The Editor's Back Fence

We're not taking a position at the moment on Berkeley Measure D, a proposed tax on soda pop and some other sugary drinks, but it seems odd to us that some Yes on D sponsors (the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, no less) are throwing a party in a beer garden to support their cause. The stated goals of the ballot measure, it's said, are to combat obesity and diabetes--maybe we've missed something, but doesn't beer contribute to both of these as least as much as soda pop? Moderation, moderation, sure, sure, but really....could it be that the real purpose of the tax is to raise money to pay public employees, like, say, teachers? Check out this link: http://www.sodaseries.org/beer_garden_gathering