Contingency

Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Abortion Rights: Dakota Plan B
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD

We're not terribly big fans of voters second-guessing representative democracy. But the legislators in South Dakota have provided the exception that proves the rule.
The point of this editorial is something which I've been thinking needs attention as well.

Voters elect folk to represent our wishes in Legislatures. The occasional ballot initiative is fine in emergencies, or when legislation repeatedly fails to reflect societies' needs.

This initiative in South Dakota definitely fits that scenario, IMO.

I get the impression that SD's voters won't overturn the legislation. I find it heinous and, oh yes, morally irresponsible (which term I'm going to define on here, soonish.) I also think the issue is divisive enough to warrant such a break from the standard and rational Democratic protocol.

I'm heartily in camp with the PI's editors when they state:
Our preference, of course, is for the voters to toss lawmakers who supported the law out on their ears at the next election. But this will do for now.
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Comments

  1. Kevin WolfJune 21, 2006 11:24 AM

    This is an especially important tool with all the rigging going on in our electoral politics. Tossing out some of these assholes is not necessarily as straighforward a solution as it should be.

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  2. Michael BainsJune 21, 2006 2:53 PM

    Dig it, dude. The thing is, if the elections can be for/against a certain candidate, they same can be done for an Issue.

    I think Shakespear's Sister has hit the nail on the head regarding what this could mean Historically.

    Scary days, hombres...

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  3. SuzanneJune 29, 2006 5:21 PM

    There's a good article in The New Yorker about South Dakota. Even a lot of anti-choice folks think the law goes too far and are voting to overturn it. It renews a very tiny spark of hope in me that not every red state voter is a total fucking idiot like the editorial writer who suggested that we should not overturn stupid with laws with ballot initiatives. (Although if you look at CA, there is a bit of truth to their concern.)

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  4. Michael BainsJune 30, 2006 6:24 AM

    I did it, Suzanne. Ballot initiatives are a great way to make legislaters realize, "THAT kinda crap AIN'T what we elected you for."

    And yeah, Cali is a prime example of takin' them too far. Why bother voting for law makers if you can just have ballot initiatives and have the rule of law be whatever the mob says it is.

    Of course, there're a helluvalot of legislators who don't research their issues any more than an average voter, so, sometimes anyway, there really isn't much reason to through constitutional channels. Not if we're just gonna get the same ill-conceived laws either way.

    ReplyDelete

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