— by David Turnoy —
It looks like we’ve made it onto the state ballot. I am referring to I-735, the proposed initiative that would overturn the Supreme Court case of Citizens United so that corporations are no longer “people” and money is no longer “speech”.
The minimum number of signatures required was 246,372, and as of Dec. 16, we have 271,816 signatures statewide. There is always the chance that the Secretary of State will decide that some of the petitions are not valid, so the goal is still to get as many signatures as possible by the end of the month, which is the legal time limit to qualify for the ballot. So if you still have any petitions with signatures, please fold them up, put on a stamp, and mail to the address that shows once you have done the folding. Or give me a call at 376-4165 or email at davidgeri@centurylink.net. You can also contact me to sign.
Thanks are in order to many Orcas folks. This summer at the farmers market we had good help from Sharon Abreu, Cathy Ellis, Brian Wiese, Barry Neville, Ben Pfeiffer, Sheila Gaquin, and Howard Barbour. Helping me at the ferry this Fall have been Cathy Ellis, Geri Turnoy, and Fred Klein. Thanks to the Co-op for letting us ask for signatures there. Also gathering signatures on their own have been Laurie Liebman, Barb Mehlman, Andrea Hendrick, Mike Greenberg, Jean Lee, and a number of others whose names are not appearing in my mind right now. If I have forgotten you, please forgive me but accept my thanks.
Please look for this initiative on next November’s ballot. Sixteen states have already passed language to limit political contributions, and we hope to make Washington state the seventeenth in our quest to effect a constitutional amendment, requiring 38 states. It’s a long process, but if we want to reclaim our democracy for the people, we have do it.
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Thank YOU David! Great work! We have to Speak Truth To Power (Brokers).
Spirit Eagle
Would that we were an electorate intelligent enough to recognize substance, rather than glitz and slogans. Wouldn’t it be loverly if all this campaign finance sideshow became irrelevant, because our country were smart enough to see the electoral process for the circus it has become, Would that our votes were based directly on context and actual fact, rather than blindly following well-paid spinmeisters and cheerleaders. We have what it takes to do sooo much better. I hope we can change, someday. Sigh!
Thank you David for helping to make this happen! Carl, when people start to shut their televisions off, they Will wake up.
Spirit Eagle
It feels great to have played even a small part in this. Thank you David for your determined and positive leadership on this. Hedrick Smith too!. There is no more important “pre-partisan’ issue we all face in the US. None of us can effectively get representation so long as this SCOTUS ruling stands, no matter what our political or partisan views. Time to take America back to “we the People”!
Each of us gets one vote to be cast next November. That vote is precious, and with millions of like votes can change the course of history. It is not adequate to overturn an incredulous ruling by the SCOTUS that corporations are people nor that money is speech. Corporations don’t vote! They influence voters, with money converted to “speech”.
The important issue is that each citizen with his or her precious vote in hand, MUST be sufficiently informed of the issues and the positions of the candidates to cast that vote carefully and intelligently. Read about the issues. As tedious as it is to listen to the debates, DO IT! Listen for the substance. Ignore the static and the carnival barking.
Your vote is your precious right to participate in your government, at all levels. Cast it wisely !!!