The Evansville Courier Press has an article talking about one of Gov. Daniels’ “Big, Bold” ideas: A Constitutional Convention. The article suggests that this isn’t anything Gov. Daniels is pushing hard for; rather it’s part of his “everything’s on the table” approach. Maybe I don’t trust the passions and attention span of my fellow citizens, but this strikes me as a spectacularly Bad Idea. Such a convention wouldn’t have to limit itself to property tax reforms or any other particular charge. Just a gigantic can of worms.
Doug, more than a bad idea, it could overturn 150 years of juris prudence in regards to constitutional issues. It would allow some of the same monkeys running the current stupidity circus to really mess with the whole system. And it would be UNCONSTITUIONAL. The only method of changing our system in Indiana (listed in Article 16) is by a clunky slow process of two legislatures doing it. Which means they could pass a whole raft of REAL amendments (not SJR7) and then repass it in 2009. It would appear on the 2010 ballot for all Hoosiers to see. In the mean time, a real dialogue about how we structure our government and daily lives can take place in public, where our beloved legislators and the lapdog Eric Miller always claim they WANT such dialogue, not behind closed doors or in judicial hands.
Let’s not respond to the emergency of a house fire by destroying the whole block.
We had to burn the village in order to save it.
Oh dear. “on the table” could mean anything from “I’m vaguely considering it” to “I already have a committee working on this, so don’t be surprised when it comes up.” :(