I’m sure such a convention would run as honestly as the DNC convention https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8BwqzzqcDs (see 1:23, 1:43, and 2:10). I imagine such a convention would run with the openness of the debates over ObamaCare. I imagine such a convention would run with all the concern for our fundamental human rights that the IRS and NSA show on a daily basis. What could go wrong?
We already have a great Constitution, and the main weakness is that we the people elect sleazy politicians who are too corrupt to follow the Constitution. Why would we risk that for something so unlikely to be better, especially when there is a significant risk that the modification or replacement would be worse?
A better answer (and we do need a solution) is for decent people to get involved in politics and in government. We need to scale back government because excess government action is inherently inefficient and harmful. We need to scale back government because big government inherently reduces freedom. We need to scale back government because the massive spending of big government attracts corrupt and sleazy people who want to enrich themselves by guiding those billions (and now trillions) of our tax dollars into the hands of crony capitalists who repay them with thousands (and now millions) in donations and gifts.
It’s not enough to complain online. We have to get active - in every town hall with or without a prior fuss over any particular issue, in public rallies over specific issues or to support conservative candidates, in writing to our state and federal legislators on a regular basis to urge both specific and general cuts in the size of government and especially to identify potential cuts, in writing to the newspapers and posting online anywhere our words might be read by swing voters (which is probably not here on FR), and in considering how our positions might best be phrased to be convincing (which can most definitely be done here on FR).
I have read your concerns which I too share. What persuades me in favor of a convention is the relative proximity of State Legislators to the people. The power and money behind the Federal legislators has so overshadowed that of the States, that we have neglected the State Representatives. Corruption and lack of accountability at the Federal level is better controlled at the state level obviously. Putting efforts toward electing the right representatives across multiple states would serve as a firewall against a hijacked A5 convention given the high bar required for ratification. That said, one would argue the likelihood of the coherence or competence of the initial amendment propoposals, but ultimate ratification is a high bar.
Pollster1,
I totally agree with your summary of what a “called convention” would be.
A question that also comes to my mind is, “Who decides who gets to attend such a thing?” I assume it would be state legislatures, which would tend to be somewhat less entrenched to the DC culture - but, when I think how it is nearly every state’s major cities that control how that state’s politics go, I’m not too certain that a Article V Convention would be much less liberal/marxist that what we have already.
I DO believe that state governors and certain state legislators could refuse to follow federal mandates in a lot of areas - like EPA mandates, Dept of Education money and mandates, and a host of others.
This is happening now with the so-called Obamacare insurance “exchanges” - some states are refusing to create them, thus causing a major wrench to be thrown into the mix - hurrah!
But, something like a Constitutional Convention would bring out the leftwing like you’ve never seen. You don’t think they would realize all the potential crap they could pull with something like this? Yes, it would take 3/4’s of the states to ratify - but, that’s just not enough protection in my opinion.
Does Article V state who attends such a convention? If not, then each state would determine its own qualifications, right? If I’m wrong, fine, but I just think a convention is opening a can of worms.
Stop federal intrusion by governors and state legislators just refusing the money, refusing to obey - force the feds to invade. Make them show their totalitarian face to the world.
We are far passed the time where people can solve our problems at the ballot box. It’s just not doable anymore. Our “representatives” won’t even hold town hall meetings anymore. They keep getting reelected because of low information voters and name recognition. I bet, on average, that no more than 10% of voters have a clue what our Constitution says or what is going on globally as far as current events. There really is no cure for stupidity when it comes to voters. As long as govt. keeps offering “freebies” our politicians will be safe in their offices.
If a substantial minority of voters were informed, your suggestions would work. Sadly, that is not the case.
We are at a time in our history where the only cure for “what ails us” is not a ballot, it’s an ammo box.
“I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.” - Thomas Paine
Sorry getting active isn’t going to do it. We have to close ALL the loopholes in the USC.