One of the beauties of the Tennessee Constitution is that it guarantees the people’s right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.
Tennessee Constitution Article I – Declaration of Rights. Section 1 is as follows. “That all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; for the advancement of those ends they have at all times, an unalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.”
Article I – Section 2 is as follows. “That government being instituted for the common benefit, the doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.”
The government of the City of Memphis should be REFORMED. That is our argument or a legal one on the basis of the Tennessee Constitution Article I – Section 1 and 2.
Memphis is not peaceful right now. There are streets and areas which are not safe. Those who don’t feel happy appear to want to leave for another places, cities, or States regardless of their ability to do or fulfill that. That means that the local government can’t or doesn’t function for being instituted for the local people’s PEACE, SAFETY, and HAPPINESS. That is exactly against Tennessee Constitution Article I – Declaration of Rights. Section 1(one).
A lot of local or district government officials are suspected to exercise or perform ARBITRARY power from their political, judicial, or administrative discretion. There have been social signs, symptoms, or phenomena around Memphis and Shelby County in terms of political, social, or legal OPPRESSION. That is exactly against Tennessee Constitution Article I – Declaration of Rights. Section 2(two).
It is, therefore, very natural to confirm or conclude that the Memphians ascertain their own constitutional right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper. It is really both logical and legitimate.
We don’t, however, demand or expect the reform of the human character of Mr. Jim Strickland who has been the Mayor of the City of Memphis. We’re afraid it is too late for him to change his own political character let alone to his indivisual one. And human beings and politicians don’t or can’t change their personalities that easily or that often. That is the human nature of indivisuals and politicians.
That’s why we demand the reform of the City of Memphis and the Police Department of Memphis. Such demand is based not only on the public opinion from the local community, but also on the Tennessee Constitution, which is the supreme law of the Tennessee land except the U.S. Constitution.
Our political and legal demand for the reform of the local government is the constitutional demand of Tennessee. It is not just local, but CONSTITUTIONAL.
The Editorial of the Memphis Times
www.memphistimes.org
Published: February 5, 2023
