Posted on 07/11/2013 6:10:36 AM PDT by JOHN W K
"Second, that simply doesn't matter. Any amendment can be proposed but IT MUST STILL BE RATIFIED by 3/4ths of the states. Given the current political climate it seems unlike that amendments would be ratified that increased federal power."
History is not on your side. During the federal convention of 1787 which was called for the “sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation“ we wound up with an entirely new Constitution and new government, a number of powers ceded to that new government, and, the state debts incurred during the Revolutionary War were assumed by the new government.
With the various State Pension funds being under funded and their total obligations at about $3.5 trillion, would the state delegates chosen to a second constitutional convention not be susceptible to granting extraordinary new powers to our federal government in return for the federal government assuming the various State unfunded dept liabilities?
And when such a proposal is brought back to the States for Ratification, are we to believe the “progressive” leadership of bankrupted states like California would not embrace enlarging the iron fist of the federal government in return for their state debt being wiped clean? SEE: California on the Brink: Pension Crisis About to Get Worse
JWK
Absolute governments, (tho' the disgrace of human nature) have this advantage with them, they are simple; if the people suffer, they know the head from which their suffering springs [progressives on our Supreme Court]; know likewise the remedy…..___ Thomas Paine’s Common Sense.
And promoting a second constitutional convention does not address the factual point that the federal government currently does not recognize ANY LIMIT on its power.
In fact, adding new amendments to the Constitution does absolutely nothing to compel our federal government to be obedient to the Constitution and the documented intentions and beliefs under which it was adopted. But it does open the door for every snake to find their way into the convention and sap the very fabric of our Constitution as Madison warned us:
“You wish to know my sentiments on the project of another general Convention as suggested by New York. I shall give them to you with great frankness …….3. If a General Convention were to take place for the avowed and sole purpose of revising the Constitution, it would naturally consider itself as having a greater latitude than the Congress appointed to administer and support as well as to amend the system; it would consequently give greater agitation to the public mind; an election into it would be courted by the most violent partizans on both sides; it wd. probably consist of the most heterogeneous characters; would be the very focus of that flame which has already too much heated men of all parties; would no doubt contain individuals of insidious views, who under the mask of seeking alterations popular in some parts but inadmissible in other parts of the Union might have a dangerous opportunity of sapping the very foundationsof the fabric. Under all these circumstances it seems scarcely to be presumeable that the deliberations of the body could be conducted in harmony, or terminate in the general good. Having witnessed the difficulties and dangers experienced by the first Convention which assembled under every propitious circumstance, I should tremble for the result of a Second, meeting in the present temper of America, and under all the disadvantages I have mentioned. ….I am Dr. Sir, Yours Js. Madison Jr” ___See Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 25 March 1, 1788-December 31, 1789, James Madison to George Turberville
In response to your question regarding a “bribery amendment”, I never mentioned anything about a “bribery amendment“, but stated a fact, that
During the federal convention of 1787 which was called for the “sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation“ we wound up with an entirely new Constitution and new government, a number of powers ceded to that new government, and, the state debts incurred during the Revolutionary War were assumed by the new government.
I went on to ask:
With the various State Pension funds being under funded and their total obligations at about $3.5 trillion, would the state delegates chosen to a second constitutional convention not be susceptible to granting extraordinary new powers to our federal government in return for the federal government assuming the various State unfunded dept liabilities?
And then I asked:
And when such a proposal is brought back to the States for Ratification, are we to believe the “progressive” leadership of bankrupted states like California would not embrace enlarging the iron fist of the federal government in return for their state debt being wiped clean? SEE: California on the Brink: Pension Crisis About to Get Worse
I believe those questions are valid, and ought to be resolved in such a manner as to remove the threats which are very real.
In any event, I am very disappointed that Mark Levin would, perhaps out of desperation, perhaps out of a simple oversight, advance the idea of calling a second constitutional convention to propose amendments to our Constitution, when a failure to enforce our exiting Constitution is the cause of our misery, and is a cause which cannot be corrected by calling a convention to add more amendments to our Constitution. Our problem is in fact a despotic and tyrannical federal government, which is the same problem faced by our founding fathers. And what did our founding fathers do? There were basically three steps: redress of grievances, the Declaration of Independence, and finally a justifiable ass whipping for King George.
Like the sound reasoning of our founding fathers, I believe our first step in correcting our problem ought to be the various States and people therein to unite in forming an official document stating their grievances. Is the right of the people to “petition the Government for a “redress of grievances” not contained in our Constitution and one of the tools to be used under existing conditions? Should the States and People therein not put our federal government on notice and be united in articulating a list of particulars describing our grievances and the corrective actions which are demanded so no further action is necessary?
Another “tool” contained in our Constitution, and one I specifically embrace is the impeachment of those who hold and office of public trust who violate their oath to support “this Constitution”. Is it not dutiful of those we elect to Congress to start impeachment proceedings when a Justice on our Supreme Court blatantly lies about our Constitution and the specific taxing powers granted, pretending our Constitution’s taxing powers allows for the implementation and enforcement of Obamacare? If those we elect do not work to impeach members of our supreme court who blatantly ignore the documented intentions and beliefs under which our Constitution was adopted and the defined and limited powers granted to Congress, is it not our duty to remove those members of Congress and elect others who will join in the cause of liberty and restoring our constitutionally limited Republican Form of Government?
JWK
If the America People do not rise up and defend their Constitution and the intentions and beliefs under which it was adopted, who is left to do so but the very people who it was designed to control and regulate?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.