HOW very curious. The Post, sworn enemy of "activist judges" who overrule elected officials, is actively hoping a court will overrule the New York State Legislature to bar its handling of a public debt. Shouldn't conservatives be denouncing attempts by Alan Hevesi and others to replace the judgment of a large body of elected officials with that of a small number of activist judges? It seems the Post's "principles" vary depending on whose ox is being gored.
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It is NEVER right to encourage judges to overrule elected officials. Instead, responsible public commentary encourages elected officials to behave responsibly, according to the law and relevant constitution (federal or state), as to keep judges from interfering with the proper dynamics of democracy, in which elected people make the decisions. When we consent to have elected officials overruled by unelected judges, and the judgment of the few substituted for the judgment of the many, we are making a choice for dictatorship over democracy. We must not make that choice. (Responsive to editorial "Keeping Abe Beame's Debt Alive", April 28, 2004)
- posted by L. Craig Schoonmaker @ 8:51 AM