Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Flag referendum wasteful, unconstitutional: Don't do it

I oppose referendums on principle. Our forefathers over 200 years ago created a republic, not a democracy. It is been proven many times that an elected law- or policy-making body does a better job of enacting laws than citizens do via referendum.

Referendums are usually very emotional and emotion is not a good way to make law. Legislators have more details and information than most voters and they and their staffs study proposed laws, unlike voters who often vote emotionally. Even the choice of a state flag should not be done by emotion.

Referendums are unconstitutional in Georgia. Sonny Perdue knew that during a campaign. The referendum the governor is recommending has no legal meaning or authority. The result of such a referendum has no role in the choice of a state flag, so why waste the money for such a "public opinion poll." We can have a traditional public opinion poll conducted less expensively. It will give a better scientific result than what the governor is suggesting.

Politically it is unconscionable for the governor to recommend spending millions on such an illegal poll at the same time he is asking for a tax increase. He is showing politics means more to him than the financial well-being of the taxpayers of Georgia or the state government itself. Shame on Sonny Perdue!

I encourage the lawmakers from our county to vote against the governor's political referendum. The lawmakers need to show they care more about our hard-earned tax dollars than Sonny Perdue does.

S. Christopher Hagin

Fayetteville