Framing the Issue

Where's George Lakoff when you need him?

Hey.... he's on Blogger, too.

PLAN (People for Land and Nature) characterize Measure A an "Open Space" initiative. But the 13 pages of Measure A text are about "land use", with a labrynth of slope/density regulations and restrictions, and subdivsions requirements on private Santa Clara County land. It is a LAND USE intiative. PLAN promoted the measure as an "open space" initiative to endorsers. The Republicans for the Protection of the Environment were led to believe it was a conservancy "set-aside." The assumption was that lands would be obtained by way of purchase or market negotiation, and then set aside for open space, without any possibiity for development of any kind. Now that this grass-roots organization has read the text, and realized the controversial impact on private land owners, they have decided to withdraw their endorsement support. The intiative is considered beyond the scope of their mission, which includes open space, but not private land use.

Similarly, Carl Guardino, the preseident of the Silicon Valley Leadershiop Group, gave Measure A a very influencial endorsement. In the PLAN press release he described their endorsement in these terms:
http://www.openspace2006.org/release_091206.htm
SAN JOSE – Thursday, September 7

“The Leadership Group has a long and strong history of support for Open Space measures, dating back to the 1990 Open Space measure in Santa Clara County, when our founder David Packard personally led his Board colleagues on a nature hike to underscore the importance of open space to the health of our companies and the quality of life of our employees,” said Carl Guardino, President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.

Once again, the language is framed as an "Open Space" intiative, not as a "Land Use" initiative.

Oh... and let's not overlook Mr. Guardino's assertion that open space is necessary for the "health of our companies" and "the quality of life of our employees." Private land owners exist only as "open space" with sole purpose to support the prosperity of Silicon Valley business. No corporate financial investment in the objective at all.

But doesn't that hiking thing sound real nice?