In my opinion, a COS is only a good idea if you agree with the attendees. It’s kinda like a dictatorship is fine as long as you agree with the dictator’s plans.
There is no magic bullet to “fix” things. Term limits is the magic fix for many. But if the people are corrupt, it doesn’t matter.
Our Founding Fathers put together a well thought out system with many checks and balances. Time and resources are limited, Let’s use what we got instead of spending it on magic bullets.
For example, Trump has changed the regulation process. Current way is post it on the internets for comments and then do what you want. Trump has canceled much regulation on the basis of how it was implemented, not what it is. Laws should go back to legislation for clarification. With new judges and understanding the rules, the job is now ours to stand up to over reaching legislation.
I agree. Talk of overhauling the Constitution on this scale scares the hell out of me. Be careful what you wish for.
I agree entirely, Optimist. As the late, great Joe Sobran liked to point out, the Constitution poses no threat whatsoever to our current form of government. While I enjoy Mark Levin’s explanations of how and why a CoS would work, alas it’s no more than an interesting intellectual exercise.
It’s not the same Constitution that the 13 colonies made. The Republican-Democrat war amendments centralized power in Washington to outlaw slavery and discrimination. The Income tax has made slaves out of everybody and the direct voting of Senators has made even the existence of the Senate itself pointless. Repealing those alone would be worth the price of admission.
A COS should absolutely be avoided.
Amendments coming from a COS will likely take generations to be effective, just as it took generations to see how the 17th gave Arizona senators like McCain and Flake.
The most important Amendments would reign in spending and the judiciary.
I support the COS path because it’s clear the DC swamp will not cleanse itself. The states need to either step up to the plate or surrender our once free republic.
Interesting.
(courtesy ping)
“It appears, however, that the issue is not the constitution, but rather ADHERENCE to the constitution.”
Yep, I agree. You can’t fix a document that is not even used by the Left - change it all you want and nothing in this country will change.
You have to DEFEAT THE LEFT first, and then go back and look at cleaning up the Constitution - so that their horrible stench may never rise again.
“(term limits? return to the original election of senators by state legislatures? just for example) the real issue is that the constitution is NOT followed by either those elected to serve and protect it nor those appointed to justify the laws based upon it.”
The established Republicans and Democrats will never propose amendments that don’t favor them retaining power. I doubt if a Concon would generate enough support from blue states to pass anything to help we the people and could it be subverted to eliminate something like the 2nd amendment?
Socialist office-holders will just demand strict adherence to any Constitutional updates they like while continuing to ignore the parts they don’t like. Until a respect for the document and the legal precedents based on it is restored, changes will be futile.
How’s that Revolutionary War saying go?
“Is it better to be ruled by 3000 tyrants a mile away, or 1 tyrant 3000 miles away?”
Article V ping. Vanity thread asking for opinions.
Congresscritters follow the letter of the law (Constitution) but not the spirit. Okay, I get that.
So, the point of the COS is to address the letter of the law - codify the spirit of it, so it *is* followed. And then some.
Besides, "following" the Constitution should mean following ALL of it. That should and must include the clauses of the 5th article. Okay, so Congress won't pass amendments to fix congress? Well, then the States must do so. And, voila - there is provisions in the original and existing Constitution for the states to do so - via a COS.
First order of COS business is to put the brakes an Congress - term limits - 12 years, any combo of Sinator terms and Congresscritter terms. (Not sure what the proposals do with a 5-term congresscritter vying for a 6-year sinator term, but IMHO that should not be allowed).
I am in favor of a Convention of States.
The group would simply PROPOSE amendments.
Any PROPOSED amendments would still need to be approved
by the legislatures of 38 states.
That means 12 states could stop any amendment from being accepted.
I am not worried that 38 states would approve a bad proposal.
I am concerned that 12 states would block a good proposal.
If a COS ever happens, the 2nd amendment will be abolished. That is why I am against it.
The COS may represent the only way to restore the foundations of our Nation.
Here’s what I would do.
1. Create a Non-Profit organization whose mission is to educate State Legislators and their constituents about our Constitution and article V.
Be non-partisan, invite everybody.
2. Use the Non-Profit status to raise money, but this may need about 5 or ten million dollars to launch.
3. Consolidate the Constitutional brain trust to develop educational materials/literature.
4. Hire and train a small army of presenters/educators, Salesmen.
5. Target every State and invite everyone.
Article V is an real concept, a real opportunity for change that appeals to every thinking person. It just needs to be presented by a hand full of passionate, dynamic speakers. It needs to be sold.
There are a number of good proposals on the drawing board but it looks like a balanced budget amendment is the first one to be out the gate.
My two favorite proposals are repeal of the 16th in favor of legislation for a revenue-neutral consumption tax with uniform exemption and repeal of the 17th with an inclusion of a provision for term limits and recall.
But I will gladly wait on the above two in order that a BBA get through first BECAUSE ...
It is important that the COS demonstrate they can do it, that they find the pathway to becoming part of the process as the Constitution had planned and accommodated.
The real test will not be that the COS propose an amendment that has a chance at ratification, the real test will be COS holding itself together as Congress sees the writing on the wall and attempts to take over and modify the proposal to its own ends. This happened during the 17th Amendment process, it started as an Article V states grassroots effort and was taken over by Congress when it became apparent the last state to make the proposal constitutionally considered was about to vote in favor.
When half or more of the country thinks of the Constitution as a worn-out relic written by evil white men and relevant only to the 18th Century and decides to abandon it at every turn, we really have an unfixable problem. These people have rejected the Constitution as the Supreme Law of the Land and want it to be “malleable, living, breathing” so they can make up law as they go along.
The underlying problem is the cultural marxists took over education starting in the 60s and have indoctrinated probably 80% of the education establishment who in turn pass their malevolent marxist world-view to our children. Some of those kids grow up to question what they were taught and turn conservative, but probably 70% of the kids continue to believe into adulthood in socialism and communism.
Until we take back education and instill love of country, God, duty, honor, patriotism, and integrity, the problem will continue. That will take two or three generations to happen and it will be an unbelievably difficult uphill battle.
I am not hopeful for a good outcome.