language is designed to deceive

Word games
Council's Measure R language is designed to deceive

LA Daily News

MEMBERS of the Los Angeles City Council used every sleazy political trick in the book to put their dream of weakened term limits on the November ballot. So we shouldn't be surprised - just disgusted - that in formulating the ballot language, they were every bit as dishonest.

Unless a court intervenes first, when L.A. voters go to the polls they will see Measure R, titled, "Councilmember term limits of three terms; city lobbying, campaign finance and ethics laws. Charter amendment and ordinance proposition."

Note the first deception: "Council term limits of three terms."

Almost sounds like a pro-term-limits measure, doesn't it? Vote yes to impose term limits on the City Council!

Except that council members are already limited to two terms. The effect of Measure R would be to give incumbents a third term, thereby letting them hang around even longer. But city pols are hoping that uninformed voters - who sometimes don't read past a proposition's title before deciding how to vote - won't figure that out.

Then there's the wording of the question itself, which begins, "Shall the Charter be amended and ordinance adopted to: change Councilmember term limits to three terms"?

"Change" is a conveniently ambiguous word. It neglects to inform the uninitiated that the limits are being "changed" to make them weaker.

"Lengthening" was the more accurate term that City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo's staff chose when it wrote up the measure's original language. But the council voted to alter the wording in favor of the new, deceptive language that doesn't actually tell voters what the measure would do.

Nice, huh?

About what we'd expect from a council that packaged the plan with a bunch of faux ethics reforms drawn up by lobbyists, all in the hopes of confusing the public into thinking the measure has something to do with cleaning up government - which it doesn't.

On Thursday, a Superior Court judge will decide on a motion filed by opponents who argue that the more honest language should be restored. Let's hope the judge does the right thing and smacks the council down for its lack of integrity.

Then let's hope that voters do the same in November.
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No More Years! Send the class of 2001 home to get a real job.

David Hernandez