The phrase Astroturf has been used recently to discribe groups such as ours that fight against the nanny state and against excessive taxes. It is a term that has gained quite a bit of popularity as of late but it is not anything new. From a 1998 Tobacco Control document.
Historically, two of the greatest deterrents to local and statewide tobacco control efforts have been 1) tobacco industry legal intimidation; and 2) tobacco industry opposition to local and statewide initiatives through lobbying, the activity of astro-turf roots groups (like the National Smokers Alliance), and the use of tobacco industry proxies (like state or regional convenience store and/or restaurant associations).
The fact is that most groups such as ours are true grass roots efforts. They can’t show that we have taken a nickel from Big Tobacco. We are all unpaid and do this because we believe in property rights and freedom of choice. We don’t try to push for government funding and we don’t get a nickel from big pharma.
On the other hand Smoke free set up fake grass roots organizations like Taverns Clearing the Air
I guess it makes one ask, where is the real astroturf?
Filed under: Defiance, Dissent, Freedom, Private Property, Smoke-Free Wisconsin, anti insanity, reality check | Tagged: Astroturf, reality check, Smoke-Free Wisconsin, tobacco control
