http://wcbstv.com/…

NEWARK, N.J. (CBS) - The sputtering economy has caused an increase in prices of many staples including gasoline, rice, ice cream, even beer. Now some lawmakers in New Jersey are considering taking food taxes a step further and install a proverbial “sin” tax on fast food.

Yes, the idea of marking up your favorite fast food burger or pack of fries is actually being tossed around, and it’s not settling well with many residents.

“They’re taxing everything. Now you’re gonna tax fast food? That’s crazy,” said Newark resident Miriam Robertson.

Added Livingston resident Tina Abrahamian: “No one wants to be taxed. I mean, it’s a necessity to eat and people need to eat and with everything skyrocketing, that’s the last thing we want to tax.”

The thought of taxing a Big Mac or a Wendy’s burger came up at a New Jersey Hospital Association meeting where Gov. Jon S. Corzine was asked if it could be an option to help fund struggling hospitals. At the meeting, he reportedly called it a “constructive suggestion.”

A spokesperson for the governor, however, told CBS 2 on Wednesday:

“The governor is open to reasonable solutions to help solve our financing problems, but there are no plans for any fast food tax.”

State Sen. Richard Codey has been quoted as saying a tax on fast food “is a tax on the poor.” And plenty of residents agree.

“[It cost] $12.86 for [fries] and this little chicken wrap, and they want to tax that? You’re serious?” asked Newark resident Saladine Fuller. “If they raise it, I’ll stop buying it.”

Still, some say taxing fast food isn’t such a bad idea.

“I think this country has gone too much in the direction of fast and unhealthy food, and if people are taxed they may terminate that and turn toward more healthy foods,” said West Orange resident Maureen Felix.

For now, the fast food tax is just an idea. Detroit lawmakers once toyed with it, but it never passed into law.

Mental note… Maureen Felix of West Orange is an authoritarian.

This is so very retarded. Fast food is not cheap. It’s just easy. But so is the Qwiki Mart and Starbucks and DD. Will they tax that too? How about a progressive tax on the density of energy. That way we all are incentivized to eat cardboard and celery. They are simply looking for money and since fast food has been demonized its an easy target. If they need money why not they use some of it from their monopoly gambling ring or layoff some of those make work bureaucrats they have? Why not just stop fucking around and let the market decide where the money should flow? If a hospital is failing it should be left to fail. It’s a failed program and needs to be replaced.

http://campaignsandelections.com/…

Governor Jon S. Corzine today introduced the first piece of a comprehensive three part strategy to enhance public safety and combat violent street crime in the Garden State. The strategy addresses issues of enforcement, prevention and re-entry with an emphasis on reducing gang violence, violent crime and recidivism.

The strategy itself follows several fundamental principles. First, every component will use data and analysis to both identify problems and eliminate them. Second, the state will serve in a support role to help identify problems and assist communities in applying appropriate solutions. Third, involved parties must communicate fully with one another in the development, delivery and assessment of strategies and programs. Finally, all programs will be critically evaluated through data driven analysis and adjusted appropriately to ensure maximum effectiveness. The enforcement aspect of the plan, introduced today, will target and prosecute those who engage in gang violence and carry illegal weapons.

What an amazing strategy. Or not. Funny… it doesn’t attempt to address the cause… just a symptom. Why are their gangs? What brings the members together? Could it be prohibition of drugs? I’d bet it was. Would relegalizing those drugs cut off funding for the gangs? I bet it would. Could they be a ethnic gang going around mafia style screwing with people? Sure. I’ve not run across any evidence of that though. I’d think that would be something easy to deal with. I doubt they are talking about the Russian mafia here.

Regardless, I’m not seeing the logic behind this. “The use of guns can be decreased if shootings are investigated vigorously and quickly.” How is that? Stating that doesn’t make it true. The guns are illegally obtained. They aren’t marked. If the gang bangers thought they could be traced they’d just buy cheaper guns and leave them at the scene. The market will adapt to risk. Increasing cop presence will probably just push the crime elsewhere. If the demand still exists and the risk can be adverted their will be supply. The market adapts.