The recent listing of the Atlantic salmon as endangered, over the objections of the governor, the paper corporations, the blueberry industry and aquaculture interests, is a good example of where persistence paid off. It was written over 25 years ago, and yet the message still rings loud and clear. We are up against a paper corporation octopus whose tentacles surround the Maine Forest Service, the state Legislature, the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, and even some environmental groups like Maine Audubon. Following the paper corporations' money trail can lead to some rather anti-democratic observations. If we want democracy, the real issue is not subverting the referendum process to make it harder for citizens to participate, but the elimination of the open checkbook from large corporate entities and the like.
Free speech is essential in an open society.
Unfortunately, speech is not free. It costs a lot of money. And yet, we have the governor and the paper corporations colluding once again to try to alter the citizen initiative process. No matter what the issue, the citizens need to have the right to redress their grievances through an open public debate and vote. The referendum process is the cornerstone of participatory democracy.