Why the Amendments are Unconstitutional
Legend has it that “The Times of London” once asked famous authors the following question: “What’s wrong with the world today?” The brilliant Christian apologist Gilbert Keith Chesterton simply replied: “Dear Sir, I am. Yours, G. K. Chesterton.” We Americans find ourselves in much the same fix more than a century later: If we’re honest, we know that, like Chesterton, we are what’s wrong with the world. Our Founders knew that as well and crafted an “owner’s manual” called the Constitution to enable “We the [flawed] People” to not just survive, but thrive in a free society.
More than 200 years later, “We the People” still face the difficult, but noble responsibility, of perpetuating our free society. Casting our votes for people and policies which honor our God and God-given Constitution remains a critically important means of doing that. Doing so effectively means doing the often tedious spadework which leads to an informed, God-honoring vote. Thomas Paine said it well: “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must . . . undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” Thomas Paine
With this in mind, we offer a summary of why all the proposed Missouri Constitutional Amendments are unconstitutional and why The Guardians of Liberty in Southeast Missouri recommends a NO vote on all of them and the proposition. Use these talking points to speak with your family, friends, and people with whom you come in contact. Most people don’t understand what the “behind the scenes” consequences could be. Help them understand. Promoters of these measures naturally cast them in the most positive light possible. Study the language carefully, critically. The Locke & Smith Foundation provided the basis for these points. Please note that the “titles” of these amendments are paraphrases of their actual titles.
Amendment 2 (Sports Wagering)
- It’s not the business of the government or the people to create a business environment that is not open to competition.
- This amendment gives legislative authority to unelected government bureaucrats, meaning the people don’t control it.
- It creates the potential for a government bureaucracy to grow exponentially by showing favoritism in exchange for possible political favors.
Amendment 3 (Abortion/Eliminate Parental Rights)
- Eliminates every law on the books which protects the life and well-being of the mother in case of a botched abortion.
- Creates a means by which medical necessity isn’t required. Instead, simply a compromised mental or emotional state will allow for the termination of the pregnancy. It also prevents medical staff from being held liable for any injury. Additionally, it doesn’t require one to be a medical professional to perform the procedure.
- This measure violated state law and the state constitution to achieve ballot status. Moreover, four judges violated their oaths and ignored the violations.
- Additional Amendment 3 Info: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1ztIPNhp2YBFCSe54rx47RU1rVN-FGkzj
Amendment 5 (Osage River Gambling License)
Only one license would be granted, prohibiting a free market and promoting favoritism. Article 1 Section 2 of the Missouri Constitution prohibits such unequal measures. A very illogical definition of what constitutes the Osage River and a water way gives the impression that the specific licensee is already selected.
Amendment 6 (Fees and fines to support certain justice system officials)
Judicial administration pay and retirement benefits should never be attached to the levying of fees and fines of the courts. This could lead to “over policing” to increase their own salaries and pensions by writing more citations. There would be zero accountability or oversight of funds allocation.
Amendment 7 (Voting eligibility, Party primaries)
- This would essentially make run-off elections impossible, unless you change the Constitution.
- Political party primaries are NOT elections, they are a party nomination process. On the other hand, in elections voters decide which nominee ultimately serves in the office sought.
- It violates the “single subject” constitutional provision by conflating elections and nominations.
- This continues corporate welfare for both major parties since taxpayers bear the cost of this nomination process.
Proposition A (Minimum wage)
- This proposition violates the rights of every business owner by mandating a wage not agreed to by the employer or the employee at the time of employment, a clear violation of Article 1 Section 2 of the Missouri Constitution.
- It creates an unequal application of the law regarding personal time off, basing it on the size of the business. A minimum wage creates a pay scale ceiling, not a pay scale floor. Thus, better employees get stuck at the same pay as less energetic, less capable employees. This violates every principle of the free market; both the employee and the employer lose the right to negotiate higher wages based on employee productivity.
Need more local voting information?
Use the Cape County website to see your sample ballot plus a lot more!
