I quite agree that it is useful to know the "many reasons" to oppose Article V but if so many reasons exist perhaps you could take the time to identify even one or two.
Posted on 04/23/2017 1:39:36 AM PDT by Jacquerie
Full Title: As the anti-constitutionalists mount their opposition, be sure to stay informed with our Article V resources.
The anti-constitutionalists are getting nervous.
Radical activists on both the left and the right who support the status quo have realized that the Article V movement is taking off, and they're beginning to mount an opposition.
Don't get caught flat-footed. Get informed. Be prepared to defend the Founder's solution to federal overreach with the resources located on the Responses to Opposition page on our website.
Here you'll find clear, concise answers to all the most common objections to an Article V Convention of States. All of these documents are also available in PDF format, so you can easily print them off and share them with friends and family.
Here's a quick sample of one of the resources -- "Short Answers to Common Questions."
Short Answers to Common Questions:
1. The Constitution is not the problem—federal officials are. So how will amending the Constitution help? Most of the problems we now face are the result of constitutional interpretations that capitalize on ambiguities in the wording of certain phrases (i.e., the General Welfare Clause—now interpreted as unlimited power to spend). We can restore the federal government to its proper, limited place only by clarifying the original meaning of those phrases through constitutional amendment—effectively overturning the bad Supreme Court precedents that have eviscerated our federal system.
2. Article V says Congress “calls” the convention, so won’t Congress control the convention? Once 34 states apply, Congress has no discretion whether to call a convention and no control over the delegates (see Federalist No. 85). The reason we have the convention mechanism in Article V is because George Mason thought Congress had too much control over the amendment process. The Framers unanimously agreed with him.
(Excerpt) Read more at conventionofstates.com ...
bmp
There are two side to the issue. Make sure you are aware of the many reasons to oppose the use of Article V as the only solution to a very long standing problem related more to human nature than the Constitution.
How do we amend human nature?
The last time there was a convention of States to amend what was in place they overthrew (sort of) the Articles of Confederation and replaced it (sort of) with the Constitution.
They were way, way beyond their assignment.
I quite agree that it is useful to know the "many reasons" to oppose Article V but if so many reasons exist perhaps you could take the time to identify even one or two.
I didn’t realize there was as much support for A5 as you seem to be indicating. This is good news.
“There are two side to the issue. Make sure you are aware of the many reasons to oppose the use of Article V as the only solution to a very long standing problem related more to human nature than the Constitution.”
So, don’t be vague. Use references, cite and be clear about the “two” sides to the issue. I just despise sloppy thinking and it iteration.
>>How do we amend human nature?<<
You have a protest march, silly!!
:) ;)
You don’t amend human nature obviously. You certainly don’t allow “it” to work on amendments either. If I was George Washington, you would trust me. I’m not, and I don’t trust me any more than I trust you. Frankly, I can live with a Constitution up to and including the first ten amendments, the rest I am not so sure about.
You asked for specifics.
Is the Constitution the problem?
Is the world and its people far different today than in the late 1700’s?
The Congress, IMHO will exert far more influence on a convention than certain people seem to think. To include who might be a delegate, how they are selected, and rules, rules, rules. They don’t seem to pay much attention to the present Constitution. Is there any reason to believe they will pay strict attention to the limited information on Article V in Article V?
“So, don’t be vague. Use references, cite and be clear about the “two” sides to the issue. I just despise sloppy thinking and it iteration.”
That make two of us. I despise reading into a sentence what wasn’t there to begin with. It was very clear cut and not meant to inject specifics, only to make sure one is educated on the issue and not driven by herd mentality, and not to start a horse beating back and forth what wouldn’t or couldn’t be called a conversation. I have my stand you have yours to which you are entitled.
I have never used the word despise, or sloppy thinking in relating to a post. I only use despise here to point out the appearance of what could be considered less than civil discourse, and all the more reason not to engage in further dialog.
Not at all.
Beginning on January 10 2017, I began a seven part series, Whatever Happened to the Articles of Confederation? at ArticleVBlog.com.
The source at COS has the answers to your questions.
Two hundred and thirty groups declare war on a convention of states.
When a convention of States is called, only two items need be addressed.
Pass a Constitutional Amendment requiring a Balanced Budget
1. Legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President may spend in deficit only when both of the following occur:
a. Signed Declaration of National Emergency by the President.
b. Five-Sixths approval of both the House and the Senate
2. Deficit shall be defined as “Spending more than previous year’s Federal Tax Receipts”.
3. Each branch of the Executive Branch must have its own separate spending authorization. “Omnibus” spending authorizations are forbidden.
4. No Federal Monies shall be appropriated without a recorded vote of the individual members of both houses.
5. Violations of this law shall be punishable by 5 year mandatory prison sentence. Violation is defined as:
a. A member of the House or Senate casting a vote to deficit spend.
b. President not vetoing any law that deficit spends.
6. Allow 5 years to produce the first balanced budget from date of ratification.
Pass a Constitutional Amendment requiring Term-Limits for Elected Officials and Federal Judges
1. United States Senators
a.Shall be elected by all Houses of State Legislatures.
b. Terms shall be limited to a Lifetime Total of 2 six-year terms.
c. Terms for the Senators in each State shall be staggered by 2 years.
d. A Senator may be recalled at any time by a two-thirds vote of Both Houses of the State Legislature.
e. A Senator serving in a recall capacity shall serve the remainder of that Senate term. That Senator shall be eligible to serve 1 additional term.
f. No person shall serve as a Senator for more than a total of 12 years.
g. No Senator shall receive the Benefits of a Vote to raise the Compensation for their office.
2. Members of the House of Representatives
a. Representation shall be set at 1 for every 50,000 persons.
b. The Decadal Census of the United States shall set the official population of the States.
c. Terms shall be limited to a Total of 4 two-year terms. No person may serve more than 8 years as a Representative in the United States House.
d. Candidates shall be prohibited from taking any money, goods or services from any business or organization for the purpose of campaigning or remunerating a candidate.
e. Only United States Citizens living in the candidate’s district may contribute to a campaign fund.
f. An Individual Campaign Donation to a Candidate for the United states House of Representatives shall be limited to:
i. $1000 dollars in Total for a 2 Year Election Cycle.
ii. 1 candidate per 2 Year Election Cycle.
g. Each Candidate shall disclose the source of each dollar and donor contributing to the candidate’s campaign within 24 hours of receipt of the donation. This shall include any pledge or agreement to reimburse money that has been spent. Any candidate who spends his or her own money shall disclose the personal monies, goods and/or services contributed to the campaign.
h. All campaign donations left unspent on each campaign shall be donated to a charity supporting families of soldiers killed in active duty.
i. No Representative shall receive the benefits of a vote to raise the compensation for their office.
3. Federal Judges
a. Shall be appointed for one 15 year term only after being approved and confirmed by the United States Senate.
b. Judges serving 1 term may be re-appointed to 1 additional 10 year term only after being approved and confirmed by the United States Senate.
c. Any Federal judge, upon having 3 opinions, whether individual or majority, overturned by the Supreme Court shall be ineligible for a second appointment to office.
4. Federal Retirement Plans
a. The President of the United States shall be entitled to 50% of salary for life. A Vice-President shall be entitled to 25% of salary for life, unless elected to the office of President or upon election to the United States Senate or House of Representatives. Both a President and Vice-President after leaving office shall, upon request, be provided protection by the Secret Service.
b. United States Senators and Representatives to the House shall not be entitled to any retirement or health care plan funded by the United States. Each Senator and Representative is responsible for their personal finance and health care.
c. Federal Judges shall not be entitled to any retirement or health care plan funded by the United States. Each Federal Judge is responsible for their personal finance and health care.
That web site you linked me to is very, very informative. I’m keen on avoiding a civil war if at all possible, and this seems a viable plan to me.
Thank you Jacquerie.
You’re welcome!
Though phrased as questions, the answer to each is truth and reality.
For example: Is the Constitution the problem? The answer is an emphatic NO! So why does COS propose amending the non problem as a solution? They are wrong, wrong, wrong, and the American people know it. Thirty four states is a bridge too far, much less thirty eight.
I can appreciate the desire, the drain the swamp attitude, the patriotic appeal to the Constitution, but even the President is finding it extremely difficult to drain the swamp because of the real problem, a “Republican” Congress with very small regard for our founding documents and the majority of us afflicted with human nature willing to go along with the ongoing usurpation by the Congress.
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