There are rational arguments for and against Issue 1. When deciding, please consider the following:
Issue 1 does not disempower Ohio voters. The right to propose or change law via ballot initiative remains the same, with a simple majority required for passage.
Issue 1 does make it more difficult to amend our Ohio Constitution. I think this is good. Changes in policy such as where to put casinos, to what degree to legalize marijuana, budgetary and tax items, employer policy, etc. are matters of policy. They belong in statute or initiative, not a permanent change to the constitution. Sometimes we get policy wrong, and future representatives should be able to fix them.
A disturbing trend has developed in recent years where powerful, well-funded groups outside Ohio seek to amend our constitution to impose their worldviews on us. Competition in marijuana growth and distribution, casino placement, law enforcement, marriage rights for gay couples, etc. have been limited via these outside groups who use their resources to change our constitution. Issue 1 makes this more difficult.
Amending the federal Constitution is very difficult, and rightly so. In Ohio, having the threshold be higher to change the constitution (60% of Ohioans agree) versus an initiative that changes a law or policy (50% of Ohioans agree), just makes sense. Issue 1 makes the tyranny of a small majority over a large minority less likely.
I urge you to support Issue 1.
Bob Sielschott
Lima
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