Letters to the editor

Monterey County Herald
Posted on May 15, 2007

Read the fine print

The initiative process in California was enacted in 1911 because of the influence of corporations and special interests on politics. But now the special
interests have taken it over. Rather than providing a vehicle for citizens to enact laws, the initiative process has become an alternative method for special
interests to advance their causes.

Initiatives are now written by lawyers, qualified for the ballot by professional signature gatherers, and promoted by slick sound-bite marketing campaigns. They don't go through a public process like regular legislation, and voters should be extremely wary of them.

Since the 1970s, the number of initiatives on ballots has tripled. If you don't understand all the implications of an initiative, you should just say no.
They are likely to only advance the interests of the group promoting it and will probably have unintended or unadvertised consequences.

Read the entire initiative, and any other laws it refers to. Get accurate and impartial information about the impact, if you can. If you are still confused or don't understand, just say no. If you don't like the job your legislators are doing, vote them out.

Robert A. Roach
Salinas