“…a republic, if you can keep it”.  (Benjamin Franklin, upon being asked if we had a republic or a monarchy)

Your article on our republican government versus direct democracy was exactly on point.  Bravo!

So many people nowadays seem to lack an understanding of basic civics.  A constitution is supposed to govern the PROCESS of how laws are made — how the legislators are elected (or removed), how bills are submitted and approved, what government officials are charged with enforcement or interpretation.  The actual CONTENT of the laws is the concern of our elected legislators. 

Thus, no proposal should amend the constitution if, instead, it could be enacted by legislative action.  The issues of hunting rights, abortion, marijuana use, bullet trains, and the care of pregnant pigs should never be issues for constitutional amendments.  The legislators, in proposing constitutional amendments for “decision by the people”, are often hiding behind a cloak of cowardice to avoid taking a stand on controversial issues. 

The first question any voter should ask when considering an amendment is not “Is this a good idea?” but rather “Is this proposal appropriate for a change to the Constitution, or could it be handled by legislation using the existing process?”