THE CALICO CAT CLUB
Opening Statement
Special interests in public policy go together like weeds in a garden. They just happen. They always happen. Like weeds they are attracted to the fertile soil of opportunity to sequester power or advance an ideology. Although not inherently detrimental, a confluence of special interests may drown out public opinion. We believe that this is the case in Clallam County. The Calico Cat Club is founded on this fact and to a certain extent overcoming it.
The first special interest of note is the Clallam County Democrat Party. local Democrats have largely allied themselves with Sequim Indivisible/Sequim Good Governance League. SI/SGGL is a well-funded, vigorously organized special interest with ideological and power-seeking goals. By aligning with SI?SGGL, the local Democrat Party has gained a leg up in local elections. Its cost of doing so has been an ideological alignment along the lines of a socialist agenda. Such an agenda may not necessarily align with the will of the voters of Clallam County not their best interests.
The second special interest is the Jamestown Tribe. Jamestown has grown a substantial corporations within its spaces. Like most large, aggressive corporations, it has sought, in recent years to supplement its economic power with political influence. Considerable funds have been spent on certain candidates called out as representing the interests of Jamestown - at all levels of local government. This is not evil. In fact, it is the American capitalistic dream. However, the voice of the people, lacking the clout of a major corporation , will not have this influence.
The third special interest is the Clallam County Republican Party (CCGOP). This observation may seem strange to some observers who will note that there are very few elected officials in Clallam County to align Republican. The influence wielded by the CCGOP has largely been negligible. It has been unsuccessful in rallying the voice of the people - which is the natural role for a minority party. As a result, voices who might ordinarily find a sympathetic megaphone in the local Republican Party are frustrated.
As alluded previously, the activity of these groups is not inherently evil. Corporations will do what they do. Political parties will do what they do. They do, however, leave a gap in providing a dais for the people to find their voice. Furthermore, while not corrupt in themselves, they may inadvertently provide opportunities for corruption on the part of elected official who find cover under the Aegis of the special interests. We believe that the voice of the people needs to be cultivated and collected as counterweight to the influence of the special interests in the local political marketplace of ideas.