Dispatch from Colorado

This post is primarily for that segment of our readership who are students, teachers, or textbook authors/publishers for High School American Government courses.

Students: Listen carefully. I have reason to believe that your teacher or textbook is trying to tell you that PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, is in fact an interest group with a great deal of sway over the Democratic party. This simply isn’t true. Virtually all Democratic politicians and voters participate in at least one of the following activities: Meat eating, Dairy product consumption, leather-shoe wearing, and pet ownership. These activities generally make PETA unappealing. While some Democrats (as well as some Republicans) have supported moderate animal welfare legislation in the past, they stop well short of PETA-level concern for animals. Indeed, if the Democrats were to adopt PETA-approved policies for their platform, I doubt anyone would be more surprised than PETA members themselves.

Teachers/Textbook people: I don’t know why you’re doing it, but stop telling students that the Democratic party is in PETA’s pocket. Or if you’re not, take a minute to dispell this myth.

Thank you.