POT BACKER IS A HERO

Re: "Playground for plutocrats," Dec. 6 Rick O'Donnell column.

Rick O'Donnell wrote, "Billionaire George Soros financed Colorado's
medical marijuana initiative," then opined, "Why do we allow wealthy
special interests to dominate Colorado's ballot initiative process and
thereby the issue agenda of each election cycle?"

In the case of medical marijuana, Soros' intervention was necessitated
by the fact most elected representatives and government officials have
refused to follow the will of the people on this issue. Colorado
voters may recall how state officials, including the governor and
secretary of state, used their offices to oppose this measure, with
the ex-secretary of state, the late Vikki Buckley, even concealing
signed petitions in her office.

With the medical marijuana law now in effect and working well to aid
suffering Coloradans, it is clear that this particular ballot
initiative was about countering special interests and empowering the
will of the people. Soros' generosity in helping to put this issue
directly before voters makes him nothing short of a hero.

Gary Storck

Madison, Wis.