Living With the Nuts in the California Legislature
California showing another wave of braindead legislation has passed Senate Bill 1520, called The California Soda Tax, in the Senate today. This brainchild was the work of California Senator Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) who thinks another tax on all ready over-taxed Californian's will solve the problem of childhood obesity. Ortiz's Bill will tax every soda 2 cents per 12 oz. container. (This is an addition to the California Recycling Value Tax and Sales Tax we pay all ready.) This would include sweetened iced tea and cranberry beverages.
The only exemptions would be for DIET Soda and those containing 50% or more in fruit juice.
[Excuse me? Does anyone up in Sacramento know how dangerous DIET drinks are? 'Especially to kids?]
According to the LA Times:
"The excise tax, which would be imposed on beverage distributors but would probably be passed on to consumers, would raise about $340 million a year, according to projections. Some of the revenue would be devoted to programs aimed at preventing childhood obesity, educating kids about their teeth and paying dental bills. But most of the money would be used to help get schools out of the business of selling soda and junk food, which they now depend on to fund activities."
SENATOR DEBBIE:
LEAVE MY DAMN COKE, PEPSI and ICED TEA ALONE!
When in the hell did it become acceptable for schools to have soda pop machine in school in the first place? Thirty years ago, we were unable to have a pop machine in school because of the federal milk program prohibited soda sales during school hours. Why did that change?
Furthermore why is the responsibility of the SCHOOLS and the GOVERNMENT to teach our children good dietary and hygiene habits, and provide medical/dental care? Isn't it the School's responsibility to EDUCATE the children of this State first? And when did it not become the responsibility of the parents of these children to feed and provide care for them? There are all ready enough programs in California to provide needy families with care for those unable to pay.
Senator, you have your priorities screwed up! It's the State's responsibility to provide a good education in the basics of a literate society. The State is doing a very poor job educating the children of this State. The level of education attained by today's California high school graduate is obscene. Most teens have problems writing a basic one page business letter or filling out a resume clearly. Nine out of 10 can not make change without a computerized cash register.
It is not the responsibility of the State to take over the position of the parent, nor to circumvent their authority to educate their offspring with proper life skills and a sound fundamental background of ethics, honor and respect for themselves and others. This includes learning from their parents good healthcare habits about diet and weight. None of this is the governments business.
As a taxpayer who has just given the State and Federal government well over 30% of my income in taxes-- find something productive to do and stop over taxing Californians, Or more of us are going to leave.
Sign the Petition to Repeal The Soda Tax here.
And now the LA County Board of Supervisiors is going to pay a lobbyist to support the Tax Bill.
While I was trying to catch-up on my rest, 