People should have the power, not the parties

voters. Voters lose in two ways:

• The opportunity to have a choice of candidates, because when one party is certain to win, races are uncontested.

• The loss of the power of the vote, because when the political process protects a candidate’s seat, citizens no longer have the ability to remove the candidate from office.

This is not a partisan issue. Both major political parties have used the system for political gain.

It is time for citizen action. The League, along with other nonpartisan organizations, is proposing a constitutional amendment that would reform Ohio’s redistricting process.

This amendment would create an Ohio Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission. Politicians, lobbyists and other political insiders will not be permitted on the commission or to participate in the selection process for the commission. This effort will result in more accountability, more transparency in the redistricting process, and it will restore balance to legislative and congressional districts that will fairly reflect the preferences of the voters of Ohio.

We ask every citizen to consider this issue and arrange to sign a petition to change the redistricting system. Contact the League office, (937) 228-4041 for more information.

Do you think the nation’s 40-year-old “war on drugs”has worked? Has it effectively stopped a couple of generations of Americans from succumbing to the potentially deadly risks associated with certain illegal drugs?

Or has it been too costly for American taxpayers — in terms of the financial resources needed for the expansive criminal justice system, especially expensive prisons? Most agree that mandatory sentencing laws have sent thousands of nonviolent offenders to prison, contributing to America’s status as the world’s largest jailer. Is it time for a new approach? Recently we assembled a panel of people with diverse views to discuss that topic in a roundtable discussion and, as you might suspect, it was a stimulating and often heated conversation. You’ll be able to read an abridged version of that conversation on our Ideas & Voices page on Sunday.

After you’ve read it Sunday, please let us know what you think. You can send email to mwilliams@coxohio.com.

If men would first regulate themselves, instead of trying to regulate women after the fact, there would not be a need for abortion, period.

It’s interesting that senators are investigating the misconduct of Secret Service employees, when their financial, ethical, immoral and illegal misconduct is seldom investigated or prosecuted.

The $1.26 billion of taxpayer money wasted on electric car development gives new credence to the old axiom “Anything that has to be plugged in should be in the kitchen making toast.”

Why was the University of Dayton not a party to the Catholic Church’s recent health care lawsuit?

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