In 1836, Abraham Lincoln said of an opposition leader that he had “the faculty of entangling a subject, so that neither himself, nor any other man, can find head or tail to it.” Now, 178 years later, the opposition, funded by the self-serving oil companies, is obfuscating the purpose of Measure J in order to convince the caring citizens of San Benito County that they are somehow looking out for their best interests.
Their slick ads and mailings falsely state that they want to “Protect San Benito County.” What exactly do they want to protect San Benito County from? Do they want to protect us from potential water contamination? A YES vote on Measure J does. Do they want to protect us from excessive water use during a drought? A YES vote on Measure J does. Do they want to protect us from overuse and destruction of our roads and highways? A YES vote on Measure J does. Do they want to protect us from air pollution due to their oil extraction processes? A YES vote on Measure J does. Do they want to protect us from an influx of unsightly and potentially dangerous oil wells? A YES vote on Measure J does. Do they want to help ensure that safe and renewable energy sources free us from the yoke of oil dependence? A YES vote on Measure J does. Do they want to protect us from the government regulations that are often bypassed or ignored by the oil industry? A YES vote on Measure J does. Do they want to protect us from becoming another “oil boomtown,” that, once the oil is depleted, is abandoned by the oil industry leaving behind the costly cleanup and residual environmental destruction? A YES vote on Measure J does.
Unlike the masses in George Orwell’s 1984, we are able to think independently and not be manipulated by those who would try to subjugate us to their will. So don’t fall for the slick subterfuge propagated by the oil companies. Would a group that declares its love for San Benito County simultaneously threaten the citizens of our idyllic community with a crippling lawsuit should they choose to vote their conscience? Don’t be fooled by false rhetoric. This isn’t a conservative or a liberal issue. This isn’t a Republican or a Democratic issue. This is a conscientious fight for our right to preserve our beautiful little part of the world from outside forces that would willing destroy all that is important to us just because they have the money to buy our ability to think for ourselves. Let’s prove them wrong. Be an independent thinker and vote along with your neighbors and friends who truly want to PROTECT SAN BENITO COUNTY…vote YES on Measure J.