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Proposed Initiative
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Proposed Initiative |
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Arizona Minority Rights InitiativeA proposed constitutional amendment to correct the unjustness of majority rule in Arizona
"The majority, oppressing an individual, is guilty of a crime; abuses its strength, and, by acting on the law of the strongest, breaks up the foundations of society." Thomas Jefferson In Arizona, a constitutional amendment is seemingly the only means by which to protect a minority against the whims of the majority. Whether initiated by the legislature or by ballot... it is imperative this be done. In the meantime, demonstrating a stance contrary to that of Arizona law, the U.S. Department of State has committed itself to the following:
Currently, under the Arizona constitution, the majority can impose its will
on any minority… regardless of its descriptive makeup which would include
smokers. This was demonstrated recently in Arizona by the passage of
proposition 203 (2006 tobacco tax initiative) which
then became law. Arizonans might also want to take advantage of the current situation by passing serious decrees with meaningful consequences... the complete overhaul (or elimination) of state government in certain areas. After all, while it lasts passage of a voter initiative (proposition) is an official decree. Apparently, as proposition 203 has demonstrated, laws derived from voter initiatives need not be constitutional either. If those actions don't inspire the Arizona legislature to make the first move, then at some point Arizonans will need to circulate a petition for an initiative to amend the Arizona constitution. The following is how it stands today (the portion in need of revision): Article IV, Legislative Department
Incredibly, (6) (A) and (6) (B) do not take into account the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights or federal law... as if they don't exist. A proviso needs to be attached. Yet the question might remain... can smokers be considered a minority? While it is really a matter of equal rights, one can't speak of a 'majority' without acknowledging the existence of one or more 'minorities'. Further, targeting a group automatically designates them a 'minority' by distinguishing the group as a human subcategory. As things stand, Arizona voters have the power to reinstate slavery, secede
from the Union or, as in Exodus, declare every firstborn summarily slain. In
Arizona, whether race, creed or custom, minorities have no protection…
only a comforting thought… that the majority “probably wouldn’t do such a thing”.
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