Page:Arkansas Women's Political Caucus v. Riviere.pdf/10

472 liberally construe Amendment 7 in order to reserve to the people the right to approve or disapprove proposed legislation. Becker v. Riviere, 270 Ark. 219, 604 S.W.2d 555 (1980); Mason v. Jernigan, 260 Ark. 385, 540 S.W.2d 851 (1976). The ideological and legal battle must wait until we are presented with the question of whether the amendment itself is legal and not contrary to the United States Constitution.

This is an emotional issue. However, the law does not prohibit the people from voting on issues that involve deep feelings. These issues always give rise to diametrically opposed viewpoints.

I cannot fail to mention that the last measure we allowed on the ballot was Amendment 60 which changed the usuary provision of the constitution. Becker v. Riviere, 277 Ark. 252, 641 S.W.2d 2 (1982). The amendment was to allow an increase in the interest rate, yet the ballot title said it would "control" interest rates. I have yet to fully understand how some ballot titles pass inspection and others fail. Ultimately, we are judged on what we do, not what we say.

The majority presumes that the people of Arkansas are too easily misled and uninformed about the voting process. They presume that the voters will read only the popular name and vote for it. I presume otherwise. The voters, that is those who have not already made up their minds, will see the popular name, read on and see what the amendment is about before they vote.

I find no deception and would deny the petition.