To oppose Initiative 37 would be to say that there should be no
citizen discussion of the circumstances in which the United States and
the former Soviet Union (Commonwealth of Independent States) might
jointly lead nuclear disarmament efforts, might convert their
crippling war-machine economies into housing, food, health care,
education, and environmental restoration.
Initiative 37 allows District voters to send a message to
Congress that we want the United States to work together with the CIS
toward worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons, and to earmark the
tax dollars saved to serve human needs. It expresses the view that an
appropriate way to accomplish global nuclear disarmament is for the
United States and the Commonwealth to lead by example.
The initiative does NOT eliminate the discretion of the
District's Delegate in Congress to propose a measure containing
additional conditions, such as agreement by others besides the
Commonwealth.
What Initiative 37 DOES is create an incentive for ordinary
citizens to develop solutions to urgent problems that political
leaders have not yet solved.
Since the matter concerns the country as a whole, it is
appropriate for the people of the District to speak to their
Delegate with a strong voice that cannot be ignored, through their
votes in favor of Initiative 37.
Do we continue to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on
weapons we can only hope will never be used, or do we use that
fabulous wealth to build more schools - homes - hospitals - and
promote more meaningful careers for our young people?
A strong vote in favor of Initiative 37 will send a message that
the voters of the District favor serious commitment to a less
dangerous, more humane world.
HILDA HOWLAND M. MASON
Member at-Large
Council of the District of Columbia