Posted on 11/04/2009 7:26:26 PM PST by indianrightwinger
It is too hard for me to swallow the fact that a properly passed law in Maine was repealed in a public referendum. This just seems wrong. The proper course of action was to throw out the bums who passed the law in the first place and then have a subsequent legislature / Governer repeal the law. While the "outcome" in this case was favorable to conservative point of view, it is impossible for me to see how it benefits the conservative movement in the long run. Remember, gay marriage was made legal in Maine by the elected government - NOT juducial fiat like in other cases. I am all for public referendums on judicial activist rulings that "make" law. Maine case is utterly different.
Many states have the referendum option written into their constitutions. I’m damn glad they do.
The public overruled the elected representatives who did not follow their wishes.
Referendum is a much more timely process for redress than your “throw the bums out” approach. There is plenty of time to get rid of the legislative miscreants AFTER the people correct the flawed legislation by referendum.
Liberals can also use the referendum process to overrule conservative laws. So, is it not better to fix the real problem - throw the bums who passed the bill and signed it into law. Then, use the same legislative process to repeal it.
Anyway, I would have much preferred that approach.
Judicial fiat is a totally different story.
Such deep and thoughtful thinking must really be taxing.
We tried to play that exact same card in Washington State, but ACORN still has its tentacles all through King County, so it lost in a squeaker.
You can’t accept that the people can make a decision in a state wide vote? Give it some more thought.
What better expression of democracy could you have than a referendum? In addition, this expression of democracy does not, in any sense, mistreat any minority (although the gay community will argue to the contrary). Finally, nothing about this referendum prevents any voter from voting against any legislator. Maybe someone will think your complaint makes sense, but not me.
Propositions in California tend to be annoying because nearly always the only proper vote is HELL NO.
I don't believe that it's the federal government's place to have any say in gay marriage (or abortion), but I applaud the election results in Maine. Marriage is between a man and a woman and abortion is murder. It's just that it's up to state law to enforce that.
/highfive to the voters in Maine.
For me I agree with you but as I don’t live in Maine who am I to tell them not to allow popular referendums..
Why can’t they do both. They can get immediate remedy through referendum and make sure the clowns who voted it in originally are thrown out. That will put the fear of God in those left over and anyone who may try to do the same thing in the future.
Exactly. This is a 10th amendment issue and the great state of Maine has every right to determine how they will be governed.
I’m not real happy with “law” being made by majority rule. Our system of government wasn’t set up that way for a very good reason. As you said, this worked in conservatives favor this time, but I don’t like the idea that it could be used in a very bad way next time.
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I am from CA. Really supported prop 8 YES vote. I voted YES on it. In CA, it was done by judicial fiat. So, a referendum was the only recourse.
Exactly the point.
Can’t endorse a process because it produced a favorable outcome in one case or a few cases.
Of course they do. And, so do I to express myself. First amendment (comes before the 10th). :-)
If the referendum is legal under the state’s constitution, what is the problem?
Following the rules also means using them to one’s best (legal) advantage.
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