This is a forward of my post to another list; I am cross-posting cuz the
elections are important, yo ^_^
> *************************************************************
> You __WILL__ wonder about some of the proposed Constitutional
> Amendments, so I urge you to look at my analysis below!
> *************************************************************
>
> Hello people,
>
> Just in time for the elections, I have your instructions ^_^
>
> 1. Jeb Bush to govern.
> 2. If you see a libertarian candidate that seems "serious," I recommend
> voting for it.
> 3. ****** You __WILL__ wonder about some of the Constitutional
>
> Amendments, so I urge you to look at my analysis below! ******
> 4. Do not vote Liberal/Democrat ("Democrat" != "Democratic").
> 5. Finally--if you love freedom--VOTE for God's sake (does not apply to
> socialists. Proudly discriminatory).
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> 1. Jeb Bush to govern.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> The St. Petersburg times has published yet another (I've casually counted
> five _just_this_year_) story illustrating how much guts Jeb Bush's actually
> has (when one considers how easy it is to drudge up a sob story whenever the
> government fires someone):
>
> http://www.sptimes.com/2002/10/31/State/Much_of_the_business_.shtml
>
> As usual, much of the article tries its damnedest to make "less government"
> look like "death to teddy bears and innocent bystanders," but I just
> chuckle and chalk it up as another trophie for this cool guy.
>
> The first sentence blasts the reader with the news that 800 (WHOOP*DEE*DOO)
> state workers are set up to be "lost" (as if the private companies that
> the gov't is hiring don't employ anyone) due to privatization of certain
> gov't functions. Of course, this number is about as significant as my toe
> when compared to the 120,000 employees currently on the state's tete. On
> the other hand, this number is _immensely_ significant when one considers
> how much fun the media gets out of human interest stories regarding the
> hardships that a laid-off former gov't employee must face (i.e., finding
> a real job)--thereby politically stabbing anyone who dares reduce gov't.
>
> This is just another illustration of why I love Jeb Bush so much. He has
> made
> some damned respectable moves. Besides this privatization (albeit relatively
> small, and not actually "true" privitization in the libertarian sense of the
> word [but you'll see that "true" privatization isn't possible for this
> _particular_ function of gov't that the article regards]), Jeb
> has _refused_ to raise taxes, and has cut _many_ programs/budgets to that
> end.
> This is amazing!! If firing gov't workers wasn't hard enough, cutting
> programs
> and budgets (even the USF campus paper had a stupid article with a girl
> complaining about how USF was charging $5 a month for dial-up ISP after the
> budget cuts!) is _so_easy_ for the media to milk.
>
> Beside all that, I trust Jeb even more because of his actual _avoidance_ of
> the media. How many politicians do you know of that won't jump hoops (and
> bend their standards) to get their smiling face on a press conference? This,
> and monologue that I have heard from him, make him out to be truly
> interested in the philosophy of gov't. For some reason, he just doesn't
> seem to be interested in making everyone happy (which is the _only_ way to
> get a philosophy of government in place)!
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> 3. Proposed Constitutional Defacations--err, I mean, Amendments
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> 2002 Ballot Amendments
> source:
>
http://aps.naples.net/community/NFNWebpages/storyboard.cfm?StoryBoardNum=203&PageNum=1
>
> AMENDMENT #1
> TITLE: EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENTS
> "This proposed amendment incorporates Florida's current death penalty into
> the
> state constitution where it would require a majority vote of the electorate
> to
> abolish or change it."
>
> One of the main changes is that "cruel and unusual" will substitute "cruel
> or unusual." Vote yes on this amendment if you want to make the death
> penalty more than a roll of the dice.
>
> AMENDMENT #2
> TITLE: ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENTS FOR PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS OR
> REVISIONS
> "Passage of this amendment would require the Legislature to provide an
> economic
> impact statement to the public prior to the public voting on an amendment
> proposed by citizen's initiative."
>
> I recommend that this amendment be passed for obvious reasons. Basic
> inclusion of the people in a gov't that is supposed to = "the people".
> Prevents "slick willy" passing of laws by people who bank on the idea
> that people won't do their own research or be able to so.
>
> AMENDMENT #3:
> TITLE: AUTHORIZING AMENDMENTS TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER BY
> SPECIAL
> LAW APPROVED BY REFERENDUM
> "This amendment proposes a change to Article VIII Section 6 of the state
> Constitution and would authorize the legislature to propose changes to the
> charter of Miami- Dade County. Any proposed changes must be approved by
> voters.
> Currently charter changes can be proposed by the county commission or by
> citizen initiative. Because this amendment relates to a portion of the
> Miami-Dade charter contained in the Constitution, all voters in Florida have
> the opportunity to vote on the measure. This amendment is the result of local
> difficulty and frustration over effectuating changes to the home rule
> charter.
> Ultimately, it is the people of Miami- Dade County who should be informed
> about
> their charter and government structure; whether it needs change or not. The
> LWVF OPPOSES Amendment No. 3 based on our positions that local government
> should have all powers not expressly prohibited by the Constitution or
> general
> law; provisions for local charters should be self-executing in that they
> should
> require no further legislative action or approval"
>
> The LWVF's position is parallel to mine and anyone with basic knowledge
> about our (superior) system of gov't. However, this particular explanation
> is important because the explanation on the ballot is a very _poorly_worded_
> ONE SENTENCE explanation!!
>
> AMENDMENT #4:
> TITLE: LAWS PROVIDING PUBLIC RECORDS OR MEETINGS EXEMPTIONS; TWO-THIRDS VOTE
> REQUIRED
> "Requires that laws providing exemptions from public records or public
> meetings
> requirements must be passed by a 2/3 vote of each house of the legislature."
>
> This will combat "shadow government."
>
> AMENDMENT #5
> ...Won't appear on the ballot due to court ruling of vague wording.
>
> AMENDMENT #6
> TITLE: PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF SECOND-HAND TOBACCO SMOKE BY
> PROHIBITING WORKPLACE SMOKING
> "This amendment would protect people from the health hazards of second-hand
> smoke by prohibiting smoking in enclosed indoor workplaces. Some exceptions
> are
> permitted. The LWVF OPPOSES Amendment No. 6 based on our strong position
> that
> the Constitution should be a simple, integrated statement of basic law free
> from statutory detail."
>
> Besides the LWVF's solid rebuttal, I have another opposition to this
> amendment. I am not a smoker. Although it may inconvenience non-smokers,
> it is not the right of the even the selfish majority to tell a private
> citizen that he/she cannot open a private business that allows smoking (a
> human right). This is almost equivalent to telling someone that they
> shouldn't be allowed to smoke in their household. Just because they open
> a household for business, you suddenly get to tell them that smoking is
> not allowed because it would inconvenience your desire to purchase goods
> from them? You are wrong, my friend. The majority will win, because it's
> uneducated and doesn't care about the constitution *except* when the
> constitution suits their convenience. Sickening.
>
> By the way, if you think that smoking shouldn't be allowed because the state
> might have to pay for sick smokers, it's *your* fault if you say "yes" to
> socialized medicine. But this is how it always works--liberals get social
> programs in gear, and then when those social programs become ubiquitous,
> they use the "burden" of the social programs to make laws abridging the
> individual's rights! This happens with all health-related issues. After
> smoking, one day you will be penalized for bad eating habits because
> you burden the state medicine system. If you have foresight, you'll
> vote against anything that hinders this bleak future (a depressing
> thought that "hinder" must substitute "prevent").
>
> And, as the LWVF expresses more politely, it's sickening to think that
> the constitution will be buggered with such stupid detail as the issue
> of smoking in a restaurant. THIS IS STATUTORY AND COMMON LAW REALM, NOT
> THE CONSTITUTION. If this gets past, people will get to say, "it's
> UNCONSTITUTIONAL to open a restaurant that allows smoking." Wow. Could
> our constitution be made a bigger joke?
>
> AMENDMENT #7
> TITLE: EXEMPTION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF LIVING QUARTERS FOR PARENTS OR
> GRANDPARENTS
> "This amendment exempts from taxation construction of living quarters for a
> parent or grandparent of property owners or spouses who are at least 62 years
> old. The LWVF OPPOSSES Amendment No. 7 based on our position that no tax
> sources or revenues should be specified, limited, exempted, or prohibited in
> the Constitution"
>
> This is statutory, not consitutional. Only idiots think that the
> constitution-a very, very, strict document--should be plagued with
> stupid details such as tax exemptions! Oh god, I'm going to have a heart-
> attack.
>
> AMENDMENT #8
>
> TITLE: VOLUNTARY UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION
> "This amendment would require the state to offer free, high quality,
> pre-kindergarten to all four year old children. [...] the LWVF must OPPOSE
> Amendment No. 8 based on our position that the Constitution should be a
> simple,
> integrated statement of basic law free from statutory detail"
>
> Same old sh*t.
>
> AMENDMENT #9
> TITLE: FLORIDA'S AMENDMENT TO REDUCE CLASS SIZE
> "This amendment would require the Legislature to provide funding for
> sufficient
> classrooms so that schools can limit the number of students
> [... ] LWVF must OPPOSE Amendment No. 9 based on our position that the
> Constitution should be a simple, integrated statement of basic law free from
> statutory detail"
>
> Besides that: in California, this amendment did little to nothing to raise
> test scores--but the parents still hang on to it, because it makes them
> "feel better to see the smaller classes."
>
>
> AMENDMENT #10
> TITLE: ANIMAL CRUELTY AMENDMENT: LIMITING CRUEL AND INHUMANE CONFINEMENT OF
> "PIGS DURING PREGNANCY
> This amendment would outlaw "gestation crates" used to confine pregnant pigs
> in
> a space so small they cannot turn around for months at a time. The LWVF
> OPPOSES Amendment No.10 based on our strong position that the Constitution
> should be a simple, integrated statement of basic law free from statutory
> detail"
>
> Oh yeah, this should really be in our constitution! LOL. Please! This
> really has a lot to do with basic government strictures!
>
>
> AMENDMENT #11
> TITLE: LOCAL TRUSTEES AND STATEWIDE GOVERNING BOARD TO MANAGE FLORIDA'S
> UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
> "This amendment would establish a local board of thirteen trustees to
> administer each state university and a statewide governing board of seventeen
> members to be responsible for the coordinated and accountable operation of
> the
> whole university system."
>
> More beauracracy, yum! Gimme some o' that! The university system
> works just fine. In fact, we should be CUTTING what we already have in
> management!
=====
j -- m9u35@yahoo.com
---------------------------
Saying that the constitution is a "living, breathing document" is the same thing as saying that there is no constitution. How would you like to play poker with rules that are "living?" (Walter Williams, Rush Limbaugh Show, 17 June 2002 broadcast)
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