Ohioans: Don’t Be Deceived about Issue One!

November 6, 2023 By John M. Grondelski

Ohioans vote Tuesday on Issue 1, a referendum question that would write abortion on demand through birth into the state constitution.  Buckeyes: Don’t let pro-abortion advocates lie to you about the extremes of this amendment.  This amendment legalizes abortion through birth for any reason.  No restriction on abortion prior to birth would be constitutional in Ohio. Anybody who claims that is not true is lying.  The amendment pays lip service to the notion of “viability” — i.e., the point at which a fetus is capable of surviving outside the womb, generally about 20 weeks (5 months). 

But the amendment’s “restriction” is no restriction at all.  Why?  Three reasons:

• The amendment itself carefully does not say when viability occurs. 
• It does say that determination is up to the person performing the abortion — i.e., somebody who has a vested interest in removing that restriction. 
• And the amendment says the restriction can be waived in the name of the mother’s “health” — but does not define “health.”  That definition is not self-evident or common sense.  We know from nearly fifty years of Roe v. Wade that the Supreme Court stretched “health” to include emotional and psychological satisfaction.  So if you’d be unhappy that you can’t have an abortion when you want it?  Your “health” is endangered.  That’s not fantasy.  That’s not fiction.  That’s almost half a century of precedents.

Do you believe that abortion should be legal for any reason at seven, eight, or nine months of pregnancy?  Issue One guarantees abortion at those stages. ............To Read More....

When You Search ‘Pregnancy’ On Google, The Top Result Is For Planned Parenthood - By  Leif Le Mahieu Nov 3, 2023   DailyWire.com -  New study from Media Research Center finds that Google consistently favors pro-abortion sources over pro-life ones.  Google’s search results consistently favor pro-abortion sources over pro-life ones, according to a new study that tested the search engine giant against its competitors.  A new report by researchers at the Media Research Center’s Free Speech America says that a pro-abortion bias exists across Google’s search engine, its AI chatbot Bard, Google Ads, and company policies. Researchers at the MRC compared Google results to those of Bing and DuckDuckGo, saying that results from Google tilted in favor of a pro-abortion perspective......

Ohio's Issue 1 rope-a-dope

By AOF  August 10, 2023 @ American Thinker

We reside in Ohio and were front and center of the special election for Issue 1 in Ohio on August 8, 2023.  This issue was to make amendments to the Ohio Constitution more difficult.  Making things more difficult for the government to accomplish anything is a good thing for citizens regardless of the issue.

This issue was marketed by both sides of the issue incorrectly and deceptively. The Pro side stated that it was Pro-Gun, Pro-Family, etc.  Blatant flag waving.  The Con side continuously stated that approval of Issue 1 would reduce our rights, eliminate “one person/ one vote” and “shred the Constitution.”  The contents of the Issue were clear and concise if one only went to the Secretary of State’s website and read for themselves.  There were many people who voted against Issue 1 (a majority) that are Pro-life, Pro- 2^nd Amendment and Pro-family.  These voters voted against their own interests and beliefs.  The failure of Issue 1 now creates the opportunity to advance abortion parameters to late term, trans-gender rights in our public schools and a variety of other issues.  The failure of Issue 1 has now weakened Ohio and began the process of turning our state Blue and on the model of Illinois and California. 

If Ohio voters had just taken the time to read the simple issue, the outcome would have been drastically different.  Instead, the Ohio voter chose to listen to the advertisements and social media posts promising the Apocalypse and now have a State Constitution that is vulnerable to special-interest pressure. The Con side won and won dirty. 

The moral of this story is for every voter to do their own study regarding proposed laws and bills.  It is not difficult and required by all levels of government to disclose prior to an election. Without the basic research, every voter is susceptible to the propaganda, deception and “sales pitch” of every special interest and will have to bear the consequences of their votes.  Uncharacteristically, Ohio’s Secretary of State Frank LaRose post-election statement said it best:

“I’m grateful that nearly 1.3 million Ohioans stood with us in this fight, but this is only one battle in a long war. Unfortunately, we were dramatically outspent by dark money billionaires from California to New York, and the giant ‘for sale’ sign still hangs on Ohio’s constitution. Ohioans will see the devastating impact of this vote soon enough. The radical activists that opposed Issue 1 are already planning amendments to shut parents out of a child’s life-altering medical procedure, force job killing wage mandates on small businesses, prevent law abiding citizens from protecting their families and remove critical protections for our first responders. I’ve said for months now that there’s an assault coming on our constitution, and that hasn’t changed. I’m just getting started in the fight to protect Ohio’s values.”

Ohioans and all other citizens of the United States, study and learn before you vote or don’t complain when Ohio is unrecognizable.

American on Fire (AOF) is a private citizen who has had enough. americanonfire@gmail.com and www.americanonfire.com.

Ohio Voters Killed Issue 1 – Is That a Win for Abortion?

So much for the idea of changing the constitution to keep it the same.

 By James Fite August 09, 2023

Ohio voters shut down a Republican attempt to stop “pro-choice” advocates from constitutionally protecting abortion in the Buckeye State. Had Issue 1 passed, the Ohio Constitution would have been amended so that any future changes require a 60% supermajority in the popular vote. And that would have made it nigh impossible for abortion advocates to enshrine a constitutional right to abort – and thus render the new six-week abortion ban “unconstitutional.”

Ohio and the Meaning of ‘Constitution’

Ohio is one of 38 states in which a simple majority popular vote is all that’s needed to amend its constitution. There are 11, however, that demand some form of supermajority or, at the very least, some special requisite beyond just 50% of voters plus one. New Hampshire has the highest required “supermajority” at two-thirds (66.67%). Florida comes in second with 60%, and Colorado is next at 55%. In the other eight, a simple majority does the trick only if some other special qualification – which varies by state – is met. Oregon, for example, requires that any rule changing the vote threshold on the constitutional amendment process meet whatever new level the measure in question proposes. So an amendment that calls for a 60% vote to change the constitution in the Beaver State would only pass with 60% or more of the popular vote. Delaware, on the other hand, is the only state in the Union that doesn’t compel the people to vote on whether to amend the constitution.

Those looking to pass ballot Issue 1 had hoped to make Ohio the 12th to require some form of supermajority – in this case, tying Florida for second place at 60% – in hopes of making it harder to pass an amendment safeguarding the right to have an abortion in the Buckeye State. That attempt failed, and now those same people can only hope the simple majority takes their side on the issue of abortion in November.

But, ignoring the ulterior motive in this particular case, there is one good reason to demand more than a simple majority to modify a constitution: the tyranny of the majority. The Founders knew well the danger of “pure” democracy, of allowing 50% plus one person to rule over the rest.

(Photo by Maddie McGarvey via Getty Images)

Changing the US Constitution requires either an Article V convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures or an act of Congress passed by a two-thirds supermajority of both houses. Then, regardless of which path was chosen, three-quarters – or 38 out of 50 – of the states must ratify the new amendment-to-be before it is added to the federal register as an update to the Constitution. For that reason, it has been successfully amended only 27 times in 236 years – with the first ten in 1791 being approved by the same folks who wrote, passed, and ratified the initial Constitution itself.

One doesn’t see the same picture when looking at the states. When the figures for all 50 are tallied up, the “average state” is on its third constitution and has amended that most recent one 130 times – which is precisely what one might expect when just a simple majority of voters is all that’s needed. While it’s certainly not the case for a small handful of states, the constitutions of most are little more than state law that’s altered by a popular vote rather than by legislators. Such flimsy “constitutions” pale in comparison to the relatively unchanged federal example, providing little real protection against the mob rule of popular political movements.

The Left’s Urban Advantage

Does this make most state constitutions pointless? On the contrary, it means they can be used in special situations to thwart the legislature. This is precisely what abortion advocates hope will occur in November. A look at just about any election map shows that, no matter how red the state may be, most urban areas tend to vote blue. So while a state may have enough red, rural counties to result in a GOP majority in the legislature or the presidential electors going to the Republican candidate, there’s still a good chance, if there are enough heavily populated cities, that the slight majority of voters in the state are either Democrats or at least lean somewhat statist and socially progressive.

Will that urban advantage be enough to render a six-week abortion ban unconstitutional in Ohio, where Republicans have dominated for years, with a current GOP trifecta and veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly? It’s a tall order, but the failure of Issue 1 means it could be close.

Read More From James Fite

Buckeye Institute Press Release

 

By Robert Alt Jul 27, 2023

 

In The Columbus Dispatch, Robert Alt, president and chief executive officer of The Buckeye Institute, makes the non-partisan case for voting YES on Issue 1.

“Vote ‘yes’ on Issue 1 to require a 60 percent supermajority in order to fend off the Californication of Ohio and keep our state’s constitution as a durable foundational document. Tell your friends, family, and neighbors: voting ‘yes’ on August 8 will align Ohio’s constitutional amendment process with the wise supermajority requirements enshrined in our beloved U.S. constitution and simultaneously ensure that Ohio does not become beholden to special interests on either side.”

Vote ‘yes’ on Issue 1 to ‘fend off the Californication of Ohio’ The Columbus Dispatch By Robert Alt July 27, 2023 On August 8, Ohioans go to the polls to vote on Issue 1, which is an amendment to our state constitution that would raise the threshold for passing future amendments from the currently required 50 plus 1 to 60 percent of voters. You read that correctly: It is an amendment to protect against future constitutional amendments. Ohioans are duly confused about what is as stake. It is understandably difficult to sort through disingenuous messages from those making the case for and against Issue 1 for their own pretextual political reasons. Disregard all of that noise and think for yourself about why almost everyone is trying to get you to vote “no.” My organization has been bombarded with questions from well-meaning Ohioans seeking an impartial and credible explanation for which way they ought to vote. We have been reluctant to weigh in publicly because in the first place there should not be August elections on special issues. Ordinary folks are wrapping up summer vacations and getting their kids’ school supplies in order and often remain oblivious to important elections taking place. But our principled and long-held objection on that count is now irrelevant, and we are mere days away from this consequential special election. Add to existing confusion about Issue 1 countless misleading ads and misinformation distributed by special interest groups on both sides, and what is a thoughtful yet busy person to do? I suggest voting “yes.” Here’s why you should vote ‘yes’ on Issue 1 Constitutions are subject to amendment as you recall from history class, but those changes to our fundamental documents must be few and far between — made only slowly and deliberately over time, which is why the U.S. constitution requires a significant supermajority of states to ratify amendments. We do not want to make willy-nilly updates. California in Ohio? California has a laughably easy-to-amend state constitution that serves as a warning. California’s constitution has been amended more than 500 times since the 1870s. We should not Californicate Ohio’s constitution. Peruse the United States constitution for yourself. The language is what you would expect to find: “Congress shall make no laws... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press....” These are principles of constitutional significance—ones that ensure that a majority does not abuse its power at the expense of everyone else’s fundamental rights. Now, likewise, go see for yourself by comparison our Ohio constitution. There you will find the definition of what constitutes a table game, the tax parcel identification numbers of every casino in the state (Art. XV), etc. That absurd minutiae has no business being in our constitution. But it has become the business of special interests to amend our constitution as frequently as they can — and both political sides are guilty. Recent attempts include the effort to grant marijuana-growing monopolies into our state’s foundational document. We should not let these one-off campaigns continue to do so. With a simple majority of 50 percent plus 1 being able to make amendments, Ohio’s constitution will become an increasingly silly document and risks exchanging the rule of law for the rule of special interests. Supermajority requirements ensure that people who are out of favor with the ruling class have protections from the whims of the majority. Supporting Issue 1 is responsible, commonsense, and unfortunately unpopular. It is unsurprising that special interests on both sides are opposed to Issue 1 and doing everything they can to get you to vote “no.” Defy them. Face it, you and I and ordinary Ohioans are not going to be the ones amending Ohio’s constitution in the future anyway. We do not have the time, money, or wherewithal. It will be well-funded, organized, and single-issue partisan groups with axes to grind. We should make it harder for them to meddle in our state’s constitution. Force them to pass their laws through the usual democratic process. Vote “yes” on Issue 1 to require a 60 percent supermajority in order to fend off the Californication of Ohio and keep our state’s constitution as a durable foundational document. Tell your friends, family, and neighbors: voting “yes” on August 8 will align Ohio’s constitutional amendment process with the wise supermajority requirements enshrined in our beloved U.S. constitution and simultaneously ensure that Ohio does not become beholden to special interests on either side. Robert Alt is the president and chief executive officer of The Buckeye Institute in Columbus.

Founded in 1989, The Buckeye Institute is an independent research and educational institution – a think tank – whose mission is to advance free-market public policy in the states. The Buckeye Institute is a non-partisan, non-profit, and tax-exempt organization, as defined by section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. As such, it relies on support from individuals, corporations, and foundations that share a commitment to individual liberty, free enterprise, personal responsibility, and limited government. The Buckeye Institute does not seek or accept government funding.

Donate Today! Support The Buckeye Institute