Texas Republican Party Platform Thread 15 (Initiative and Referendum)

Brown County GOP Website ^ | June, 2002 | Republican Party of Texas

[Bigun]

The Republican Party of Texas Platform has been MUCH in the news of late because it is a CONSERVATIVE document and, as such, VERY controversial. I thought it would be an instructive exercise, for those of us who wish to do so here, to go through it plank by plank and see where we stand on these issues. Pursuant to that, I will post ONE plank of the Platform, every few days and anyone who wishes to can state their views as to that particular part of the platform.

Today, under the sub-heading Preserving American Freedom we find the following plank:

Preservation of Republican Form of Government - The Party reaffirms our support for the provisions for a republican (representative) form of government, as set forth in the Texas Constitution and Texas Bill of Rights [Art. I, Sec. 2; Art. I, Sec 29; Art II, Sec. 1; and Art. XVII, Sec. 2(g)], and we oppose any attempt to introduce direct democracy (Initiative & Referendum) into our state constitution, thereby bypassing the legislative process and the checks and balances between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. We hereby reaffirm the principles espoused in the United States Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution.

[Bigun]

I have decided to score myself by assigning a score of between 0 and 10 points to each of the planks! 10 means I agree with EVERYTHING in it. 0 means I agree with NOTHING in it!.

0 points! The Texas constitution has been amended so many times it’s hard to keep track and we should amend it again for this IMHO ( As I recall, when the dims controlled Texas politics there was a was ALWAYS a plank in our platform calling FOR In Initiative & Referendum).

The barrier for getting something on the ballot directly should be kept high but it should NOT be impossible!

My running score to this point remains 112 out of a possible 150.

[Bigun]

P I N G ! ! !

Previous Thread

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

With proper safeguards I favor Initiative & Referendum, as did the Republican Party for many years.

Zero (0)

101 of 150

[hchutch]

Zip here.

Initiative and Referendum should be allowed in most cases, and REQUIRED for a tax increase.

[austingirl]

Amen

[PetroniDE]

This plank is confusing to me. Therefore, I need time to read-up on this. Abstain for the time being, with a "self-imposed" deadline of Tuesday, 17 September for a plank rating.

A temporary case of turning chicken..

[Dog Gone]

I'm open to debate on this. There are times when the citizens need to bypass the legislature. However, the process can get hijacked by liberal special interest groups, as has happened in California.

I'm going to think about this before announcing my level of support for this plank.

Bigun, in order to attract more interest in these threads, maybe you should consider giving a hint of the plank topic in the thread title. Adding "Initiative and Referendum", for example, to this thread title might get more people to click on it.

[Flyer]

Zip. Nada. Zero. Agreed there should be a high barrier, but this is a better option than shooting the bastards.

The Threads	Me!</td
Preamble Limiting the Expanse of Government Power Limited Federal Powers Constitutional Citations on Legislation Equality Under the Law Conduct of Public Officials Federal Judiciary Reform Judicial Restraint Law Enforcement Preserving National Security Property Forfeiture District of Columbia Census Elimination of Executive Orders Preservation of Republican Form of Government	10 10 10 6.6 10 0 10 10 Abstain 8 11 10 9.5 0 0 105.1 of 150

>

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[Flyer]

Abstain for the time being

AHEM !

[PetroniDE]

I have imposed a deadline for me... Therefore, I have homework. Tell you what, if I don't post my score by end of day Tuesday, YOU get to choose it... Deal ?

[Flyer]

I'm going to think about this before announcing my level of support for this plank.

Geez, I abstain from one vote and look what I start.

[Flyer]

if I don't post my score by end of day Tuesday, YOU get to choose it...

Now we're going to Democrat style voting.

[Dog Gone]

Hey, it's more useful to vote at the end of a thread if our discussion has any value. You're getting a raft of %$#! because you never did make up your mind!

I'm still hoping that more comments on this thread will help me decide. ;-)

[Bigun]

Adding "Initiative and Referendum", for example, to this thread title might get more people to click on it.

Good idea! I'll do it!

[Flyer]

I'm still hoping that more comments on this thread will help me decide

Yeah, you just want to keep the "shooting the bastards" option open.

[Bigun]

However, the process can get hijacked by liberal special interest groups, as has happened in California.

Yes indeed! I am WELL aware of the dangers here but this plank earned a 0 from me because it came forth for PURELY political reasons IMHO.

For years, when republicans were in the minority across the board in Texas politics, planks promoting I&R were ALWAYS included in the platform. The situation has changed now and our position on the matter changed with it apparently!

To hypocritical for me!

If it was a good idea then it is STILL a good idea now IMHO!

[Dog Gone]

Yeah, you just want to keep the "shooting the bastards" option open.

I think they could have worked that into this plank and gotten a lot more support. ;-)

[Admin Moderator]

Adding "Initiative and Referendum", for example, to this thread title might get more people to click on it.

Good idea! I'll do it!

Actually, I did it. :)

[Dog Gone]

See? The Admin Moderators aren't the worthless pieces of %$@& that everybody says they are!

[Bigun]

For which we thank you! ;>)