Initiative will undermine our constitutional freedoms

Freedom of association is an ironclad guarantee of Article 1 of the Bill of Rights.

This means people can freely associate to form political parties that represent their unique perspectives, interests, and values. Anyone is free to join or not.

Anyone is free to form their own political party in opposition.

Anyone is free not to affiliate with any party.

If individuals choose to remain “unaffiliated” that is a result of their own free will and volition.

The best analogy is to free speech: If you don’t like what’s being said, you’re free to talk louder, more often, more vociferously to present another point of view.

Freedom of association operates the same way.

If the “unaffiliated” don’t like either political party, they can form their own party and put up a candidate.

This is the way the system works in America due to our constitutional freedoms.

Proposition 1 is a devilish, clever, manipulative device — built on nebulous “equity“ principles of alleged disenfranchisement” of the unaffiliated — who in fact are free to vote for whoever they choose, even individuals not named on a ballot

Its real aim is to undermine our constitutional freedom of choice and assembly.

KAREN HEFLEY

Sandpoint