Con Con the start of better government

This year Illinois voters will have the opportunity to commence the process to review our state constitution, which was drafted 40 years ago.

The opponents of a "yes" vote for a constitutional convention, including erstwhile reform delegates to the last meeting, continually cite their fear that special interests and politicians would steal the convention focus from repair and revision of the constitution. This shallow argument belies their arrogance and mistrust of the Illinois voters and potential con/con delegates from acting responsibly.

Voting to proceed with a convention this November does not insure change and improvement of our governing document and state and local government; but voting against a convention does guarantee the status quo. If you, the voter, are satisfied with our present political morass, wallowing in governmental inaction in Springfield, satisfied with the regressive property tax, poor state funding for education, lack of voter ability to recall state officials, failure to enforce state balanced budgets and the inability to stop gerrymandering legislative districts, by all means, vote against a constitutional convention. If any of these issues raise your ire and disgust, and you would appreciate an opportunity to create a modern state constitution, please support the constitutional convention question and vote for a better future with a "yes" vote.

Ed Abderholden

Mundelein