It appears that both Ron Scheberle, executive director of the American Legislative Exchange Council ["Companies see pitfalls of political giving," front page, April 13], and William J. Howell, Virginia House speaker and ALEC's national chairman in 2009 ["Howell assails liberals for attack on conservative group," Metro, April 13] need a refresher class in the basics of a free-enterprise system. Both used the word "intimidation" in regard to the boycott by consumers of companies that have contributed to the coffers of ALEC because of its support for "Stand Your Ground" legislation.
Producers and consumers are basic components of free enterprise. Producers make a product that they hope consumers will buy; meanwhile, consumers decide what products to buy. Their decisions generally involve the quality and the cost of the product, but some consumers are also influenced by the ethics of the producer. Just as producers decide how to spend their profits, consumers decide how to spend their money. This is not "intimidation," this is choice.
Boycotts have been and, one hopes, will continue to be an effective weapon to be wielded by consumers against the might of producers. It can be discouraging at times to think of the influence of money spent by companies on legislators in the making of laws. Consumers need to step back and think about the power that truly rests in them.
Jacalyn M. Kalin, Washington
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