Gathering Signatures of the Ill Informed

Re “Taking the Initiative on ’04 Ballots,” Jan. 11: While shopping at the Block in Orange County, my daughter was approached by a 19-year-old waving a petition at her, demanding that she “sign something that will do a lot of people good.” It turned out to be a ballot initiative that would severely restrict California women’s abortion rights. When she challenged the petitioner on his information about abortion procedures, my daughter ascertained that he had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. He then told her that he was being paid 75 cents per signature -- and if she didn’t like that petition, he had other ones she might like better.

Initiative petitions no longer serve any valuable purpose. They have become tools in the hands of moneyed cranks, hawked by shills with no clue about the effects of what they’re selling. Unfortunately, an ill-informed citizenry is signing on.

Bonnie Sloane

Los Angeles