Communication
| The Danger in a Constitutional Convention As some of you are probably aware, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, a Democrat from Westchester, is pushing very hard for a Constitutional Convention as a tool to fix the dysfunction that appears to be endemic to NYS government. While this may seem a worthy goal, we must keep in mind that opening the NYS Constitution to modification can result in changes being made to Articles other than those pertaining to the immediate issue of governmental dysfunction. For us, the primary example would be our pension protection as guaranteed under Article V, Section 7. Hopefully, you are aware of the continual and pernicious attacks upon the NYS pension system by right-wing extremists. Additionally, there have been numerous editorials, such as those from the NY Daily News, that foment and support such attacks. These forces want to do away with that pension protection under the guise of fiscal reform and it could be a hard fight to stop them. Because of the failures of our elected officials, we are in a time of fiscal difficulty but retirees are becoming the scapegoats. The New York State Constitution is a wonderful document. It includes many of the guarantees found in the federal Constitution but often provides further protections for vulnerable groups. It is a humane document existing in a time of not-very-humane political forces. If we want to keep New York as a decent place to live, we must be very careful about how we change our Constitution. While it cannot be denied that our state government frequently does not work well, there are reasoned arguments against resorting to a Constitutional Convention. Beside the obvious one of opening everything up to change (environmental protections are another example), there is the basic argument that it may not be necessary. It should be clear to everyone that any efforts to fix the system have not only been few and far between but they have also been half-hearted, at best. A more prudent approach to making NYS government more effective would begin with examining changes or improvements that can be instituted by statute. Such action will require tact, diplomacy, compromise, lots of effort, and sincerity of purpose but it can be successful. In addition, it can be done more expeditiously this way. If our elected leaders are serious about reform, much can be accomplished through statute changes. A Constitutional Convention should only be used as a last resort. For these reasons, we encourage each and every one of you to contact your State legislators and inform them that a Constitutional Convention is not a good idea and that you will be watching their actions carefully. In addition, have your families and friends do the same. It is only by exerting serious political pressure that we can feel assured that our pensions are safe. If you are unsure of your Senator or Assemblyperson, check the blue pages of your phone directory, under “State” or call your county Board of Elections. |
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