The news in the past week has been heartening to those who see the transparently corrupt nature of ALEC, an organization that works with legislators to come up with and push pro-business legislation on the state level. Corporations pay up to $25,000 to get in on the action.
The group, formally the American Legislative Exchange Council, has been slammed for its ties to the “Stand Your Ground” law at the heart of the Trayvon Martin mega-story. Police in Sanford, Florida, cited Florida’s version of SYG, which exists in various forms nationwide, as justifying its decision not to arrest the Neighborhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who shot and killed the young Martin.
As a result of pressure, several large corporations—including Kraft, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s—responded to public embarrassment by backing away from ALEC. This has been applauded as a great victory by critics of ALEC, a progressive coalition that notably includes the Center for Media and Democracy, which has been the leading force in bringing ALEC and its activities to public attention.
It certainly is a victory of sorts. But it’s clear that the corporations’ reaction is no more than a public relations move in the face of a scorching hot controversy. It’s too steamy in that particular kitchen. For now.
The reality is that many big corporations just looove ALEC. In fact, they are ALEC. ALEC is a front for corporate capital and its corrupting influence on the democratic process. And that fact won’t go away when the Martin case spotlight moves on. Proof is in the statements the companies made.
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The group, formally the American Legislative Exchange Council, has been slammed for its ties to the “Stand Your Ground” law at the heart of the Trayvon Martin mega-story. Police in Sanford, Florida, cited Florida’s version of SYG, which exists in various forms nationwide, as justifying its decision not to arrest the Neighborhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who shot and killed the young Martin.
As a result of pressure, several large corporations—including Kraft, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s—responded to public embarrassment by backing away from ALEC. This has been applauded as a great victory by critics of ALEC, a progressive coalition that notably includes the Center for Media and Democracy, which has been the leading force in bringing ALEC and its activities to public attention.
It certainly is a victory of sorts. But it’s clear that the corporations’ reaction is no more than a public relations move in the face of a scorching hot controversy. It’s too steamy in that particular kitchen. For now.
The reality is that many big corporations just looove ALEC. In fact, they are ALEC. ALEC is a front for corporate capital and its corrupting influence on the democratic process. And that fact won’t go away when the Martin case spotlight moves on. Proof is in the statements the companies made.
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