There have been a number of letters of late in opposition of the right of free speech for those businesses that are corporations. Many seem to feel that speech should be silenced, but I do not.
Corporations are owned by people, the investors, who have as much right as anyone else to have their interests expressed.
Would those who would curtail speech for a business that happens to be a corporation, feel the same about other special interests?
Remember that unions, the Sierra Club, the Red Cross, Cancer Society etc. are all special interests. You might well agree with the latter and disagree with the former, but all deserve the right to present views. If you have a pension, retirement plan, a 401K, or California State Retirement that you are counting on for your future, you, most likely, have money invested in corporations.
If they have no voice in protecting their business, measures could be passed that could affect your future benefits. Here in our state we have very powerful unions, which have greatly influenced elections and laws and achieved great benefits for members through the ability to present a point of view so why should this not be true for business? I think it is very important that all have the right to have their views expressed so we can make up our mind as to who is right on the issues.
Darryl Smith
Kelseyville
