Yes on Convention
I’ve been very disappointed with the coverage of Question #1 on the ballot this Tuesday. Sadly, instead of having a serious discussion about the potential gains the taxpayers of CT could achieve through a constitutional convention we’ve been distracted by demagogues and focused on a non-issue.
All the media coverage to date that I’ve seen has been about a single issue, and one which has no bearing at all following the CT Supreme Court ruling. Here’s a bit of information the anti question #1 public employee unions, demagogues and elected officials aren’t telling you. There is -0- chance that a constitutional convention will result in a ban on gay marriage. There is simply no way the constitution will be amended to specifically ban gay marriage. After the Supreme Court’s ruling a constitutional change is the only thing that could remove the newly achieved equality in marriage.
What the sponsors of this anti question #1 fear campaign are truly scared of is the possibility that we may gain the power of initiative which would likely translate into term limits, budgetary reforms, binding arbitration reform, budget referendum, ethics reform and a variety of other reforms which would cause no end of damage to the elected and appointed officials who exist to profit off our sweat and toil as well as the unions who have a strangle hold on our state and municipal budgets.
For example, did you know that the State Employees Union which represents DOIT employees, the state IT arm, receives union dues even for employees who opt out of the union?
This is a once in 20 year opportunity which should not be squandered over fear tactics and demagoguery promoted by the entrenched establishment. Regardless of party affiliation I urge everyone to vote YES on question #1. Vote yes for the tax reform our elected officials have promised for decades but not delivered. Vote yes for accountability. Vote yes for government by the people for the people. Vote yes for constitutional convention November 4th.
How are you so sure that a ban on gay marriage will not take place? You seem to speak as if you have strong insider knowledge. Could you elaborate your reasons for saying this with such conviction?
Also, do you realize that most labor unions are able to collect an agency fee for members who choose not to join a union? The reason for this is because these people are given the same wages and benefits as the dues paying members. Working to negotiate a contract is not free. Why should some people be afforded these benefits but not be responsible to help defray the cost of these negotiations? In most, if not all cases, the agency fee is a reduced amount of the dues. This doesn’t cost taxpayers any money.
Please note that the Hartford Courant is endorsing to vote NO on Question 1. The Courant has notoriously been an anti-union paper. Why do you figure they are endorsing a no vote?
“Our State Constitution is the bedrock of our civil rights and liberties. The convention proposal is a risky and costly process. The State Constitution is not a document to be rewritten carelessly,” State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said.
While there are some things that need tweaking, a convention is a failed method of doing so. What we will get is a bunch corporate lobbyists pushing their own agenda on our dime. If you think that you are going to have a say or even a vote on what gets amended in the constitution, you are far too optimistic.
You apparently feels that state unions are wasting it’s workers money, so you’re going to vote Yes so a bunch of lobbyists can waste ALL OF OUR money with the process?