Is “We the people” and the inherent power represented in said phrase, best represented by the people in a vote or by representatives elected by the people? (with the partisan agendas )
A democracy is a fragile exception to the dictatorships of world history. The Constitution holds this democracy together. All elected officials are sworn to defend such.
States can debate it but it must be followed.
Two current and local matters are, in my opinion, are illustrative of elected officials ignoring the constitution.
The recent executive suspension and removal of Broward Sheriff Scott Israel by the Florida senate and the recent complete deregulation of the placement of High voltage transmission lines by big energy.
Said deregulation, I submit, mirrors the same kind of disregard for due process.
After an $800,000.00 dollar donation to his campaign for senate then Governor Rick Scott signed preemptive deregulation into law that removes local governments ability to regulate high power transmission lines. Hell, most lawyers concede in light of such nothing can be done.
The folks of Jefferson County , Florida now face the specter of High voltage transmission lines being routed wherever Nextera Energy (18 billion in annual profits) wants, which includes placement on a natural gas easement over drought prone pasture land which situates on what once was private property before big energy, unregulated , seized it.
Does the current disaster caused by sparking of transmission lines in California not serve as a warning against such?
We all want those responsible to be held accountable in the tragic shootings and deaths at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in South Florida.
However, how best should said justice be attained? The justice system where rule of law and its protections for the accused are present ? Or a political forum where due process is emasculated and evidentiary rules of fairness are non existent? Where the ultimate decision makers are lobbied by the prosecution (Governor)on party lines?
I believe it defies our notion of democracy that Big energy can ignore the citizens of a county as long as the politicians in Tallahassee are greased.
We are Floridians. We are the state where Lawton Chiles, Bob Graham, Reuben Askew and LeRoy Collins served as Governors. These men brought led us out of our segregated past. In 1960 black folk could not sit with white folk at a luncheonette. It was the law. It was not right.
Governor Collins witnessed such and went on television. He stated it was legal , but wrong. He stated I do not have to get re-elected but I do have to look at myself in the mirror in the morning.It cost him big. His run for senate was doomed because of doing what was right. Can you imagine our present leaders displaying the courage of Collins ?
So what do we do?
We must demand our government be held accountable.
The courts are not supposed to be surrogates of the state or big money!
The legislature should follow the dictates of those who have voted them in and not the special interests!
Our elected leaders should not participate in a political hatchet job that divests voters the right to elect or remove their elected officials.
The Governor should be a champion of all the people and not special interests.
Do we matter? Yes
Don’t forget the power of the people is and can be more powerful than the people in politics.
Remember the change made for the better is made by citizens Remember we are, who we were!
As Robert Kennedy counseled:
“Some men look at the way things are and ask why?
I look at the way things could be and ask why not?
Let us not forget that Right is never easy and sometimes not even the law. Collins lost it all for what was right. Say no to Big energy! Support your county government!
Your vote is precious ! Don’t accept the status a choice between bad choices! Give a Care when politics forgets basic fairness!
Think about it.
David Collins