Anti Corporate Initiative Back

I must not have been paying close enough attention. I didn't know the first attempt at limiting corporate influence had gone astray. Apparently the first attempt to get a local initiative passed to stop allowing non- local corporations from contributing to political campaigns was dumped and rewritten. They have a new web site up now and looks like they'll start signature gathering soon.

I've said before I'm sympathetic to the idea of this initiative. Most everyone likes the idea of local control, assuming you're in the majority. I'll likely vote against it, though. The two examples they give as to why this law is necessary are the Wal Mart campaign to open a store in Eureka and the Gallegos recall funded largely by Maxxam. Both those campaigns failed, despite the large advantage they had monetarily from non- local corporations. Promoters of the initiative point out that locals still had to raise money to fight those campaigns, but they'd have to raise money to run this or any other campaign whether they supported it or opposed it. That's politics.

We need to keep in mind that many locals supported these corporate sponsored campaigns. They may have lost but it must have been nice to have outside help for their effort, at least for their side. Non- local donations to campaigns can be good or bad depending on what side you're on.

I'm sure a lot of people around here think these sort of intitiatives are necessary. Wonder how this one will fare should it make it to the ballot?

Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.- William Pitt