#ncpol: The Amendments
There’s been quite a hullaballoo about the six proposed constitutional amendments on the November ballot. Hysterical ads attacking the amendments are popping up all over TV and radio like weeds.
We’ve taken a cursory look at them. Some seem pretty important. Some, NOT SO. Here’s our quick take:
- Voter ID: This is arguably the most important of the bunch. Voting is one of the most important things we do as citizens. We should make every effort to ensure everyone who does it is lawfully allowed to do so. The claims of discrimination and suppression are ridiculous. How do you go through life without any means whatsoever to prove WHO YOU ARE beyond a reasonable doubt? You need a photo ID to drive a car, to cash a check, to buy cigarettes and alcohol, get a job, see a doctor, and buy a gun. Surely, voting should warrant the same security measures as the purchase of cigarettes and tobacco. This is definitely a YES.
- Victim’s Rights: This amendment is based on the national movement called Marsy’s Law. Sure, we have all kinds of protections for victims on the books. But putting this in the state constitution provides some uniformity on how they are applied — regardless of where you live in NC. It mandates that victims get notified prior to ANY public proceedings involving the defendants and be given a chance to weigh in. I don’t see the problem. YES.
- Appointments to the ethics and elections board. This looks like inside-baseball and a power struggle between politicos. These folks on Jones Street already struggle with ethics and election law enforcement. I don’t see the benefit for all of us out here. Until someone gives me a better argument, I’m leaving this one BLANK or voting NO.
- Filling judicial vacancies. Same argument as with the ethics and elections appointments. This one is a LEAVE IT BLANK or NO until someone gives me a better argument.
- Right to hunt and fish. I’m not a big fan of hunting. But I realize it’s needed sometimes to control animal populations. I love seafood. There have been efforts by environmentalists to clamp down on hunting and fishing in North Carolina. This amendment blocks efforts to seriously restrict or ban hunting and fishing while emphasizing the importance of conservation. YES.
- Capping the state income tax rate. I’m all for putting a limit on how high taxes can go. But politicians get tricky. They will lower the tax rate while instituting new or increasing existing “fees” and “surcharges” to fuel their spending spree. Approving this can’t hurt. But I continue to argue that the best way to keep a lid on taxes and spending is to elect conservatives and hold their feet to the fire. When — not if — they lie, vote them out. YES
That is undoubtedly Soros money funding those ads against the amendments, the same Soros who has been called “a threat to democracy” by the Prime Minister of Hungary by and the Foreign Minister of Israel, and the same Soros who was a Nazi collaborator in his youth in World War II Hungary.
May I suggest you take a look at my video about the amendments on my Facebook page or on YouTube for a different take from someone who is not beholden to leadership? Perhaps it will be interesting to you.
I will give you a reason on the board of elections
One. The Cooper v Berger lawsuit verdict established for the first time the governor having day to day control over the agency.
The court made a serious error. This would re-establish an independent quasi-judicial agency.
Once the appointments are made, control by the
Elected folks is greatly reduced
.
No Governor, Republican or Democrat (or the Legislature for that matter) should have day to day control
Uncertain about Amendment Right to Hunt and Fish using conservation. Then Dept of Marine Fisheries does NOT always follow Data on species that promotes Conservation!! Marine Fisheries Commission has majority of members from the CCA Coastal Conservation Association which support fishing for 100 lb TROPHY FISH THAT NO ONE EATS AS SEAFOOD. Commission is few Commercial Fishermen on the Commission which each Governor appoints!CCA is supported by MOBIL EXON, Donate large amounts of money to all NC representatives that support the CCA. = NO LOCAL US WILD SEAFOOD TO EAT AND BUY!
The GOP is going to decide what these amendments “mean” AFTER they are voted on. How does that many ANY SENSE to the voter??? If an amendment passes it could well come back, after the Legislature is done with it later, to harm us all. Mind you, this is the very same GOP Legislature that most on this site spend a lot of time complaining about.
Marsy’s Law has been ruled out of order in another state for having been subject to a Constitutional Amendment with only a short referendum. The Constitution currently specifies “as proscribed by law,” and so Marsy’s Law should be an act of law, not a Constitutional Amendment.
There is no party to our government who wants to eliminate the victims rights already enshrined in the Constitution. They are not in danger. Who are we trying to protect victims rights from?
Are the criminals in charge of the government that this needs to be an Amendment and not a simply Act? Do they think it won’t pass the General Assembly? It took a super majority to make it an Amendment referendum.
https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/article220218465.html