DOMINANCE AND DECEIT VOTE ‘NO’ ON ISSUE 1
If fairness lived in the hearts of some of Ohio’s elected officials instead of deceit, voters would not be headed to vote this Tuesday — the first day of early voting for the August 8 special election. ● But the deception and the fear coursing through their veins is headed right for Ohio, the recently re-declared ‘Heart of it All.” ● Issue 1 is one of the most significant questions Ohio voters will be asked in generations.
For 111 years, Ohioans have been able to seek votes from fellow voters when they believe “an issue is not addressed properly (or at all) in the Ohio Constitution.”
Sixty percent of voter approval would be required instead of a simple majority of 50% plus one if Issue 1 — a statehouse con tied with pretty ribbon — is successful.
Those seeking to get amendments on the ballot would have the virtually insurmountable task of collecting signatures from at least 5% of voters from the last gubernatorial election in all 88 counties. Currently they have to go to 44 counties.
An attempt to catch you sleeping
It is shameful that the $20 million, single-issue August election is taking place.
The Republican legislators who put Issue 1 on the ballot know all too well that August elections are wasteful and hit voters while they are not paying attention during the dog days of summer, so turnout is low.
Just months ago, these power-hungry hypocrites voted to limit most August special elections for those very reasons. They were right then, they are wrong now.
Ohio voters will be asked to annihilate the simple principle of “one person, one vote” and replace it with minority control when it comes to citizen-led constitutional amendments.
Forty percent of voters will call the shots for the majority.
How is that fair?
A “yes” vote on Issue 1 would be a
blow against one of the best-known notions Abraham Lincoln expressed in the Gettysburg Address: the government should be of the people and for the people.
Ohio’s elected officials have sadly already proven that they want to be above the people and not of the people.
Recent divisive proposed and approved legislation on issues ranging from whom can use which bathrooms to barring facts from college discussions shows they do not care about “the people’s will” if the people’s will differs from their own.
Both sides of their mouths
If those in support of Issue 1 truly believed this was good for democracy and Ohio, they would have the vote in November when Ohioans expect to vote.
Moreover, they would not be speaking out of both sides of their mouths about the reason the changes to our constitution are “needed.”
Proponents have said publicly that it is about good government. They tell the truth when they think only some Ohioans are paying attention.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank Larose for instance penned two guest columns published by the Dispatch in which he claimed the amendment was about protecting Ohio’s constitution from outside special interest groups and from corrupt players like former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder.
Larose admitted recently that it is about keeping voters from deciding if
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