As I read the LA Times today, I was disappointed to see their endorsement of "No" on California's
Proposition 89, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act. What bothered me further is that the majority of
their argument is supportive of the initiative. They acknowledge that such reform allows candidates to spend more time with voters discussing issues. They note that legislators become free to say "no" to any interests who use campaign funding as leverage for special treatment. And they realize that special interests are now also turning to ballot measures to get their way with Sacramento.
Indeed, the main thrust of their argument seems to be one of fairness to corporations. And it struck me that this is another example of the boiling frog parable. In their view, corporations are akin to citizens. Prop 89 is "insulting" to corporations. We have to be just as "fair" to them as to people.
Since when has it become acceptable for corporations to be on equal footing with human beings? Corporations serve a useful purpose in the business world, but it's always dicey when their interests intersect with those of people. In fact, with awareness of American fascism increasing, we should be more concerned than ever about their close ties with government. True, corporations shouldn't be treated as all-evil and taxed to the hilt for everything. But Prop 89 doesn't do that. Its
modest increase of 0.2% still keeps the tax lower than it was from 1980 to 1996. And most small businesses won't pay any increase at all.
The Times' premise seems to be if you don't like something in a proposition, you should vote "No". But voting "No" is not sticking with the status quo. To do that, just don't vote on it. When you vote "No", you are explicitly choosing a system that gives big business a louder voice than individual citizens. One in which corporate interests are favored over the public good. And one in which our elected officials are obligated to spend time raising money instead of serving the public.
I've now heard the argument so many times that I'm tired of it: "Proposition 89 is great, but it's flawed". This is a cop-out. Reforming our electoral process doesn't occur all at once by flipping a switch. It happens in steps. But it can't even begin if we miss the big picture, the promise of real election reform, by focusing on nits that people will never agree on. That's just a distraction.
We've become like those boiling frogs that don't know what's going on around us because the influence of corporations in government has increased so gradually it's become accepted. Fortunately, the November ballot forces our awareness. We can choose to stay in that pot by voting "no", or choose to change our situation with a "Yes" on 89.