Are Citizens 'Too Stupid' For A Constitutional Convention?

T here they stood, like an old Archie and Edith. Gov. Jim Edgar and his 1992 gubernatorial opponent, Dawn Clark Netsch, side by side in the Thompson Center press room last week to unite behind a cause. They want you to vote "no" to a constitutional convention on your Nov. 4 ballot.

Frankly, I was insulted.

Their bottom line, along with all the special interest groups weaving fear into their messaging, is this: Anything you want to change about Illinois government - the players, the stalemate, the governor himself - can and should be done through the legislative process. The problem is not the constitution. It's the people we send to Springfield. If we did a better job vetting them, we wouldn't be stuck in this mess.

I disagree. I am voting for a convention for two very specific reasons: Article IV, Section 3, Legislative Redistricting, and Article X, Section 1, Education.

There is no way to make radical change without doing something radical. These two articles that determine our representation in Springfield and our unfair and inefficient taxation system will not be changed through the legislative process, no matter whom we send to Springfield.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[billofgoods]

This is the most corrupt state in the country , run virtually by Democrats......

[RedandGreen]

billofgoods: somewhere around 50% of Americans are too stupid for any balanced and intelligent reasoning, just consider your own comment. With the incredible amount of corruption and lying and dirty, murderous deeds during George W.s reign, combined with the current state of the financial structure along with the consensus that George W. is the worst president in U.S. history and swamp brains like yours still supporting Republicans, well, you are stereotypical of those that are just too stupid for intelligent reasoning.

[NeoYankee]

I understand this is an IL issue - but please don't advocate ALL constitutional conventions. Here in CT, we are bound to face this issue every 20 years - but in CT, we don't have the same issues on the table. Here in the Nutmeg State, the only folks supporting a convention are those who A) want to invalidate marriage for all as decreed by our Supreme Court just 2 weeks ago and B) those who want to open up the abortion debate.

While a convention may be exactly what you need in IL, it is EXACTLY what we don't need in CT. No on 1 (in CT) This November 4th!

Thanks.

[statusquobuster]

Not only should Americans support more direct democracy through state constitutional conventions, we urgently need broad public support for the nation's first Article V convention that the US Constitution says we have a right to have; learn all the facts at the website of the only national, nonpartisan group trying to get the first convention: www.foavc.org; very few Americans know that the Founders anticipated the loss of public trust and confidence in the federal government and created the Article V convention option as our escape route,