 2013 at 1:14 PM

If that ever happened, I’d be broke in four hours. LOL

Where are the men & women of our time who would do this?
It needs to happen again.
The Liberty tree needs watered again, unfortunately.

Badger40 on February 23, 2013 at 1:24 PM

I have a sad feeling it’s coming, it seems almost inevitable at this point. Everyone seems angry, everyone is suspicious of his neighbor and even of some family members. Government could stop it all if it backed off, but Obama&Co keep moving the goalposts farther left, creating new crises, and fanning flames.

No good can come from this.

And to think we once started a war over a penny tax on tea.

Liam on February 23, 2013 at 12:46 PM

Where are the men & women of our time who would do this?
It needs to happen again.
The Liberty tree needs watered again, unfortunately.

GarandFan on February 23, 2013 at 1:02 PM

Part of the number is real…when my 115 year old great grandmother died in a freak motorcycle accident and they found out she smoked once, her medical care costs were attributed to smoking (credits to Larry the Cable guy). As for the lost productivity part, I guess those scarves she used to knit and give as Christmas presents had some value. I think the CDC says they were worth about the same as a military hammer ($1,000′s).

On the other hand… Bacon burgers at mid-night last night. Not my usual but YES!

It’s never going to stop, and I expect Albany and eventually even the Feds to find new ‘sins’ where they can lay a levy. For our own good, of course.

Liam on February 23, 2013 at 12:46 PM

Coming soon: The Government Swear Jar.

At the Seneca Reservation near Buffalo, the stores didn’t charge NY cigarette taxes because the state had no authority; the Senecas are an independent nation by treaty. But NY fought tooth and nail to make them collect the taxes, and won in state courts. They also stationed troopers to stop cars leaving reservation stores to search them to confiscate cigarettes if the person didn’t pay the tax on the spot…

Liam on February 23, 2013 at 12:46 PM

…unstinking believable!

government’s sin tax revenue—leapt from $14 billion in 2008 to over $20billion

…where else are we going to get the money to pay off the ‘bundlers” from the green energy companies like Solydra, Fisker Automotive, et al ?