Last spring, Mobil often filled that space with the reasons that they didn't think the EPA should strengthen our nation's clean air standards. This fall, Mobil usually used the space to suggest that the US should not work towards an effective international treaty that would curb global warming. As a polluter, Mobil spends money to prevent stronger standards from going into effect and forcing them to clean up their act. I've seen them trying to buy public opinion each Thursday for several years now. I'd be interested to see what the price tag on those quarter page ads it.
Money is power.
Money isn't the only kind of power, though, and it isn't the only way to get your message out to the millions of citizens reading the paper each morning. Take a look across the fold to the Editorial and Letters to the Editor Page. Only the first page attracts more readers. It's great to see letters from citizens and activists across the country, in all of the smaller papers that Mobil looked over too. Write a letter to the Editor of your local paper.