It's important to celebrate victories when we get them, so we should definitely celebrate. The latest round of defections from ALEC is a victory indeed, and I want to sincerely thank all the groups and individuals who worked (and continue to work) so hard on this campaign. (Special shout out to Color of Change, which continues to ROCK!
But while we celebrate, it's important to remember that not only is it not over, it will never be over. Let me copy the crux of my comment from Joan's post about Amazon and ALEC:
This is good but we have to keep in mind (1+ / 0-)
that another ALEC-like organization will be created simply under a different name. Basically all they're doing is getting out from under a toxic brand.
Please don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the actions here don't matter, because they very much do. I'm just saying how important it is that we STAY VIGILANT!
Please follow me over the jump...
ALEC is like that fake pizza from the Saturday Night Live skit.
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Except when the "pizza" breaks apart, instead of reforming into "pizza" again, it would take the shape of a hot dog or hamburger. But it's still the exact same thing it was before.
ALEC formed in 1975 according to wikipedia. I thought I had read somewhere else it was 1973 but whatever, those dates are close enough for the point I'm about to make: It took almost 40 years for the public to get wise and form a massive push-back. And even though the corporate scumbags that made up ALEC are simply going to do it again under another name, and/or through Super PAC's, Super Secret PAC's, Chamber of Commerce groups etc., our victory here is not for nothing. Because of the campaign to expose ALEC the public has been informed and educated and we don't need to be be trampled under foot for another 40 years before we get wise up and fight back.
So yeah, it's gonna be like Whack-a-Mole. But that OK because together, we have the hammers!
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Note: In case that SNL skit doesn't stay available for long, here's a YouTube that might last a little longer. Please enjoy this extended example of how something that changes its outer appearance - even radically - can remain exactly the same at it's essence.