To the editor:
On Aug. 8, please vote no on Issue 1. Issue 1 is not a Republican or Democratic issue. It is an issue of power-hungry Ohio politicians vs. the Ohio citizens.
All previous Republican and Democratic governors in Ohio have urged all Ohioans to vote no on Issue 1. Government only works when a system of checks and balances are in place to prevent an abuse of power. The current Legislature has used gerrymandering to reduce the voting power of the ordinary citizen.
Now, the Ohio Legislature wants to eliminate the citizens' last line of defense against power-hungry politicians by making amending the Ohio Constitution virtually impossible. Since 1912, Ohioans have been able to ratify a proposed state constitutional amendment with a simple majority -- 50 percent plus 1. If Issue 1 passes, the sacred principle of one person, one vote and simple majority wins which has existed since 1912 in Ohio will be no more. If Issue 1 passes, the citizens' ability to hold politicians accountable will be greatly diminished, if not completely lost. If Issue 1 passes, it will destroy citizen-driven ballot initiatives.
Issue 1 is arguably the most important ballot issue ever in Ohio. Yet, we are voting on whether Ohio should permanently abolish the basic constitutional right of majority rule in August. Ask yourself why are we voting on this important issue in August? Last year, Ohio politicians eliminated August special elections saying, "Interest groups often manipulatively put issues on the ballot in August because they know fewer Ohioans are paying attention." Yet, these very same Ohio politicians who just last year were against special August elections have put the most important ballot issue in the history of Ohio up for a vote.
Obviously, the power-hungry Ohio politicians are hoping few Ohioans are paying attention. Hypocritical? Absolutely. But what do you expect from power hungry politicians.
If Issue 1 was the Ohio State -- Michigan football game and the final score was Ohio State 59 Michigan 41, Issue 1 would declare Michigan the winner. That is not right in the game of football and it is not right in the game of life as an Ohio citizen. Without the practical ability for citizens to amend the constitution, the power-hungry politicians can pass whatever extreme law they wish to pass knowing the citizens have little power to stop them.
Please stop these power-hungry politicians and protect the sacred principle of one person, one vote and simple majority wins, and vote no on Issue 1 on Aug. 8.
Michael Johnson
Steubenville