Lessons from the No on Prop 37 Vote.
by Sean Croxton
We gave it a shot.
For over a year, hundreds — if not thousands — of brave, passionate organizers and volunteers stepped into the ring with Goliath.
They gathered the requisite signatures, secured a spot on the ballot, and spread the word to any voter who would listen.
Then last night, with our collective fingers and toes crossed, we waited, hoping that a majority of Californians valued their right to know.
They didn’t.
Apparently 55% of my State’s populace doesn’t mind being part of our nationwide food experiment.
The people have spoken. And this time they chose to consume genetically-modified foods.
Congratulations, Goliath.
I can’t say that I was surprised by the result. Certainly disappointed, but not surprised.
The day I saw my first No on Prop 37 television commercial, I knew we were in trouble. The commercial claimed that a Yes vote would increase food prices, that the argument against GM foods was unscientific, that just about every newspaper in the State had endorsed a No vote.
Not once did I a see a pro-37 commercial to counter the above claims. Then again, I don’t watch a whole lot of TV.
Commercials cost money, and Goliath has deep pockets.