GT: County issues sanctuary declaration

By a 3-0 vote on Tuesday, the Board of Commissioners declared Benton County a “sanctuary county.” --The declaration reads, in part: “The recent political climate has galvanized support of anti-immigrant, Islamophobia, anti-LGBTQ, anti-people of color, anti-women policies resulting in many individuals afraid for their safety and the loss of civil liberties. … We must act now and always to uphold our commitment to be a community free of prejudice, bigotry, and hate.”

Read more at Corvallis Gazette-Times

Read More......

Benton County voters reject jail bond

According to the Corvallis Gazette-Times, "A proposed $25 million bond measure to build a new Benton County Jail was defeated Tuesday night, but backers vowed to revive the issue in a future election." The County website reported that the tally was 11,599 NO votes to 10,520 YES votes, thereby sending the bond measure (2-91) to construct a new jail into defeat. Read More......

Benton County sets 2014 fee hikes

Fees for a host of Benton County permits and services will go up next year.
The county commissioners approved a number of fee increases on Tuesday after reviewing requests from individual departments.

Among the highlights:

• The Planning Division will add a $115 fee for additional review and processing required for building permits or mobile home placement permits in a floodplain. The division’s other permit fees will increase by 5 percent.

Read more at the Corvallis Gazette-Times Read More......

Two Republicans initiate petition to change Benton County Charter

Measure would require commissioners to represent separate districts ✧ Benton County voters may get the chance to change how the county commissioners are chosen. ✧ Jerry Jackson of Philomath and Gerald Tsupros of Alsea have filed a petition for a ballot measure to amend the county charter to require that each member of the three-person board be elected from a distinct geographic district. Read more at Gazette-Times...

Related:
Corvallis Gazette-Times, July 26, 2013 Letter (Gerry Tsupros): Geographic commission would ensure accountability
Corvallis Gazette-Times, July 24, 2013 Editorial: District elections for commission don't add up Read More......

GT: OWEB weighs local conservation grants

Bennett Hall of the Corvallis Gazette-Times reports that, "A state agency will take comments on two grant requests to help fund conservation projects in the Corvallis area at a pair of public hearings this week." [That would be tomorrow, Thursday, January 31st from 10am-Noon at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library]. The state agency is Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.

• Benton County is asking for $41,300 for an easement to protect habitat for an endangered butterfly
• The Greenbelt Land Trust is asking for $940,000 to complete the purchase of Bald Hill Farm.

Read more: Corvallis Gazette-Times Read More......

July Newsletter: Benton County Republicans

Benton County Republicans - Newsletter, July 14, 2012

The U.S. Budget Explained:
U.S. Tax revenue: $2,170,000,000,000
Federal Budget:  $3,820,000,000,000
New Debt:  $1,650,000,000,000
National Debt:  $14,271,000,000,000
Recent budget cuts:  $38,500,000,000

Now remove 8 zeros and pretend it is a household budget:
Annual family income:  $21,700
Money the family spent:  $38,200
New debt on the credit card:  $16,500
Outstanding balance on credit card:  $142,710
Total budget cuts:  $385

Something has got to change!  We can’t run our family this way, we certainly can’t run a nation this way.

For Your Calendar: 
       
Sixth Annual Gathering of the Eagles:  Saturday, August 4, noon to 5:30 pm in Turner, OR.  The “most patriotic event in the northwest”, the Gathering of the Eagles blends approximately 40 different organizations representing the Te Party, Conservatives, Independents and Freedom-loving Americans.  The event will feature BBQ, entertainment and guest speakers, including Lars Larson, Tom Delay, Anita Moncrief and others.  An event for the family, pre-registration required.  More info:  Dama Curtright at 503.588.7000, or www.gatheringoftheeagles.com.

Thursday, August 9 the Benton County Republicans are throwing a Picnic and BBQ.  This is an excellent opportunity for you to meet fellow Republicans and other like-minded people.  You are not alone!  If you would be interested in helping, or need more information, please contact me: Gerry Tsupros,  gtsupros@peak.org  or (541) 487-4611

Learning Opportunities:

Video of the Week:  What REALLY Works  By The Freedom Foundation

Nine Free Lectures by Yorktown University Faculty
Founded in 2000, Yorktown University is an accredited Internet university that is focused on academic disciplines in politics, American history, constitutional law, economics and culture.  This nine-lecture series, offered to the public at no cost, represents some of the best thinking of Yorktown University faculty. Register now—for free—for a single online lecture or the entire series!  Titles include “A Program for Prosperity”, “U.S. History to 1800: The American Revolution”,  “Supply Side Economics” and more.

In the News:  (click on underlined heading to read entire article)
Taxmageddon Would Wreak Havoc on Oregon Taxpayers  Sven R. Larson, Ph.D.
   
By now, I am sure you have heard of Taxmageddon – the $494 billion tax increase set to hit America’s already overburdened taxpayers in January 2013. If you haven’t, check out this informative website provided by the Heritage Foundation. Taxmageddon is a combination of expiring Bush-era tax cuts, expiring payroll tax cuts, and new incoming ObamaCare taxes. Together they will create the largest single-year tax increase in American history and very likely the largest tax increase ever created in the entire world.
 
Obama Guts Welfare Reform  Obama has overturned Congress and the law again. His Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an official policy directive rewriting the welfare reform law of 1996. The new policy guts the federal work requirementsthat were the foundation of the Clinton-era reform.

Welfare reform replaced the old Aid to Families with Dependent Children with a new program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The whole point was that able-bodied adults should be required to work or prepare for work as a condition of receiving welfare aid.

This reform was very successful.TANF became the only welfare program (out of more than 70) that promoted greater self-reliance. It moved 2.8 million families off the welfare rolls and into jobs so that they were providing for themselves. Recipients were required to perform at least 20–30 hours per week of work or job preparation activities in exchange for the cash benefit.

Now, Obama's HHS is claiming that it can waive those work requirements that are at the heart of the law, and without Congress's consent.

Benton County Republicans
PO Box 808
Corvallis, OR 97339
541-754-9155
hq@bentongop.org Read More......

New 2012 Benton County Precinct Maps available online

(Hat tip: John H. Detweiler) - NEW Benton County Precinct Maps available online on the Benton County website.

There are significant changes to legislative district boundaries in Benton County as a result of the latest redistricting effort. To learn what changes were made in your area, please, check the 2012 Precinct maps now in effect. Maps showing political boundaries before the most recent redistricting process are now referred to as Old Precinct maps.

We suggest that you zoom in on your area on the Benton County Map to see what precinct you are in now. Sorry, we don't yet have an easy way to let you know what your current precinct number is, or if it has changed since redistricting. Read More......

Does Benton County need a Chief Operating Officer?

Corvallis Gazette-Times: County nears end of COO search

Should Republicans comment on this article and attend the interviews (if possible) and meet the candidates?

What: Public reception for the four finalists
When: 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6th
Where: Main meeting room, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 N.W. Monroe Ave. Read More......

Visit the Benton GOP Food Booth at Corvallis Fall Festival

It's Corvallis Fall Festival weekend and we hope you'll visit the Benton County Republicans' Pasta and Meatballs booth (#18) at Central Park near the main stage on Monroe (across from the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library). The food booth is a fundraiser to help the Benton GOP prepare for the 2012 election. On the menu is Spaghetti with or without Meatballs, Meatball Subs, Meatballs-on-a-Stick (with your choice of marinara sauce or Swedish style white sauce), Strawberry and Chocolate Sundaes and assorted beverages. We'd like to thank the many volunteers who have prepared for this event and those who have volunteered to man the booth. Can we count on you as a patron this weekend?

Don't want to fight the traffic and parking? There is FREE PARKING and SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE every 10-15 minutes from the Avery Square Parking Lot on 9th Street. Getting there can't get any easier than that! Read More......

GT: Protesters decry riparian rules

CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES, 7/20/2011 - Rural landowners challenge county over property rights: A county rulemaking process that has been stirring up discontent among rural property owners drew its first full-fledged protest Tuesday evening. Read more at the GT...

Also see article with photos and video at Corvallis Tid-Bits... Read More......

Alsea Valley Alliance Showing Important Video - You're Invited!

VIDEO
UNITED NATION’S PLAN
NOW BEING IMPLEMENTED
BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)
RESULTING IN EPA’S ATTEMPT TO CONTROL ALL WATERWAYS IN THE U.S. & BENTON COUNTY’S PLAN TO IMPLEMENT REGULATED RIPERARIAN BUFFERS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
VIDEO WILL BE SHOWN ON FRIDAY, JUNE 24 AT 7PM IN THE ALSEA LIBRARY MEETING ROOM
EVERYONE INVITED
PRESENTED BY ALSEA VALLEY ALLIANCE

All Benton County residents should become well-informed on these issues. --bc

Read More......

Newsletter: Remember Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 21

Your Freedom Wasn’t… and Still Isn’t… Free! - World War II cost the United States dearly. Our country lost nearly half a million citizens. Many more who lived through combat still carry the scars. Our nation honors all who have served our country to protect us. At this time, we’d like particularly to remember our vets from World War II. A beautiful memorial has been erected in Washington DC to honor them, and veterans are flocking there to see it and to remember their comrades. Don’t miss this 2-minute video! It’s the least you can do for those who kept America free! Subject: WWII Documentary (Trailer)

A local Armed Forces Day Tribute with Flag Rally will be held from 11am-1pm in front of the National Guard Armory, 1100 NW Kings Blvd. Bring your beautiful American flags to wave as we celebrate our nation and those who defend it. Extra flags and "Support our Troops" signs will be available for those who need them. Refreshments will be served.

Republican Calendar
Local events

Thursday, May 19 – Townhall Meeting with Rep. Peter DeFazio (D). 11 a.m. – 12 noon. Bring your compelling questions to face Mr. DeFazio in the main meeting room of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, corner of 6th and Monroe Sts. He’s coming to try to make political hay over Republican budget cuts.

Saturday, May 21 - Armed Forces Day Celebration. You’re invited to honor the members of our Armed Forces on Saturday, May 21 beginning at 11 a.m. at the National Guard Armory, Kings Road and Lincoln Avenue in Corvallis. Bring your beautiful American flags to wave as we celebrate our nation and those who defend it.

Tuesday, May 24 – AFP Meeting. 6:30 p.m. Don’t miss guest speaker Holly Swanson as she gives Corvallis a big wake-up call about Agenda 21 and ICLEI. This is a must-hear message! Bring family and friends. King Tin Restaurant meeting room, 1857 NW 9th Street. You may order dinner if you wish, but it is not required.

Monday, July 4 - Independence Day Breakfast 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the parking lot at Republican Headquarters, 1760 S.W. Third Street, Corvallis. Come on out and have breakfast with your friends. Great selection!

State-wide events of interest to Republicans

Saturday, June 4 – in REDMOND: Constitution Seminar with Jim Huffman, Law professor at Lewis & Clark Law School since 1973. Candidate for U.S. Senate 2010. This seminar will provide you with a deeper understanding of the Constitution. It will give you insight into why it remains our country’s most treasured document. Get more details by sending your RSVP by Monday, May 30th to dcrpnews@gmail.com or call Kate Adams at 541.306.0875.

---

New Revenue Forecast News FROM REP. ANDY OLSON
Many of you are still wondering about the current revenue forecast that was just announced. I would like to share some of my thoughts in regards to where Oregon stands in these difficult economic times.

The economy seems to be improving; however, we need to move ahead cautiously. Many of Oregon's families are still struggling to make ends meet with rising gas and food prices and earning less! It is vitally important we use your hard-earned tax dollars wisely and be prudent in balancing the 2011-2013 budget.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and concerns during the next weeks.

Fast Facts...

• First quarter personal income tax collections were down $22 million (3.5 percent) from the March 2011 forecast.
  
• Fourth quarter corporate income tax collections were up $3.6 million (5.2 percent) from the March 2011 forecast.
  
• Oregon personal income was down $2.1 billion (1.5 percent) from the March 2011 forecast.
  
• Oregon employment was up 15,028 jobs (0.9 percent) from the March 2011 forecast.
  
• Our numbers sure look better compared to the 2009-2011 budget, but history has shown that state economic and revenue forecasts are often wrong. That's why it's important to maintain significant reserves to prevent further cuts in the future.

Job Growth...

It's all about jobs, and this revenue forecast depends on robust job growth. More jobs mean more revenue to fund the programs and services we depend on.

• In the final weeks of session, the Legislature should refocus on private sector job creation and pass reforms that allow us to attract and retain employers.

Compared to last year around this time the Linn County Unemployment Rates has dropped by almost two percent! I was so pleased to hear from a long-time family friend who was rehired by a local Albany company after being laid off for over two years. This is definitely good news.

---

City of Corvallis Commission Vacancies
Application packets may be obtained from the Community Development Department, Planning Division, 2300 NW Walnut Blvd or by calling 541.766.6908. Applications also available on City’s website, www.ci.corvallis.or.us (select “What’s New”.)
Return completed forms to the above office by 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 27, 2011. The City Council will interview applicants and make a selection at a time and place to be announced.

• The City of Corvallis invites interested persons to apply for a position on the Corvallis Historic Resources Commission (HRC). Members of the HRC receive no compensation and attend 1-2 regular evening meetings, typically 2-3 hours in length each month. Three positions for three-year terms will be filled beginning on July 1, 2011. One position beginning on July 1, 2011 will be filled for a two-year term. Qualified applicants will demonstrate a positive interest, competence or knowledge in historic preservation; prior experience in quasi-judicial decision making; and/or a community-wide perspective on balancing multiple objectives associated with community planning. Also need a strong background in one of the following fields: Archeology, Architectural History, Conservation, Cultural Anthropology, Curation, Engineering, Folklore, Historic Architecture, Historic Landscape Architecture, Historic Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation Planning, Historic Preservation, History.
  
• The Corvallis City Council invites interested persons to apply for the vacant positions on the Corvallis Planning Commission. The Commission consists of nine members. New positions will extend from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014. Members of the Planning Commission receive no compensation and attend an average of two regular Planning Commission evening meetings each month and an average of an additional special meeting or two each month, either in the evening or in the day.

---

This e-mail is sent to you by Benton County Republicans, P.O. Box 808, Corvallis OR 97339. Our office is located in the Millrace Center at 1760 S.W. Third Street, Corvallis. Our telephone number is 754 9155. Please visit our website at bentongop.org.

If you would like to subscribe to our e-mails, please make your subscription request HERE. Thank you. --J. Nelson Read More......

March 1: Benton County ‘Riparian and Wetlands’ Meeting in Alsea

ALSEA VALLEY VOICE, Last Updated 02/20/2011 - ATTENTION! IMPORTANT MEETING MARCH 1st FOR RIPARIAN AND WETLAND OWNERS - "On Oct 27th Benton County held a meeting to present to the community the results of the county’s project to identify and protect riparian and wetlands. At this meeting it was learned that the county was considering requiring a 50 foot setback from any river, creek, ditch, pond and wetland to be kept in natural vegetation. The county personnel held this meeting and several like it in other parts of the county in order to explain the water project and the resulting inventory to the residents. They also wanted to get the ideas and opinions of the local people before actually writing the regulations. Because only a very few people from Alsea attended this meeting and because possible regulations could affect landowners property rights, the Alsea Citizens Advisory Committee requested that another meeting be held in Alsea. As a result there will be a meeting to explain this project and answer questions and listen to ideas and concerns. This meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 1st at 7 pm at the Alsea Grange. (MORE MEETINGS Feb. 5 and 7)

In order to give Alsea people more opportunity to give their input an OSU graduate student, Julie Ryden, is going to come to Alsea and meet one on one with people in the ACE office in the library on Saturday, March 5th and Monday, March 7th. She will record people’s concerns and present them to the county’s Riparian and Wetlands Advisory Group (RWAG). To sign up for a time slot to talk with her call Mimi Stout at 541- 487-5444 or e-mail. or signup at the March 1st meeting.

Want to learn more? Check the Benton County Riparian and Wetlands Project Inventory draft report in the Alsea Library and/or attend the presentation and meeting that Benton County is holding on Monday, March 1st in the Alsea Library Community Room. More information can be found on the internet at www.co.benton.or.us/cd/riparian." Read More......

Feb. 23: Benton County Stormwater Meeting

How does the rain that falls in Benton County lead to pollution in the Willamette River? The problem is not the rain, but pollutants in the ground it falls on, and the Benton County code is being updated to address this issue. ∴ The county is planning a public meeting – scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library meeting room – to focus on the updates to the county code, which are designed to improve water quality through local erosion control and some “post construction” stormwater management requirements. Read more at The Benton County Website

Read More......

President Lincoln's Press Conference

Last night, February 12th, President Abraham Lincoln held a Press Conference at the Linn & Benton County Republican's Lincoln Day Dinner in the CH2M Hill Alumni Center in Corvallis, Oregon. It was his birthday. He began the conference with his own remarks and then took questions from the Press (the guests). Due to the seriousness of his message, all present could have heard a pin drop as he spoke. The president contended that the abolition of slavery was indeed the reason for the war between the states. He felt it was biblical, that the country was unable to avoid war and that it was a punishment for the sin of slavery. He reported on the progress of the war and about his choice of disappointing generals to lead the union. One and all could see the great personal toll it took on him over the horrible loss of life as the war wore on. Yet one could see a little colour returning to his gaunt face when he spoke of eventual victories. The President talked about the ugly reception his Emancipation Proclamation received. Some called him a tyrant or worse. The Abolitionists were furious that it did not inclued all slaves. Mr. Lincoln brought out his spectacles to read the brief remarks he'd made at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The gathered press corps could hardly agree with Mr. Lincoln's assessment that his concise words would not long be remembered. Finally, the president explained why, under extreme criticism, he refused to hang the Generals and leaders of the Confederacy in an effort to heal the nation at war's end.

Mr. Steve Holgate of Portland, is the actor who so passionately and truly portrays President Lincoln. A number of guests asked about his next scheduled event. Mr. Holgate will be presenting a longer version of President Lincoln at the Coaster Theater (MAP) in Cannon Beach, Oregon on Friday and Saturday, March 11-12 at 7:30 p.m. (Whichever way you go to Cannon Beach, you'll want to come home via Newport and Corvallis, unless you want to spend the night. The tunnel on Hwy 26 will be closed during night-time hours due to roadwork.)

For the members of the Lincoln Day Dinner Committee, it was a wonderful pleasure to host Mr. Holgate and his lovely wife, Felicia. From the feedback we've received, our guests were impressed.

The Committee offers its gratitude to all the members of the press (our guests) who contributed to the success of the evening. We thank you for generously supporting the 'buy it now' tables, the silent auction and the oral auction. We hope you enjoyed the evening. Read More......

Feb. 12: President Lincoln's Birthday Celebration

PRESS RELEASE
Lincoln Day Dinner, February 12, Corvallis

If you've never heard him speak, now is your opportunity to come hear President Abraham Lincoln. ∴ What American wouldn't love to have a conversation with our first Republican President? Imagine hearing him talk and then being provided an opportunity to ask about that era and the momentous decisions he made. This year’s keynote speaker at the Linn and Benton Republicans Lincoln Day Celebration is President Abraham Lincoln. Our speaker is an actor, Steve Holgate, from Portland who strongly resembles Lincoln. He gives audiences all over Oregon, throughout the West Coast and overseas a chance to hear Lincoln (in period costume) talk about his years in the White House. Mr. Holgate has been highly praised by a member of the National Lincoln Bicentennial Commission saying that "he's the best Lincoln in America."

The evening’s events include no-host wine bar, hors d'eourves and buffet dinner catered by the popular El Sol de Mexico in Corvallis. A sampling of our live and silent auction items includes a BBQ dinner for 40 to 45 people in June 2011, gun training classes, blown glass items by an Oregon artisan, and beautifully created theme baskets with hotel, resort and restaurant certificates. Pinkerton guards will be in attendance for the President's security.

The event will be at the OSU CH2M Hill Alumni Center on Lincoln's birthday, Saturday, Feb 12, 2011 from 5:00-9:00 PM. Go to www.LincolnDayDinner.net or call Jo Rae Perkins at 541-928-6077 to get all the details and make reservations ASAP for an evening you won't want to miss.

This is a major fundraiser for Benton County - your support is greatly appreciated. Read More......

Voters will have chance to meet Republican candidates Monday

See Corvallis Gazette-Times article HERE.

What: Republican Candidates' Fair & No-host Luncheon (optional)
When: Monday, September 27th
Where: King Tin Restaurant, 1857 N.W. Ninth St., Corvallis
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Candidates attending:

• Jim Huffman for U.S. Senate
  
• Rose Cook for State Representative, Dist. 16
  
• Jerry Jackson for County Commissioner, Position 1
  
• Mark O'Brien for Corvallis City Council, Ward 1
  
• John Detweiler for Corvallis City Council, Ward 6
  
• Rick Schroff for Corvallis City Council, Ward 7

See you there! --bc Read More......

GT focuses on Chris Dudley's appearance at Benton GOP Barbecue

CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES, 8/20/2010 by Bennett Hall - Dudley energizes GOP faithful Read More......

GT: Activists aim to revamp county government

CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES, 6/14/2010 by Bennett Hall - A group of local political activists, citing what they say is a widespread feeling of disenfranchisement with Benton County government, are holding a public meeting at the library this Friday [no time given] to discuss ways to make it more responsive. UPDATE: This meeting is scheduled from 7pm-9pm.


“We’re not prescribing anything,” said peace activist Leah Bolger, one of the meeting organizers. “We just want to have a civil discussion where people can throw out their ideas on how to improve county government.”

Bolger said the idea for the meeting came out of a discussion group formed around the David Swanson book “Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union.”
While Swanson is advocating political reforms at the national level, the Daybreak group decided to see what changes they could accomplish locally. They decided to focus on the County Commission in part, they said, because people on both the left and the right of the political spectrum feel locked out by the fact that no one but Democrats have been elected to that body for more than a decade.

“The three-commissioner form of government is not the most democratic form of government around,” said Vernon Huffman, a Green Party member helping to organize the meeting. “When the winner takes all in the election, you end up with three members of the majority party representing everybody.”

Huffman said he’d like to see a county government based on proportional representation and elected by instant-runoff voting. He’s also in favor of neighborhood councils with control of county funding.

Huffman and Bolger said they’ve invited the current county commissioners to attend and have also reached out to Tea Partiers, Republican leaders and a group of GOP activists backing term limits for the commissioners.

Annabelle Jaramillo, who chairs the County Commission, said she plans to go to the meeting.

“I’m really curious to see what they’re talking about,” Jaramillo said. “I think it would be a great discussion to have.”

Bennett Hall can be reached at 541-758-9529 or bennett.hall@lee.net. Read More......

Obama's Supreme Court Appointee can turn up the heat...

From the Benton Co. Republicans Newsletter, 5/9/2010: OBAMA’S SUPREME COURT APPOINTEE CAN TURN UP THE HEAT ON OUR CONSTITUTION

As you read this, President Obama is interviewing candidates to replace Justice Stevens on the U.S. Supreme Court. ∴ We do not doubt that he will choose a 21st Century Constitutionalist (who wants to change our Constitution to be a “living, breathing document” that bears no resemblance to our current Constitution), and we will move ever closer to a government by appointed judges, rather than elected representatives. ∴ Stephen Markman, former Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court and Assistant Attorney General under President Ronald Reagan is now a distinguished professor of constitutional law at Hillsdale College. ∴ In the April “Imprimis” Markman warns us:

1. By 2030 the U.S. Constitution may not bear any resemblance to the Framers’ Constitution of 1787 that has guided our nation for two centuries and has rendered it the freest, most prosperous and most creative nation in the history of the world.
   
   
2. Proponent of a “21st century constitution” or “living constitution” aim to transform our nation’s supreme law beyond recognition—and with a minimum of public attention and debate. (We’ll be too distracted by all the crises the media bombards us with every day).
   
   
3. The overarching theme that 21st century constitutionalists are driving for is to replace our system of republican government, in which our Constitution is largely focused to minimize the likelihood of abuse of power. In its place they want a system of judicial government, in which major policy outcomes are increasingly determined by federal judges. Oh, we’ll still have elections, but the legislature will not have the power to make the big decisions. That will be left to the appointed court justices.
   
   
4. The new constitution would compel specific outcomes. The important decisions would increasingly be undertaken by courts, especially by federal courts. Example: the California courts are already making the important decisions, instead of the millions of voters in the state. Racial quotas, social services funding, and immigration policy in California have been routinely overturned by single judges acting in the name of the Constitution—not the Framers’ Constitution, but a “constitution for our times,” a “living constitution, resembling, sadly, the constitutions of failed and despotic nations across the globe.

TO BE CONTINUED... Read More......