The Supreme Court was supposed to be the last fail-safe protector of the citizenry. This is the Judicial Branch that was to be the last check upon the Legislative and Executive branches of the government to prevent over – reaching by those who would use their positions in these branches to put forward personal agendas which have nothing to do with safe guarding the people. It seems that this branch itself has also been invaded by corporate agendas.

The last protector of the citizenry voted to allow the new gangsters, which are what the modern corporations have become, to be treated as a regular voting citizen. Through pseudo-grass-roots, otherwise known as Astroturf organizations, they are allowed to contribute as much money as they like to a candidate who favors them or run advertisements that support their bottom lines in the names of “The American People”. They call themselves names like, “Citizens for this blah, blah” and “American institute for that blah, blah, blah”. Their latest tactic comes straight from the Republican playbook. Define an issue and punctuate it with that dreaded 3 letter word “tax”. Here is a video from the manufacturers of soda and high sugar content, “juice” drinks that attempts to scare us about the governments over reach in to our lives and of course punctuates the whole thing with the word, tax.

The organization that sponsors this spot is called, Americans Against Food Taxes or the AAFT. They are a front group of the American Beverage Association, makers of Pepsi, Coke and the usual suspects responsible for making this country obese by pushing their product at every turn, on every occasion and under any circumstance. There is nothing wrong with an occasional soda but, the target audience for their attack are low income and largely minority audiences. This audience coincidentally are the ones with the highest rates of obesity, diabetes and other ailments with a direct correlation to the amount of soda and sugary drinks they and their families consume.



Notice the spokeswoman appears to be a Latina. I am stunned that there wasn’t a heavy set black woman there but I guess that is so, 20th century. The well-written argument she puts forth is pretty compelling by intent. However,if someone really must have a soda, they will buy it over water under any scenario tax or no tax. The fact is that if these items are more expensive then one would lower their consumption of these items. The ABA can’t have that!! It effects the bottom line.

It is not difficult to see through these propaganda campaigns to keep the hard working populace asleep and under thumb if you know who is doing the talking. I submit to you that all one needs to do is be aware when watching TV. When you see a commercial that supposedly speaks for “your best interest”, question it. Like the Americans Against Food Taxes for, example just appeared out of no where, got tens of thousands of members to contribute to put out this commercial to defend the beverage industry from a proposed tax increase on their product.

You have the formula laid out for you. Arm yourselves with wide open eyes and your inquisitive mind. Ask yourself, “Who stands to benefit from this message?” Is the word tax included in the message? Are the words, “American for”, Americans against”, or citizens or anything patriotic sounding in the name of the organizations who have sponsored the commercial? Then odds are, they are a front group for a corporation or group of corporations who do not care about you!

To find out more about corporate front groups, start with this wiki, at Sourcewatch

Originally posted 2011-02-20 14:04:07.

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