Your constitutional rights would be stripped
As colleagues, friends and public servants in Franklin County for many years, we know the difference between good public policy and political power grabs.
As Mike Curtin has pointed out in two Dispatch guest columns (Jan. 10 “Ohioans ‘tie down government more’ than most states and we like it that way” Dec. 12 “In ‘historic abuse of power,’ Ohio lawmakers seek to steal your voice”), Secretary of State Frank Larose and state Rep. Brian Stewart, R-ashville, are sponsoring and supporting legislation that would strip Ohioans of the authority they adopted in 1912 to override Statehouse politicians who aren’t always paying attention to the common good.
The latest version of Mr. Stewart’s bill would double the difficulty for Ohio citizens to propose amendments to the Ohio Constitution as well as make it harder to pass the initiatives (from 50% to 60%).
This, fellow citizens, is NOT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.
Ohioans have shown over many years to be wise voters and have most often supported good public policy and voted against those that don’t support the common good. Now, these two elected officials want to strip us of this right.
When one looks at for what it is, it is not hard to see that somehow Larose believes this will benefit his future political interests and Stewart, and perhaps others, see this as a way to inhibit Ohio voters from weighing in on important concerns of citizens, such as gerrymandering and reproductive rights.
We “get it” and are confident Ohioans will “get it” and not look well on those wanting to strip citizens of our constitutional rights.
Jeff Cabot, Columbus and Phil Cass, Dublin
Is America gone with the wind?
One nation under God? Government of the people, by the people, for the people? Constitutional republic? United
States of America?land of the free and home of the brave? Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness? America the beautiful? Sweet land of liberty?
Now days it’s more like “Call of the Wild” or “Gone with the Wind.”
Stephen Ball, Lancaster