Our Founders' Warning: “Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.” (Thomas Jefferson)
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What are Pro Con Features of Initiatives Amendment?
The following table shows the principal Pro Con features of the Initiatives Amendment:
PRO Initiatives Amendment
CON Initiatives Amendment
1
It is an excellent return on investment and could save the taxpayers many billions of dollars every year.
Amending the constitution is long, arduous and could cost its supporters hundreds of millions of dollars.
2
Some moral and ethical issues are best resolved non-politically by the People because the issues are too politically controversial for Government to confront.
It is easier to let the Congress muddle through and the Supreme Court to add reinterpretations to the Constitution.
It is a new amendment and it may not work as its proponents expect.
4
Because it can propose constitutional amendments as well as enact federal legislation, it will be an effective continuing check and balance on legislative loopholes, end-runs, and Government excesses.
Wealthy special interests groups and Congress are very clever and persistent; they often find ways around the rules to achieve their objectives.
5
It will involve issues of nationwide concern that will increase the level of Citizen participation and increase their obligation to make their decisions work.
There will be more election material to read and the responsibility for decisions cannot be blamed on representatives.
6
If the People take action, they control their destiny—in the American tradition of the great experiment in democracy. The simple right to propose initiatives can ease frustration.
The People believe Government excesses are really bad, but consider themselves helpless to affect change.
