Why is Mayor Karl Dean deceiving you about Nashville’s other proposed amendment, Hear the People?
One of the most valuable rights available to us as Americans is the right to petition Government for the redress of grievances. So valuable, in fact, it is recognized as one of our unalienable 1st Amendment rights along with free speech, freedom of the press and peaceful assembly. It puts Government in its place. Government governs with the consent of the governed. It’s Government of, by and for the People. It should surprise no one, then, if the most active opposition to Government being responsive to the People comes from Government.
Perhaps the most powerful tool the People have to force Government to be responsive is the Initiative and Referendum (I&R) process. Unfortunately not all Americans enjoy what ought to be a universally available tool. Ballotpedia.org’s US I&R map shows 22 states have no provision for citizens to force Government to deal with specific issues. Tennessee is such a state. The larger Tennessee cities, however, do have an I&R provision. But local Government is no more eager to give the People I&R power than other state Governments.
On January 22nd Nashville voters will decide whether or not to amend the city charter on 2 points. Nashville English First (NEF) would make English Nashville’s official language for city business purposes. Agree or disagree, putting question like this to the people is precisely what the I&R process is for. But in my mind the 2nd charter amendment, Hear the People, is more important because it addresses the process by which I&R issues make it onto a ballot in the first place.
Nashville Government, its business allies, the media and the coterie of liberal non-profits feeding at the public trough will only discuss NEF. They’ve adopted a joint, coordinated strategy of addressing and demonizing only NEF. Despite literally NO discussion or explanation of Hear the People, the coalition opposing NEF urges voters to “Vote No” on both amendments, as if they were part and parcel of the same issue. Nashville For All of Us, a coalition formed specifically to defeat English First, is a perfect example. Go to the website. Watch the video. Read the material. They only discuss NEF. Yet featured prominently in all material is the encouragement to “Vote Against” both 1 and 2. Karl Dean and Nashville Government are deceiving Nashvillians about their rights and about how their Government works.
The obvious question is, “Why?” The answer lies in what Hear the People does…(Read More)