Not Just Talking, Doing

Constitutional Convention (0.00 / 0)

The upcoming constitutional convention ballot measure needs the full support of the progressive community.  People in Michigan have been talking about "structural" change for years, and now that the convention will be on the ballot suddenly there seems to be either a lack of interest or out right opposition.  You can't get any more structural than the constitution itself.  In one fell swoop, rather than a series of amendments, we could implement important changes like a unicameral part-time legislature, instant runoff voting, multi-member districts with proportional representation, local gov't consolations, a graduated income tax, equal school funding, appointed judges, redistricting reform and certainly other things as well.  Michigan could be the first state with a truly 21st century constitution.

This is a golden opportunity with the ballot measure coinciding with the near crisis situation in the state.  If this is not the time for serious structural changes, than no time is.

Arguments against the convention are already starting, mainly dealing with the estimated cost.  However, this is equivalent to responding to a doctor who has just told you that you will die without heart bypass surgery by saying, well it sounds like a good idea, but I can't really justify the expense right now.  Investing in a new constitution is no different than any other infrastructure investments like roads and bridges as the constitution is the infrastructure of the government institutions.    

I hope this will be a serious point of discussion at the summit.

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by: ibelieveinMichigan @ Sun May 30, 2010 at 17:18:14 PM UTC