Awhole lot of politics, like a lot of the rest of life, gets determined by whoever it is that makes the effort to, you know, show up. As in this case from Seattle (on an issue expanding rapidly all over the west coast). From the Stranger's Slog:
"The anti-bag-fee 'coalition' — AKA, the American Chemistry Council, which advocates against regulation on plastics and toxic chemicals — has collected more than $227,000, according to Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission reports, for its campaign to repeal the 20-cent fee on disposable grocery bags. Fully $217,000 of that came directly from the chemical-industry lobby group. At the moment, there is no pro-bag-fee campaign. For this and other reasons, I'm certain that the well-intentioned bag fee—a voluntary charge for those who choose not to carry their groceries in a backpack or reusable 99-cent canvas bag—will be overturned by voters when it's on the ballot next year."
And if you're not a Seattlite, coming to your community next . . .