I know that Senate Bill 448 — which requires circulators of
initiative and referendum petitions to wear large badges or signs on their
chests explaining, in 30 point type, that they are paid – is probably
unconstitutional, given that it restricts the First Amendment rights of people
to petition their government.

And I know it’s sort of pointless,
since Californians already know that circulators are paid and since the change
doesn’t do anything about what’s wrong with the initiative process. Real reform
involves making changes to what the process can do and integrating it with the
budget and the legislative process and the rest of our governing system.
Unfortunately, much of the legislation to change the process in California would
limit access to the process – even though the process is already inaccessible
to anyone who isn’t rich. (Which is why virtually all circulators are paid).

But I love this idea – mainly
because there’s nothing better than a big, goofy badge and sign.

In fact, if we’re going to do this
sort of thing, shouldn’t everyone in the political process have to wear such a
badge?

Legislators and other elected
officials should have to wear a badge explaining who paid for their campaigns.

Regulators could wear badges
listing the last five special interests with whom they met.

Even journalists might be required
to do this. My own badge would be:

"I’M A JOURNALIST, BLOGGER, THINK TANK FELLOW, AND
OCCASIONAL RADIO AND TV PUNDIT, WHO IS PAID MODESTLY FOR HIS WORK, EXCEPT WHEN
HE’S WRITING FOR CERTAIN MAGAZINES THAT TAKE YEARS TO PROCESS AN INVOICE. YOU
KNOW WHO YOU ARE."

Such a badge might help me in my
work. It certainly would be a conversation starter, and maybe create a little
sympathy among the press-hating public.

In the same vein, my sneaking
suspicion is that the badge would help the business of signature gathering.

For one thing, folks who used to
walk right by circulators might stop to read the sign – and thus give
circulators an opening to wring some signatures out of them. The badges also
might give an official imprimatur of sorts to the circulators.

Also, in these economic times,
circulators might find that the signs prompt inquiries from those looking for
work. In effect, the signs would be advertising for the signature industry.
More gatherers might make it a little cheaper to collect signatures and qualify
measures.