In their attempts to silence the political voice of working people, conservative groups and millionaire donors have been disingenuous and anti-democratic. But you can't say they haven't been persistent.
Proposition 32 -- a so-called "paycheck protection" measure that will appear on California's ballot in November -- is hardly a novel innovation. Rather, it is this year's tired reincarnation of similar ballot initiatives rejected by voters in 1998 and again in 2005.
The current measure is framed as something that would restrict political contributions by both unions and corporations. Yet, as Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik recently noted, it has loopholes for corporations that you could drive a campaign bus through. The proposition, Hiltzik wrote, "exempts such common business structures as LLCs, partnerships and real estate trusts. If you're a venture investor, land developer or law firm, Proposition 32 doesn't lay a finger on you."
Likewise, San Francisco State University labor and employment studies professor John Logan explained in The Hill: "Under Prop 32, neither the spending by business interests nor wealthy individuals would face meaningful limitations--indeed, it would likely explode--while that of unions would be all-but eliminated." Certainly, the measure would do nothing to restrict the flood of secretive cash into politics from super PACs such as American Crossroads--run by none other than George W. Bush's political Machiavelli, Karl Rove.
Given that Prop 32 is backed by right-wingers such as former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, it's little surprise to learn that the measure is a straightforward anti-union initiative dressed in sheep's clothing. Its boosters neglect to mention several critical facts about labor's participation in elections. Unions only support candidates and get behind ballot measures after an endorsement process that involves debate among democratically elected officers of their organizations and often large numbers of members. The California Teachers Association, for example, uses a panel of some 800 members to vote on what causes it will support. Thus, their endorsement process is far more democratic than that of corporations, which do not make a habit of gaining approval from shareholders before pouring money into political ads and super PACs.
Moreover, union members pooling money to make their voices heard represents an action totally different than bulk donations by the wealthy. California's top 50 big-money donors, individuals who spent well over $200 million between 2001 and 2011 to blare their messages into the ears of the state's residents, have little trouble gathering the type of sizeable donations that ensure clout. Working people, on the other hand, have no choice but to band together. When a union buys a $500 ticket to a dinner in support of a candidate, that ticket was bought with the five- and ten-dollar contributions of scores of union members. When a wealthy donor shows up, his or her ticket represents the interests of just one human being.
This pattern is reflected in the spending on the campaigns around Proposition 32 itself. The top funders in favor of the initiative are individual investors and venture capitalists donating $100,000 or more each. The campaign against the measure, in contrast, is backed by organizations representing tens of thousands of firefighters, teachers, janitors, and healthcare workers.
Public interest watchdogs such as Common Cause and Public Citizen have seen through the charade that presents Prop 32 as a fair-and-balanced initiative. They are urging voters to defeat the measure. "Prop 32 is not what it seems, and it will hurt everyday Californians," said Trudy Schafer of the League of Women Voters of California in a post for the Los Angeles Times.
The saddest thing about the conservative push for Prop 32 is that it seeks to curtail broad-based participation in politics at a time when cynicism and apathy are already on the rise.
Americans are turning away from involvement in our democracy because they feel that the system is rigged in favor of wealthy individuals who can afford to buy influence with lavish contributions.
Disillusioned citizens are right that the cards are stacked against them. But rather than fixing this, Proposition 32 would make it worse by closing off an important avenue to collective political participation.
Here's hoping voters will respond by rejecting this conservative ploy for a third time.
Follow Amy B. Dean on Twitter: www.twitter.com/amybdean
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| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
If businesses stand to benefit so much how come they are not even backing the proposition?
Unions are raising 35M+ to try and scare/fool voters into voting against something that would dramatically increase the power of their votes (presuming you arent a union member). To fight this some private citizens have cobbled together about 3M. Unions will try and convince you that billionaires and corporations will take over the state... but they are really only scared of losing their stranglehold on the entire CA economy. See for yourself who backs the bill and who is against it.
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_32,_the_%22Paycheck_Protection%22_Initiative_(2012)
See the big corporations making this happen? Nope. Just some patriots tryign to improve a system that is incredibly broken.
These types of corruptive acts & deception in government deter our voters from participating politics at all; I share those sentiments with others because there is a blatant lack of trust & human regard when it comes to policy-making. The fact that DONORS are making monetary contributions & giving out lavish gifts to OUR politicians suggests that their motives are self-influenced. They don't care about people that WORK hard to keep CALIFORNIA afloat; you know the everyday people like US.
RAISING TAXES on a suffering economy would not be an option if they cared.
Prop 30 doesn’t stand to benefit California. It is nothing more than what it has always been, a $47 BILLION DOLLAR TAX HIKE with the real motives behind it being oblivious. Politicians will squander this money to fund SPECIAL projects, none of which include the dire needs of OUR STATE!
Proof http://bit.ly/Psi3Xv
For one we are tired of shams like Prop 30 as it stands is $47 Billion dollar tax increase which translated to general fund tax. From there politicians will decide what to do with the money and Voters will not be included in that decision. Prop 32 however, will do the opposite by giving voters their voices back; and kicking special interests out of CA Politics.
It is time we wrestle Sacramento away from the grip of special interests, and wield the influence ourselves, acting in the best INTERESTS OF VOTERS NOT DONORS. Proposition 32 will allow us to do just that. By eliminating the ability of special interests to make donations for political purposes, politicians will no longer have a reason to cater to them. Proposition 32 returns the power to the people, and restores the spirit of democracy in California.