Beware of the Re-writers
Back in February I wrote about getting Americans to return to constitutional principals by learning the original to start from. This led to my search for a copy of the Florida Constitution.
Little did I realize that six proposed Amendments would be sponsored and placed on the November 5, 2024 ballot to change the Florida Constitution.
The founding fathers designed a unique form of government that would be limited by a Constitution. Each state has their own in addition to the Constitution of the United States of America. These words are compiled to generate a meaning that was supposed to create a representative form of governance or republic that had restrictions to prevent tyrannical rule.
However, words can be misinterpreted, misconstrued, and maligned. Some would argue that the profession of law has been corrupted by those most talented in doing just this. While it may seem to be more prevalent at this time especially in certain areas, it really isn’t a new tactic.
Consider one of the very first stories of human beings, chapter 3 of Genesis: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” The first tactic is to question what was said.
The second is to twist the intent behind commands, directives, and laws. 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
The third is to misapply it by taking it out of context as a separate entity. Look at the temptation of Jesus in Matthew chapter 4: “Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and
“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus aptly replies, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Expanding to other strategies used in the war of words is to change the meaning of words and phrases. How often does one hear, “That’s not what it means!” or “What does that mean?”
Well that’s exactly what is going on with the majority of the Amendments listed on the Florida November 5, 2024 ballot.
Amendment 1: https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/Initiatives/fulltext/pdf/10-104.pdf in summary is proposing to change school board elections from non-partisan to partisan vote as if divisions weren’t big enough already. But perhaps it will review one’s affiliation’s that explain why furies are provided liter pans, sexually confused students are allowed to impose their personal identity crisis onto others in bathrooms and locker rooms, and sexually graphic materials are included in health curriculums. Voting YES will mean school board candidates must divulge their political party affiliation. It also means that independent voters will not be able to vote on school board in the August primary.
Amendment 2: https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/Initiatives/fulltext/pdf/10-105.pdf rambles on about preserving the right to fish and hunt via traditional means as a constitutional right. Why this isn’t already a right is really baffling.
Amendment 3: https://initiativepetitions.elections.myflorida.com/InitiativeForms/Fulltext/Fulltext_2205_EN.pdf is laced with seductive wording to make it seem like voting in favor for it will further supply the state government with funds to provide great services with taxation on the approval of marijuana for recreational use. Meanwhile, it gives one corporation sole privilege to be the source of the substance while putting all competition out of business. It also opens to door to a myriad of additional social problems of which enough present. Vote “No” is probably in the best interest of everyone but the sponsors of the amendment.
Amendment 4: https://initiativepetitions.elections.myflorida.com/InitiativeForms/Fulltext/Fulltext_2307_EN.pdf deceives, lies, and mispromises. It’s quite the example of ambiguity to allow for interpretation as anyone sees fit. The advertising behind the amendment is very misleading. For example Unlike other Amendments, Amendment 4 does not define any of its key terms. For example, it does not define “viability,” “health care provider,” “patient’s health,” or how serious a health concern would need to be to allow exceptions for late-term abortions. These uncertainties create loopholes resulting in more abortions later in pregnancy than voters intend.
Amendment 4 goes TOO FAR by allowing late-term abortions, far beyond when science says the baby is capable of feeling pain.
Amendment 4 would overturn current laws requiring a parent’s consent BEFORE a minor can have an abortion, thereby making abortion the only medical procedure that can be performed on a minor without a parent’s permission.
Amendment 4 pretends to “just bring things back to how they were with Roe vs. Wade” – but it actually goes much further – creating a constitutional right to abortion throughout all nine months with no protections for the unborn baby.
In Michigan, where voters recently approved a similar amendment, the same lawyers who wrote Amendment 4 are currently suing the state to force taxpayers to fund abortions. The same thing will happen in Florida if Amendment 4 passes. Be sure to visit the Votenoon4FL.com web page for more information. The link is listed below.
Amendment 5: https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/initiatives/fulltext/pdf/10-106.pdf Here’s an interesting amendment that proposes an amendment to the State Constitution to require an annual adjustment for inflation to the value of current or future homestead exemptions that apply solely to levies other than school district levies and for which every person who has legal or equitable title to real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, or another person legally or naturally dependent upon the owner is eligible. This amendment takes effect January 1, 2025. A YES vote would allow the homestead exemptions to be adjusted for inflation, a NO vote would keep the homestead exemptions the same as current. But let’s look closely at the language of the proposal:
(1) An exemption not exceeding fifty thousand dollars to a
82 person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate and
83 maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, who has
84 attained age sixty-five, and whose household income, as defined
85 by general law, does not exceed twenty thousand dollars; or
86 (2) An exemption equal to the assessed value of the
87 property to a person who has the legal or equitable title to
88 real estate with a just value less than two hundred and fifty
89 thousand dollars, as determined in the first tax year that the
90 owner applies and is eligible for the exemption, and who has
91 maintained thereon the permanent residence of the owner for not
92 less than twenty-five years, who has attained age sixty-five,
93 and whose household income does not exceed the income limitation
94 prescribed in paragraph (1).
Who has an income less than 20,000 and owns property?
Could it be that this Amendment is just smoke and mirrors to the Tax racket described here?
Amendment 6: https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/initiatives/fulltext/pdf/10-107.pdf Proposes the repeal of the provision in the State Constitution which requires public financing for campaigns of candidates for elective statewide office who agree to campaign spending limits. A YES vote would repeal the requirement for public financing for campaigns of statewide office candidates who agree to campaign spending limits, a NO vote would keep the law the same.
I’d like to thank the women of We The Locals Podcast.com for their guide and podcast on this subject. Visit it here: https://wethelocalspodcast.com/#9a605efa-1b4a-43c8-96a0-a50861dfb927
Other recommended references;
For the full Genesis Chapter 3 click here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203&version=ESV
For the full Matthew 4 story of the temptation of Jesus, click here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%204&version=ESV
For a fantastic sermon discussing how the Bible can be misinterpreted click here: