IDIOT OR GENIUS?Only 42 percent of American adults can name the three branches of U.S. government, but 73 percent can name the Three Stooges, according to a recent poll. Sixty percent can name Krypton as Superman’s home planet, but only 37 percent know what planet is closest to the sun. “I don’t think it’s saying we’re a nation of idiots,” says Robert Thompson, director of the Center for Television and Popular Culture at New York’s Syracuse University. “We’re a nation of pop-culture geniuses.” (Denver Post) thisistrue.comUNFAIR CAMPAIGN TACTICSLooks like House District 20 candidate Amy Stephens and her campaign team are monkeying around with the signs of Democrat opponent, Jan Hejtmanek. The Democratic contenderís signs also were blocked by signs for Bob Beauprez, Republican candidate for governor. Just the kind of leaders we need in government ñ NOT.PUBLIC INTEREST – THE APEx OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPSSpecial interest groups today are often judged by their financial alliances with individual politicians and political movements, which defines them in actuality as “legislative pressure groups.”What could distinguish the special interest groups from those that engage in Monkey Business as opposed to those who promote programs in the interest of the public is the actual goal of the group. For example, of the following, which special interest group is working for the public?Is it a special interest group opposed to littered highways that is driving a petition to force contractors to clean up their work sites? Or, is it a chamber of commerce that donates $500 to the political candidate who is against raising minimum wage?When county commissioners and other government officials band together while in session in the name of special interests, with some using taxpayer money as well, to persuade voters on a particular ballot issue, is it good business or Monkey Business? Special interest or public interest?Check out the “special interests groups” below that have donated in OPPOSITION of the Right to Petition Amendment (38)? Good business or Monkey Business? Special interest or public interest?
| Big Business PAC | $15,000 |
| Builder/Development | $100,750 |
| Chamber of Commerce | $105,923 |
| Corporate-Other | $87,500 |
| Individual | $50,000 |
| Quasi Government | $40,000 |
| Real Estate | $286,749 |
| Title Co/ Law Firm | $6,000 |
| Union | $50,000 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $741,922 |
