Comments on: Should We Fear A California Constitutional Convention?

By: Wendy Wagner

Wendy Wagner — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:36:45 +0000

The convention was not a political acion by politicians but a philosphical discussion between faith and reason. From that it was clear what would be the unifing principles.

By: Roger

Roger — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:59:28 +0000

I would like to see a constitutional convention draw up a new governing document closer to America’s First Constitution, The Articles of Confederation. Such a document would recognize the sovereignty of the states and severely limit the power of the national government to interfere in the affairs of the States and Individuals.

By: Æ

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:18:08 +0000

You might reread the authority to alter state/local government. It says: “Governance, including the relationship between the state and local governments, and the structure of the legislative and executive branches of government.” The potential for a part-time or otherwise constrained government is there.
The concern about county/city delegates is valid. Fortunately city/county officials are much easier to reach and influence. We will need to apply a great deal of pressure to them to ensure that they don’t trade seats for favors.

By: Jared

Jared — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:14:47 +0000

Interesting idea.

It seems the root question is this. Will this process allow us to remake the state government into one which is more faithful and responsible to the electorate and is more focused on freedom (both personal and financial), and less dominated by partisan politics and vote buying.

I can’t think of any time a government has reformed itself to this extent through a peaceful process. Typically to create this kind of reform requires shooting tyrants and would be tyrants. That’s just the cycle that plays out over and over through history.

The biggest problem with this plan is the one Erik notes….basically the tyrants are initiating and participating in the process. Far too many poison pills will be hidden in whatever is eventually produced.

By: Eric Hogue

Eric Hogue — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:43:09 +0000

Nick, this is a great piece. Also consider that we are “picking” 14 Prop 11 Commissioners for the ‘drawing of new district lines’ this year. In 2010 we’ll have 14 people who will use crayons to determine the “new districts” for State Senate and Assembly seats. They will draw the new lines in 2011. Who will these 14 people be; and how will their opinions, biases and individual ideology drive the future of California politics?

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:41:50 +0000

I have fear that there would be more centre-left people that ‘care’ about California then centre-right. The “other-half” would be packed with the left, and the 240 from the people would mostly be the left because of the majority party in the assembly. Common sense folks won’t get heard due to the majority of the convention being the left.

I think this is dangerous!

By: Erik Bruvold

Erik Bruvold — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:16:41 +0000

Think this through. The 240 assembly delegates will be, in many cases, marginally engaged in politics. They won’t know each other. There is unlikely to be many (any?) assembly delegates with detailed knowledge about the state. The COUNTY delegates, however, can be chosen by whatever means the county supervisors and/or the councils of the 4 largest cities choose. Many of those delegates will be political animals. There is every reason to believe that there will be blocks of county degates that will be ready to hit the ground running, ready to dominant the initial days of the conventionthrough better organization, block voting, parlimentary proceedure know how. Expect them to work hard to get their choices for convention officers elected, drive the agenda setting process and select out the experts that will be solicited. Keep in mind that the constitutional convenion “worked” because it was a managable number of delegates from the 13 colonies. No group of 430+ of strangers is going to function through concensus. Rather the small group of delegate blocks that are initially organized will dominant the process.