On the other hand, it means we have to listen to dumb shit like this:
Health advocates and retailers squared off Tuesday on a plan to fight soaring obesity rates by taxing Chicago consumers of soda pop, energy drinks and other sugary beverages anywhere from 15 to 30 cents a container to a penny an ounce.
The City Council’s Health Committee held a marathon hearing on a proposal by its chairman, Ald. George Cardenas (12th), to follow the lead of 33 states that already impose a sales tax on sugary beverages. Six other states slap on excise taxes in addition to a sales tax.
For retailers, fighting the proposal comes down to money. They’re still hurting from the city’s imposition of a Cardenas-championed tax on bottled water.
And has there been an impact study done on the decline in sales of bottled water since Daley (and Cardenas) started taxing it? We're pretty sure we saw one. We also saw the full skids of water being moved at Sam's Club, WalMart, Costco and other "big box" stores just outside of city limits.