No one likes a smart
aleck — or a stupid one, for that matter.
A really stupid one is
called ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, which masquerades as an
"educational" group that simply assists state officials with policy
research. In fact, it's a corporate-financed, far-right front group that writes
and aggressively pushes anti-worker, anti-consumer, anti-environmental,
anti-immigrant, and other extremist "anti-people" legislative
proposals.
ALEC's operatives take these cookie-cutter bills from state capitol to state capitol, getting Republican governors and key legislators to introduce them. Then the organization helps organize astroturf campaigns to ram such ugliness into law.
Gov. Scott Walker's
repressive agenda in Wisconsin Arizona 's war on
Latinos, as is Florida
That was wrong. In
fact, it was stupidly arrogant. Not only have people rebelled, they've also
organized and mobilized. Groups like the Center for Media and Democracy, Color
of Change, Common Cause, Occupy Wall Street, and People For the American Way
have rallied grassroots people to hit ALEC where it really hurts: its
pocketbook.
Suddenly key corporate sponsors of this extremist organization were
hearing from outraged citizens (and customers) — and now company after company
is withdrawing its sponsorship.
Among those recently
declaring that ALEC just "doesn't fit our business needs" are
Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, Mars, McDonalds, PepsiCo, and Wendy's.
To connect with these
various efforts, go to www.AlecExposed.org
Jim Hightower is a radio commentator, writer, and
public speaker. He's also editor of the populist newsletter,The Hightower Lowdown.
Distributed via OtherWords (OtherWords.org)
Distributed via OtherWords (OtherWords.org)
