EDITORIAL POLITICAL PRIVACY?

PROPONENTS of Proposition 54, the racial privacy initiative, envision a colorblind world - a noble goal even if it's one that seems far away.

But must this colorblind world be politically blind, too?

That would appear to be the suggestion coming from Proposition 54 organizers, who last week won the right to keep the names of the initiative's supporters secret.

Proposition 54's supporters have managed to skirt campaign-funding transparency laws by funding the initiative through an independent organization, the American Civil Rights Coalition.

But of all the attempts that have been made to regulate campaign financing, financial transparency is the only one that puts some power back in the hands of the people. Special interests might be able to pour as much money as they want into politicians and initiatives, but at least the public can see what's going on and make its voting decisions accordingly.

When campaigns conceal their revenue sources, they muddy the democratic process.

The Proposition 54 campaign claims it needs to keep its donors secret so as to protect them from harassment. Maybe, but this cautious approach is politically self-destructive.

No one has ever successfully fought for civil rights without facing some ``harassment,'' and an idea not worth defending can scarcely be described as one worth voting for.