It has come to this: A recent letter in this paper (Tuesday, March 22) says Greenfield voters who propose a new idea to the City Council are an “unelected interest group.”
We usually call them “constituents.”
Voters are citizen stakeholders. They represent the best example of government “by the people,” something which is not found in countries led by dictators.
Our “unelected” citizens are more trustworthy and dependable than some of our “elected” lawmakers in Congress.
Organizing a citizen’s initiative in no way means that a City Council is “abdicating their legislative rights.” In fact, suppressing access to a citizen initiative abdicates our right as citizens to submit new ideas to all voters.
If you don’t want voters to be part of the legislative process, then take away our right to citizen initiatives and referendums. Why stop there? Take away our right to vote altogether — since we are just “unelected interest groups.”
Charlie Kosterman
Greenfield