They opted, in essence, to confiscate property from those hard working folks who produce beef, leather and wool. And this simply because they did not care to understand the necessary role trapping plays in the production and affordability of these goods, which all of us except the most dogmatic of animal rights advocates enjoy. The current ballot initiative process by which the Colorado Constitution may be amended by popular vote was intended to give the people a means of safeguarding their rights. The Tabor Amendment requiring the approval of the people for any tax increase is an example of the way in which they protected their property rights under this process. Lawsuits and legislation aside, there are signs that the amendment's provisions may not be widely complied with.
People tend to resist the confiscatory schemes of governments.
That the passage of Amendment 14 might create the justification for a similar rebellion against what is perceived as the irrational intrusions of democracy was another matter the amendment's architects perhaps didn't consider. This article, from the Independence Institute staff, fellows and research network, is offered for your use at no charge. Independence Feature Syndicate articles are published for educational purposes only, and the authors speak for themselves. Nothing written here is to be construed as necessarily representing the views of the Independence Institute or as an attempt to influence any election or legislative action. Op-ed archive .