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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 'Game changer' for heart patients Emergency services, April 27 Parents upset that Schneider Children's Center at SOU will close Orchard fans cause stir with neighbors Pair who escaped North Bend prison includes Jackson County man Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, April 27 Pair who escaped North Bend prison includes Jackson County man Emergency services, April 26 Garcia sculpture reported stolen from Medford yard Emergency services Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Former state Senate President Brady Adams dies Education Needs improvement SWAT students track progress of stream restoration efforts Students participate in fuel reduction effort at Ruch School New funding formula awards universities for graduating more students Official hopeful whooping cough case at John Muir contained Environment Residents say armed mine supporters sully Josephine County's reputation Armed protesters gather at Medford BLM office over Sugar Pine Mine dispute Jackson County's wildlife services agent seen as both killer and savior Biomass technology: Creating products out of former waste Sugar Pine Mine co-owner: "Please stop calling the BLM and threatening their personnel" State News What's left of Oregon battleship stands in Portland Police identify armed man killed in Salem RV standoff Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics US Rep. Newhouse proposes ending protection for wolves Judge proposes Oregon bakery pay $135,000 to lesbian couple Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Maurice "Zeke" Ziegler Phillip Stevens Larry E. Dameron Marie Melvina Besette-Hull James Emmett Boozer Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Portland goes timber Paul, Clippers even up series Challengers picks up wins Donahue, Beavers down USC at home Rose seals victory in New Orleans Varsity 541 College Sports Donahue, Beavers down USC at home King's single lifts OSU over No. 10 USC Emmert, Silver not on same page with one-and-dones Addison gets back into rhythm with Ducks Oregon wins distance medley relay at Penn Relays Pro Sports Portland goes timber Paul, Clippers even up series Rose seals victory in New Orleans Cavaliers sweep, but Love hurt Conley to miss Game 4 Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories Hill named to state marketing board Fermentation Fest highlights Southern Oregon growth in craft brewing Travel boosting Oregon economy more than ever Blog: Weekend Impossible Business briefs Real Estate News New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house GREEN ACRES: Southern Oregon provides escape from the maddening crowd Since You Asked: Metro Medford rebranding proved economical Jackson County median home price hits $215,000 in first quarter People In Business Transportation Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Agriculture Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, April 27 With a song in prisoners' hearts Our View: Sensation and sensibility: a balancing act Letters to the Editor, April 26 George Will: A Graham candidacy's fun factor Editorials Our View: Sensation and sensibility: a balancing act Other Views: UO president search happened in the dark Our View: Buildings belong with the Jackson County Library District Our View: Public's right to film police should be protected Our View: Raises for Jackson County officials — again Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, April 27 Letters to the Editor, April 26 Letters to the Editor, April 25 Letters to the Editor, April 24 Letters to the Editor, April 23 Columns With a song in prisoners' hearts George Will: A Graham candidacy's fun factor Dana Milbank: The TPP is an abomination Charles Krauthammer: Obama's Nixon doctrine: anointing Iran Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan The Medford School Board was wrong: 'American Pageant' is a political agenda, not history The Medford School Board was right: 'American Pageant' is a fine book, and the board did its homework Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Lifestyle Latest stories 'Game changer' for heart patients DAY TRIPPIN': Castle Lake for stress-free family adventure Home Help: Upgrade your entryway with simple DIY projects My to-do list for the Spring Garden Fair COLUMNIST FOR A DAY: Friendly skies not as friendly as the road Food Community blog: 'Good' sushi may be more rare than real wasabi Community blog: Oregon Breweries to grow or seriously to grow? The joy of true wasabi Season Stepp: Veggie treat hidden deep inside artichokes Tammy Kelly: The South’s favorite side dish — slaw Home and Garden Home Help: Upgrade your entryway with simple DIY projects Costa Living: Basking in flower power Garden Cameos: Spring is time for azaleas in the garden Dear Monty: Seven costly mistakes of new real estate investors Paul Rogers: Enjoy convenience of container gardening Health 'Game changer' for heart patients Health Watch: Tips for protecting your eyes Dr. Jeff Hersh: Could severe cramping mean endometriosis? Dr. Murray Feingold: Is pre-op testing for cataract surgery necessary? Community blog: What about Lucy? Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Milestones and Achievements ENGAGEMENT: Sellers-James Witham's birthday bash draws hundreds for 1950s prices Charlesworth-Murphy Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories 5 picks for live entertainment this week A Taste of Ashland pairs food and wine at galleries Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Regional brewers, distillers, winemakers at Harry & David Field Moment in Time presents 'Viejo con Nuevo' Theater 'Secret Love' playwright Stan Lai appears in Ashland REVIEW: 'Secret Love' strikes comical, poignant balance Ashland New Plays Festival chooses new artistic director A tale of two plays at OSF Oregon Cabaret Theatre's "The Musical!" delivers five clever Broadway parodies in Ashland Music Maria Muldaur at the Unitarian Fellowship Genticorum at Paschal Winery Southern Oregon Repertory Singers Live Music in Local Clubs The Farr Side: Slow disappearance of physical music Community Events A Taste of Ashland pairs food and wine at galleries Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Foreign language film festival set at SOU Regional brewers, distillers, winemakers at Harry & David Field Third Fridays celebrates poetry, student art Movies Reader Review: 'Danny Collins' a sentimental and funny tribute to John Lennon Reader Review: 'Birdman' for the birds Movie review: ‘Ex Machina’ is the droid you’re looking for Movie review: Fairly smooth sailing for ‘The Water Diviner’ Movie review: ‘Age of Adaline’ is sweet but a little sloppy Dining Restaurant inspections: April 26, 2015 Island Grindz serves up Hawaiian specialties Have you wandered down the Bear Creek Wine Trail yet? Restaurant inspections: April 19, 2015 Siam Cafe offers 'mild' to 'very spicy' Thai cuisine Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Parents upset that Schneider Children's Center at SOU will close ... Pair who escaped North Bend prison includes Jackson County man ... Our View: Sensation and sensibility: a balancing act ... Parents upset that Schneider Children's Center at SOU will close ... Pair who escaped North Bend prison includes Jackson County man ... Our View: Sensation and sensibility: a balancing act ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people By Andy Seles MailTribune.com By Andy Seles Posted Apr. 26, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Andy Seles Posted Apr. 26, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> There are many organizations attempting to take back our elections from the grip of artificial entities (corporations, unions, trade associations, “nonprofits”) and individual wealthy donors. The former injustice is from the Supreme Court’s bench-legislated, 2010 Citizens United decision and the latter from their 2014 McCutcheon ruling. Groups such as Common Cause, Move to Amend, Free Speech for the People and others are seeking a constitutional amendment to overturn these ill-advised decisions. Sadly, most groups addressing this critical issue have been liberal ones. Most are politicized, some with offensive messaging to conservatives or championing other "left" issues, thereby alienating conservatives — as if the threat to our sovereignty (national, state, local, individual) is a one-party (liberal) cause. Last year, for example, the Democratic Party unabashedly co-opted the amendment effort, using it to raise money for many of their political campaigns, hypocritically fingering Republican contributors such as the Koch brothers with one hand, while grasping the donations of Goldman Sachs, for example, with the other. Then, too, the Republican Party's silence on the amendment effort has been deafening. Two alternatives have recently been presented to our Oregon Legislature to remedy the Citizens United fiasco. The first is vague at best: House Joint Memorial 2 petitions the U.S. Congress to call a convention “for the purpose of proposing amendments to the United States Constitution relating to free and fair elections as soon as two-thirds of the several states have applied for a convention.” The second, House Joint Memorial 4, also petitions Congress for a convention, but attempts to limit the debate by stating the following principles: “(a) Corporations are not people. Artificial legal entities such as corporations, unions and for-profit and nonprofit organizations established under the laws of any state, the United States or any foreign state shall have no constitutional rights and shall be subject to regulation by the people through federal, state or local law. The principle described in this paragraph may not be construed to limit the rights of natural persons already delineated in the United States Constitution. (b) Money is property and may not be construed as speech. To ensure a level playing field for all people regardless of their economic status, the people empower and direct federal, state and local governments to regulate, limit or prohibit the contribution and spending of moneys for political purposes and to require full and prompt public disclosure of all such transactions”. Under Article V of the Constitution, the path to overturning Citizens United will have to come either from two-thirds of the states' demanding a convention or a proposed amendment from two-thirds of both houses. While it may be wishful thinking to expect that representatives of either major political party are going to undermine the current “pay to play” system that put them in power, advocating for a constitutional convention is flirting with disaster. An Article V Constitutional Convention cannot be limited to a proposed amendment and could lead to the proposal and ratification of other, potentially dangerous changes to the Constitution. While three-fourths of the states must ratify any new amendment, this would not protect us from harmful amendments because a constitutional convention can also mandate a completely new ratification procedure, for example, requiring a national referendum. So, what’s the alternative? The solution lies in working together at the community level upwards, as our politically diverse steering group and members are doing within Americans for Amendment (AFA). We are a non-ideological, single-issue, true grassroots organization, situated in Jackson County, whose sole focus is educating on the need for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, addressing constitutional personhood and money as speech. We do not endorse or seek endorsement, and we avoid “left-right,” divisive issues, making sure we are accurate and laser focused on this single issue. While Americans for Amendment likes the thinking behind HJM 4 because of its clarity regarding corporate personhood and money as speech, we see both calls for convention as inherently dangerous. We urge Oregonians to put aside ideological differences and, working together, join in common cause to restore the sovereignty of our Constitutional Republic. Sixteen states have already passed resolutions supporting an amendment. Together we can educate and garner the support of the people in the 38 states required to ratify an amendment (several have already been proposed in Congress) while enlisting the support of our elected representatives. We invite you to view the amendment that AFA supports on our website, www.americansforamendment.org , as well as the highly informative, well-documented slideshow: “Why is an Amendment to the Constitution Needed?” Please sign up online for more information. Email us with comments or questions at [email protected] . Andy Seles of Ashland is a retired teacher and steering member of Americans for Amendment. By Andy Seles MailTribune.com By Andy Seles Posted Apr. 26, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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