I SELL, THEREFORE I AM

The many problems associated with food labeling, as detailed in "Don't Eat That" (Oct. 17) are more than political or regulatory. They're constitutional.

Business corporations that don't want consumers to know what's in their almonds, milk, chocolate or meat have done much more than buy off politicians or influence the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies. They've convinced judges that they have First Amendment "free speech" rights just like flesh and blood humans.

In 1996, the US 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in International Dairy Foods Association vs. Amestoy overturned a Vermont law requiring the labeling of all products containing bovine growth hormones. The court concluded that corporations have the First Amendment right not to speak - meaning the right not to disclose what's in the milk they produce - in the same way that people can't be prosecuted for withholding factual information.

Laws and regulatory agencies shielding corporations from responsibility threaten the health of consumers. Perverting the Bill of Rights by empowering corporations with never-intended rights, however, threatens democracy and self-governance by preventing citizens from controlling and directing these legal creations of the state.

Changing laws and de-coupling regulatory agencies from the corporations they regulate aren't nearly enough. We must also work to end corporate constitutional rights.

Greg Coleridge
Director, Economic Justice & Empowerment Program
Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee
Cuyahoga Falls

DRIVE-BY SHOUT OUT

This letter is in response to the review of the recent Drive-By Truckers show at the Beachland Ballroom (Being There, Oct. 31). First, one correction: "One of these Days," which was called one of a "handful of new tunes," is actually from the DBT's Pizza Deliverance album that was originally released in May 1999. Second, although Jason Isbell is no longer with the Drive-By Truckers, his solo show is the perfect place to hear those songs that will no longer be a part of the DBT shows. Fortunately for us, he made a stop at the Beachland Tavern back in July in support of his first solo record, Sirens Of The Ditch (New West) - an amazing show in its own right.

The Truckers' choice to "plug in" on a Wednesday night in Cleveland was a reflection of the fact that the fans are truly a part of the show. The crowd was ready for a rock show and DBT delivered. That amazing interaction between the band and its fans is what make the shows truly impressive. I have seen the last five Drive-By Truckers shows in Cleveland and a few in surrounding cities and can attest to the fact that while DBT may still be underground, they are damn near the surface.

Finally, a big thank you to the good people at the Beachland Ballroom, the best place to see a live show in Cleveland.

Andy Osters
Cleveland

OHIO ALREADY IMPORTANT TO '08 RACE

As political pundits and media outlets already gear up for the drama that will be the 2008 presidential election, it's important to note several important races to be decided in 2007. Ohio is shaping up once again to play a decisive, if not crucial role in the general election next year. Understandably, both parties are interested in controlling the mayorships of Ohio's major cities, as mayors play important roles in ensuring that local elections run smoothly, a particularly influential goal in urban areas. In 2004, Ohio's urban voters waited too long, were often turned away and generally disenfranchised. Of Ohio's 10 largest cities, Republicans control only one, Canton. In Canton, what is shaping up to be the most interesting race of 2007 is occurring between GOP incumbent Janet Creighton and Congresswoman Jamie Healy. Democratic activists are targeting Creighton due to accusations of voter intimidation in 2004, while Republicans seek to hold onto a seat that was won by fewer than 500 votes in 2003. Either way, this will be the race to watch in 2007, with reverberations that could influence the 2008 elections as well!

Jeff Robertson
Wooster

SOME DEFENDENTS MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS

Equal justice under the law still remains elusive for 20,000 people serving federal sentences for crack cocaine, despite the US Sentencing Commission's long-awaited reform of federal sentencing guidelines for crack, effective Nov. 1.

These prisoners are currently serving sentences so harsh that they will no longer be imposed on future defendants, but they are ineligible for relief because the new guideline is not yet retroactive. People serving mandatory minimum sentences for crack cocaine under the very laws that created the 100:1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine are also not affected by the new guideline. Only Congress can change mandatory minimum laws.

The Sentencing Commission's latest report to Congress confirms that punishing people more severely for crack cocaine overstates the harmfulness of the drug and has a devastating impact on low-level offenders and minorities. The time is ripe for reform, especially given the bipartisan support for sentencing reform that has emerged in recent years.

The Sentencing Commission should make the new guideline retroactive, and Congress must act decisively and now to reform mandatory sentencing laws.

Karen Gambrell
Cleveland