Knowing Your Rights to the Ballot

If you don't know your rights is it more likely someone can take them away? When I talk to "new" Americans-people who have come to this country legally and become citizens-I am often reminded of how much we take for granted. Especially when it comes to the right to vote and the right to take good ideas to the ballot. Most of us have no clue how this concept of ballot access came into being. Since we have heard about "ballot issues" all our lives, we just figure they have always been around. Earning the right to the ballot was a long fight in America and in some states people still cannot initiate laws and amend their constitution. The history on this right is quite a story. It's highest point came during the Presidency of Teddy Roosevelt, who championed against the corruption of big business and big political machines. Teddy saw the right to go to the ballot and pass a measure with a majority vote of the people as critical to holding the Legislature accountable. He knew he was right because of the corruption he saw as big business and big government worked against the common good and used government as a tool for private gain. Unfortunately we see lots of that kind of collusion again today. This is not to say that business is bad or government is bad. But as Madison rightly said, "If men were angels-we'd need no laws." Giving citizens a fair shot to bring initiatives and amendments to the ballot is one way to hold legislators accountable. Voting them into or out of office is another. Do you know where your lawmakers stand on this important right to ballot access? Do you know the rules in your state on how your constitution can be changed? Do you know if anyone is trying to take those rights away from you? To find out more click on the "Teddy was Right" section today.