Maybe you?ve heard from others, read in the newspaper, or been told during a worship service this election is an important one in Florida. Not just because of the upcoming Presidential, Congressional, or Statewide elections but because Florida is home to the biggest attack on the Constitutional separation of church and state in any state in recent memory. As an AU activist, we need you to help us stop Amendments 7 and 9 on the Florida ballot! As you may know, Amendments 7 and 9 would eviscerate the religious liberty safeguards that currently exist in the Florida Constitution and allow money to flow directly to religious organizations and houses of worship. The stripping of these important guarantees of freedom, combined with an undermining of the language that protects public schools in the Constitution, would allow a massive school voucher scheme to slip by Floridians and harm the educational opportunities for our children. Moreover, if Amendments 7 and 9 pass, the weakened Florida Constitution simply won?t be able to protect Floridians against harmful violations to their religious freedom. On behalf of our tenacious chapters and outspoken activists in Florida, AU will not stand for this. That?s why we?ve launched Floridians United to Defend Our Constitution, and created the comprehensive web resource www.NOon7and9.org. Now, we need you to take the lead and urge others to vote NO on 7 and 9. NOon7and9.org contains information on the amendments and how to become an advocate for their defeat. It?s not hard we?ve made it easy with talking points, printable hand-outs, answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and more!
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To me, you seem in panic. You should relax. If I lived in Florida, I would pledge my vote, and perhaps volunteer for your cause.
But, I live in Idaho, the very reddist of the red states. But, guess what, there is no prayer in school here. Evolution is taught in science classes as a fact, not a theory. There are more churches in Boise than there are convenience stores.
These bills keep popping up everywhere, all you have to do is get a few thousand signatures, and you can put a proposition on the ballot to make a maggot your state insect. The problem is that even if its passed, anyone or his dog can have the measure frozen pending judicial review. That is, is it constitutional?
A lot of legal fees can be prevented by blocking passage, but, as soon as an evangelical measure is passed, it becomes a nationwide debate, and it always dies in a dumpster.
NeoWolfe
You sound optimistic,neowolfe. I hope you’re right — I hope this evangelical measure dies in a dumpster.
Neowolfe, how dare you be an optimistic atheist? Good for you and hope to emulate more of that characteristic.
The good news is that, since both of these measures are amendments to the state constitution. they must be passed with a majority of, at least, 60 percent of the votes cast.
However, if they do make it into the state constitution, then anyone attempting to stop the public funding of religious schools and other activities, which these amendments will allow, will be forced to go into the Federal court system and probably all the way to the Supreme Court for relief. I’m not at all confident such a challenge would be successful given the current makeup of the Supreme Court.
These two amendments are efforts to restore former Governor Jeb Bush’s voucher program, which was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court.
We Floridians need to head this off at the polls, not hope for favorable court rulings down the line.
Florida Today (Brevard County’s Gannett newspaper) is reporting that Florida’s Supreme Court has thrown both Amendment 7 and Amendment 9 off the ballot. The decision was announced just a few hours after the court heard oral arguments. Also tossed was Amendment 5, a tax-swap measure that had come under heavy fire for deceptive language, etc.
The opinions on the case have not yet been released, so I’m not sure about the legal basis for the decision.
TX,
I have told Karen that I believe that victory is eventually inevitable for our cause, because we have the greatest minds on the planet on our side.
The biggest obstacle was created by the founding fathers by insuring religious freedom, but simultaneously seperating church and state. The government finds itself in a paradox. For example, the cult raids in Utah. Teen and preteen girls being compelled to marry some ugly,horny, old fart. So they rip apart parents and children, and try to gather evidence of what they KNOW is happening from children who have never seen the real world, just a world painted by their religious leaders. How do you pull that off without making victims again of the victimized? Patience is needed but they’re sorting it out in a divided democratic sort of way.
NeoWolfe
Ricker,
I’m not one to say I told you so, but, what the hell?
There’s a universal rule of judicial procedure that prevents a party who fails to win a motion, then changing a few details, but not changimg the substance of the motion, from bringing it before the court again. (I can’t remember the term, it’s latin legalese) That is, unless all conditions are met from the findings of all judges ruling against the motion. And even then, a judge has no obligation to write all his misgivings in his ruling, so still no guarantee exists for a different verdict.
But, litigation IS EXPENSIVE, but I’m not convinced it’s more expensive than political campaigning.
NeoWolfe
neowolfe,
Heh. Don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back.
While I certainly recognize the role of litigation in keeping a damper on actions like these, I also think it’s important for the voters in any jurisdiction to pay attention to what’s going on and to be prepared to show up at the polls to record their yeas and nays.
I’m probably as optimistic as you about all of this?in the long run, anyway?but I think it is a mistake to allow optimism to lead one to complacency.
Ricker,
My arm is fine, and I don’t need a trophy. I agree with you completely, if we go to sleep for a second, the evangelicals will rob our tent. Then, as Jesus taught, we will have to track them down and give them the rest of our shit. And that would suck.
NeoWolfe