This is a slightly modified version of a post I wrote for the social media network Nextdoor, where I hoped to get feedback and spark discussion. And I did. Some of it has been good so far, and some of it has been folks angrily banging at their keyboards… per usge. I would also enjoy hearing from anyone reading this blog. I’m intentionally burying the lede on Issue 1 because I think it’s perfectly representative of the ballot description (which I’ve linked, below) and makes my point.
[If] you feel like you can’t be honest about your intent, you should consider whether you might be the bad guy.
While I’m relieved that Issue 1—the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio—did not pass, I am still disappointed by the messaging surrounding it. Everywhere I looked, the propaganda was pure obfuscation designed to distract voters from the real reason the amendment was proposed. As you can see on the second page of the official ballot description from the Ohio Secretary of State (links to PDF), the arguments both for and against issue 1 are all beside the point.
“Empower the People, Protect the Constitution”
“… deep-pocketed, out-of-state interests…”
“… Shreds Our Constitution”
“… Takes Away Our Freedom”
Imagine you have a teenaged son who comes to you saying, “I want $1,000. Can I please have it?” You might reasonably respond, “Why do you want $1,000?”
Your son comes back, “Think of all the things I could buy with $1,000! I can name some: a surround sound system, a whole home dehumidifier, a fancy watch, a designer handbag for my girlfriend or a nice backpa-“
“TELL ME… why… you want the money,” you say, impatient with this non-answer.
“I’m broke and I need to settle with my plug for all the booger sugar he spotted me last week or he’ll break my right knee.”
You deserve to know the truth. Intentions matter. With knowledge of the real reason behind this request, you might still decide to give your kid the money. However, the route by which you come to your decision will certainly be different than if you thought the money was for a whole home dehumidifier. With eyes wide open, you can consider the value of your child’s right knee against the value of the lesson they’ll learn
On Issue 1, the truth is simple. Republicans proposed the amendment because they want to make it harder for Democrats to reinstate women’s abortion rights. By the way, we should say it in a manner that fairly represents both sides’ actual views: “Republicans call abortion ‘murdering babies.’ Democrats call it ‘women exercising control over their own body.’ Talk to all the people you care about and respect, then decide for yourself.”
Sure, there are technical details that should be made clear to voters—we should be concerned about all the collateral damage the amendment may cause, as well as the implications of the status quo—but not before plainly describing what this is really about. If you propose an amendment to our Constitution and you feel like you can’t be honest about your intent, you should consider whether you might be the bad guy.
The same goes for the other side. Why can’t they just come out and say, “We oppose this amendment because we want to bring back a woman’s right to terminate unwanted pregnancies and Republicans are trying to make it harder for us to have a fair vote on that issue this November”?
Maybe I just don’t understand politics. I can’t imagine how hard the job of a politician must be if they need to constantly lie (even if only by consciously omitting the truth) to try to get what they want. Does everyone in government feel so insecure about their values that they all have to mask their intentions? Who decided, “Let’s all try to trick each other,” was the right way to live?
I saw honest (some) discussion on Nextdoor and other social media, but I can’t understand why people should have to go there to suss out the truth from friendly neighbors and strangers with hidden agendas. I have read several testimonials that the ballot was difficult to understand if one didn’t come to the booth already understanding that it means to say: “Vote “NO” if you want your vote on abortion in November to matter as much as everyone else’s and no more.”
Isn’t the concealment I’ve described the opposite of the way we all want things to be? Don’t we deserve better from our elected officials?
I’d be happy to be freed of this delusion if I’m wrong. Please tell me if you think the messaging from our media or our elected officials was clear and honest.
Split Wood, Laugh Out Loud 