Constitutional Amendments

[Diane Laskowski]

Some of the amenndments on my mail-in ballot are quite confusing.  Will the FCTP be posting any info on the best way to vote on these so we don't make some mistakes that hurt ourselves and our community? Also, is there is any pro-con info on the judges and others where no party affiliation is mentioned?  I would hate to vote for some flaming liberal by mistake!

[amanda choate]

Plato from his Republic :

Any one who has common sense will remember that the bewilderments of the eyes are of two kinds, and arise from two causes, either from coming out of the light or from going into the light, which is true of the mind's eye, quite as much as of the bodily eye; and he who remembers this when he sees any one whose vision is perplexed and weak, will not be too ready to laugh; he will first ask whether that soul of man has come out of the brighter light, and is unable to see because unaccustomed to the dark, or having turned from darkness to the day is dazzled by excess of light.Plato, The Republic

 

[Jack]

Ok, so basically we are all pretty much in agreement here then I take it. No on all the amendments and no on all of the judges too, which is pretty much what I was thinking in the first place........... I have issues with tinkering with the constitution at the state or federal level. It kind of makes it sound like they are living breathing documents and I don't believe they are. I feel like if something is going to be added to either of them then it should be something of the utmost importance and not something like the bullet train or class sizes. I agree with Amanda completely on that. It is and should be the job of our elected legislators and representatives and not a footnote to the constitution.

[amanda choate]

Peggy that is my point, this defies the notion of a republic and resorts to a direct democracy. This limits what those n the future can do to run the government of this state by timely and nuanced legislation. And then be held accountable. These measures gave us fast rail and class size limits that were of no practical use or had no means of implementation nor did they describe how it gets paid for. It is bad governance. It reflects poorly on those who brought these amendments to the ballot. As Patricia has said, democracy is four wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for lunch.

[Patricia M. McBride]

Ben, just because Tallahassee thinks it is a good idea is not really a good reason to vote in favor of everything they put on the ballot.  I mean these are the same folks that passed that horrid energy bill (that subsidized green energy companies........even though we are broke) when there was overwhelming public opposition to it.  Governor Scott did not sign it, but the legislature passed the bill with enough votes (there were only 2 no votes/1 in the house and 1 in the senate and both these folks are in south Florida) that the governor's signature was not needed for the law to take effect.

[Peggy Hall]

One comment for Amanda.  We are not a democracy Amanda, we are a Republic.  There are many books on the subjects including the differences.  PLATO wrote a really good one on Republics.

[Peggy Hall]

There are two amendments that do NOTHING, except leave it all up to TALLY, not the citizens.  I can't believe I am saying this, Amanda got it right.  Cord Byrd, Constitutional attorney, told us, if the topic of the amendment does not belong in a Constitution, vote NO.  Example.  Everyone would love to give the veterans a better homestead exemption.  Putting aside the fact that we are broke and can't afford it even in Fl, what business does it have in a Constitution?  NONE!  Make Tally do their jobs.  They can enact legislation.   If we don't like it, it can be repealed and does not need to go on the ballot as an amendnent.  The Constitution of the USA is 19 pages long and changed the history of the world.  Should Florida's Constitution be longer and more cumbersome than those 19 pages?    

[Ben Breon]

I agree with Amanda.  I also see some value to the people voting on issues.  However,  it is so hard to find information that is easy to understand.  Many just vote yes because some "smart" people in Gov think something is a good idea.  Same thing for the judges.  Should they all be removed to clean house once and a while?  Guess my bottom line is:  If no effort at all was made (besides road signs) for me to understand the issue, it is not worthy of my consent.

[amanda choate]

Patricia if these guys aren't willing to do their job, then stay home. It is their job to legislate, legislate. This stuff is well beneath constitutional necessity. What it means is this, instead of being able to address an unforseen consequence resulting from one of these amendements in the legislature, we would need another amendment to the constitution. I propose an amendment that prohibits the legislature from proposing constitutional amendments. Do your job folks, stop with this nonsense.

[Patricia M. McBride]

Actually, when the state legislature puts something like this on the ballot, they leave the decision up to the people instead of themselves.  All of the amendments this time came from the legislature, and the one issue with that is the state legislature is not required to put a cost if passed.  That is not good as many people, like myself, determine my vote based on what something will cost the taxpayers and how important I think having whatever is offered in the amendment.   I am not sure I agree with the stance Amanda takes, because basically it is that the state legislature should decide instead of the people of the state, and I would assume if voters in the districts of the legislators have an agenda, they will push for their representative to vote for them as they would have voted, but not important and certainly we are all entitled to our own opinions...............still. 

[Diane Laskowski]

Thank you all for your helpful information and links.  I will see what they all have to say and perhaps attend the meeting on 10/16 to learn more.  But I kind of agree with Amanada that most of the amendments should be decided on by our elected officals and not by voters. who might have a personal agenda.  Thanks again!