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Indybay Feature

Stop Prop E, SF's Soda Tax Slush Fund

by Obese SF Voter
The soda tax slush fund is now on San Francisco’s November 2014 ballot as Proposition E. This regressive tax on a wide variety of beverages raising their cost by 2 cents per ounce or 40 cents per bottle or 3 dollars per 12 pack is a tax on the distributor of beverages which will definitely be passed on to the consumer, most of whom are the workingclass who the Board of Supervisors, all Democrats, is claiming to help, they are promoting this tax on the workingclass by scapegoating obese people and in a City which is doing everything it can to chase the workingclass out of San Francisco by making it as unaffordable as possible to live here.
The soda tax slush fund is now on San Francisco’s November 2014 ballot as Proposition E. This regressive tax on a wide variety of beverages raising their cost by 2 cents per ounce or 40 cents per bottle or 3 dollars per 12 pack is a tax on the distributor of beverages which will definitely be passed on to the consumer, most of whom are the workingclass who the Board of Supervisors, all Democrats, is claiming to help, they are promoting this tax on the workingclass by scapegoating obese people and in a City which is doing everything it can to chase the workingclass out of San Francisco by making it as unaffordable as possible to live here.

The tax is on juice drinks, ice teas, powdered drinks, sports drinks, and HUNDREDS of other beverages.

Scapegoating anyone is despicable and historically, life-threatening, and issuing a blanket edict that people are obese and have diabetes because they drink soda pop is a lie being used by the San Francisco Democratic Party to promote a slush fund.

The obesity issue is far broader than the soda pop, American culture problem. For the 50% of American voters who are over age 50, and in addition are obese, do count our calories, never drink soda pop, never drank soda pop as a child, and do not have diabetes, obesity is a problem of age, as the older we are, the more likely we are heavier than we were when we were under age 40. IT IS THE OLD WHO ARE THE MOST LIKELY VOTERS and we bitterly resent scapegoating our weight for anything at all, much less a slush fund.

We have just witnessed the results of scapegoating in Palestine, the 21st Century Indian-killing of Palestinians paid for with our tax dollars by the settler colony, Israel, just as the same Democrat-Republican Parties supported Indian killing in the settler colony called the United States, both for the same purpose: To steal the land and resources to make the rich richer. We did not hear one word from the 100% Democratic Party Board of Supervisors condemning the Massacre of Gaza with our tax dollars, although they love to proclaim concern about all kinds of causes in the name of being “liberal” which is to say, opportunist, to win votes. We had 6,000 people march on our main parade street, Market Street, from the Embarcadero to the Civic Center, for the Palestinian liberation struggle on July 20, 2014, taking over all of Market Street for a sit-down reading of the names and ages of the dead Palestinians, all murdered by US-funded weapons, and the Democratic President and the entire US Congress gave Israel more weapons to keep doing more of the same. Thus, we expect the Green Party, which supports the Palestinian liberation struggle, to oppose this regressive sales tax on the workingclass. Peace & Freedom Party, the other Pro-Palestinian Party on the California ballot, always opposes sales taxes.

Children are only 13% of the 856,000 residents of San Francisco, and most children are not obese in San Francisco as the American culture is a minority here; the plurality is Chinese immigrant culture and low calorie food with tea. The children who have a weight problem can be given an exercise and nutrition program by their physical education teacher, which they should be doing for everyone as the primary purpose of physical education is to teach healthy living.

The money for our schools must come from the California general fund, the progressive income tax, which taxes the rich. California now has a budget surplus which can be used to pay for our schools as well. San Francisco has 52,989 public school students, less than 10% of San Francisco residents and the majority of the public school children are not obese. This has nothing to do with obesity and everything to do with scapegoating obese people for a slush fund.

If the viciously reactionary Democratic Party machine of San Francisco gets away with promoting this slush fund, they could easily start taxing hamburgers, cheese, bacon, potato chips, popcorn, French fries, salad dressings and pastries, all of which can cause obesity if eaten in excess, and are all far more fattening than soda pop.

You may say that all this is much ado about nothing since it will take 66% of the voters to approve this regressive sales tax. However, New York reactionary former mayor Bloomberg’s foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, may support San Francisco’s soda tax slush fund campaign. As mayor, Bloomberg had a plan to ban the sale of large sodas but a state judge tossed it. IN ADDITION, San Franciscans tend to vote for or against propositions with a vote greater than 66%.

No on E to stop the scapegoating of the obese.
No on E to support every worker’s demand to tax the rich for Everything we need
No on E to End the slush fund regressive soda pop sales tax on the workingclass.
No on E for Everyone to stop the lies of the Board of Supervisors who put Prop E on the ballot.
Saying what it means to me,
NO ON E!
by American Beverage Association
As discussed here, the proposal to tax soft drinks in San Francisco is absolutely “regressive,” and would do nothing to help health or reduce complex health conditions like diabetes and obesity. That’s because neither of these public health challenges boil down to a single source of calories. Rather, inactivity, overall diet, genetic history, and more play a role.



How can politicians help? By focusing on more important matters, such as the economy, jobs and public safety – and leaving the grocery shopping to consumers. At the end of the day, it’s education that can change health behaviors, not regulation.
-American Beverage Association
by Michael Laflamme, RDH, BA
Is this just a self congratulatory fun-fest amongst like minded folks with no real facts? Comparing Prop E to the Palestinians? Seriously? Your argument has seriously derailed and become an incoherent rant.

Soda DOES directly contribute to obesity and type II diabetes. THAT...is a fact. It also contributes to serious tooth decay. Long before this over-sweetened beverage hits your stomach to be digested (and where a majority of all the excess sugar will be stored as fat), it does significant damage in the mouth by fueling the oral bacteria to rapidly produce acids that permanently destroy enamel. Soda=Cavities. Period.

Those facts aside, we have then have the beverage industry adding their two cents with a follow up post. Folks, their only goal is their bottom line, not the health of the society to which they sell their swill. They are going to say whatever they can to stop this prop. No science, no proof, just "hot air". Just keep the sales coming, is all they care about.

It's time soda is taxed like tobacco, and the funds used to stop it's consumption. Education is the key. Exercise is the key. Proper nutrition is the key. Don't believe the nonsense in this article, and the follow up from the "beverage industry".

Vote yes on Prop E and let's help stop the runaway train that is childhood obesity and Type II diabetes.
by Not a SF Voter
I have been listening to the adds to fight this bill and none of them bring up one fact. If you are a low income family on food stamp and EBT you will not get taxed. They are aloud to buy junk food as well as Soda's of any kind on FS/EBT. I wish someone would point that out more. At this point from the east bay this does not effect me yet but I don't want it coming here.
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