Posted on 12/11/2013 3:19:23 AM PST by Jacquerie
Democrats just love democracy. Who could possibly oppose it? Didn’t progressive icon Woodrow Wilson tell the nation that its purpose was to make the world safe for democracy? What reasonable person could be against all power to the people?
I am, and I am in good company. Our Framing generation had a short, yet sufficient experience with overly democratic state governments to figure out that majoritarian abuse of minorities was just as harmful and dangerous to freedom as the executive tyranny of George III. Benjamin Rush famously said that while the constitutions of 1776-1777 barred the front door to executive tyranny, they left the back door wide open to popular tyranny.
The Constitution of 1787 secured our unalienable rights through its limitation of the democratic element via vertical division of power between the new government and states. Equal participation of the people and states in congress translated into that which the world had not seen in millennia, a generally stable republic that respected property.
Modern Liberal tyranny rests on the foundation of a popularly elected congress. Simply put, and easily understood is the fact that once the states were booted from the senate, ALL national power was certain to eventually concentrate, as it has, in Washington, DC. With so much power so close at hand, it was only a matter of time before a demagogue with despotic ambition and enormous will arrived.
The 17th Amendment guaranteed the rise of a popular despot, an Obama. If what remains of our republic is to be saved, the 17th must go.
The Left underground is gearing up to smear and annihilate our nascent Article V Amendment Convention movement. So far, I am not aware of a rat with national standing, nor of any of their media psychos who have gone public with a screed over the danger a convention presents to their power. Rest assured it is coming, because all sense of rejuvenated federalism must be destroyed.
The 17th Amendment is a hill the Left barbarians will defend to the last man.
Any effort to restore federalism, the stability and freedom enhancing vertical division of power between the states and the federal government they created must be aborted, murdered before birth. Libs are of course, adept with this procedure, and will pull out all the stops to kill any effort to restore the proven, republican liberty vision of our Framers.
So, let’s think ahead and be prepared to counterattack the inevitable assault.
Their predictable first reaction will be to smear the reputations and character of Article V/Anti-17th Amendment supporters. Their foul-mouthed gutter attacks will make their jihads against Robert Bork, Clarence Thomas, Ken Starr, and Ted Cruz appear rational. A sister effort will equate state sovereignty with slavery, Jim Crow and segregated public schools.
Second, once they decide to pull the trigger, congressional rat leaders, and internet/TV media allies will explode simultaneously with bumper-sticker slogans in support of their precious democracy. Recall how the Occupy “movement” both ignited and flamed out overnight. OWS illustrated the incredible control Obama and his droids have to frontal assault our nation with their poison.
Third, and perhaps most insidious and difficult to counter will be backdoor bribes, threats to individual state legislators. Freepers are well aware of the criminal capabilities of rat thugs both in and out of government.
Folks, there is no substitute for individual initiative. Rants like this at FR are perhaps necessary, but certainly insufficient. State legislators will not stick their political necks out in support of Article V if all they hear is opposition. It is imperative they know they have an army of grassroots, and not astroturf, behind them.
Article V ping!
After the meeting last weekend at Mount Vernon,
the state convention planners agreed to meet again
in June 2014 at Indianapolis and again in December 2014.
There is a whole lot of education about to go on.
Start talking with your state legislators NOW. Give them a heads up that this coming and the opposition they will face.
I had a similar experience while talking up the 10th amendment project with my state legislator. He brought up the slavery argument. My response was if they are going to say I’m racist, then all the pro-abortion legislators are child molesters. Unfortunately, he was defeated before I could get him to let me address the House. I have to start all over with a less accessible representative.
They in turn, long ago found no equal protection violation with progressive taxation, which is majoritarian abuse of minorities, the very thing our constitution was designed to avoid.
Whoa, you were in the process of addressing the Delaware House of Reps?
You are quite correct. The LEFT has spent a century dismantling our Republican structure of government—and they will not give up without a fight. The state legislatures will face a propaganda onslaught unlike anything we have seen so far.
In addition to AGITPROP, Obama has already demonstrated his willingness to use any means necessary to destroy the opposition. He will use the full power of the federal government to stifle the Article V. movement. The legislators will need the courage of the Founders—and the backing of an organized, volunteer grass roots movement numbering in the millions.
We must all sign up now and recruit everyone we know. This is our ONLY chance to save America and restore the Constitution.
Join the fight:
http://convention.movements.us/
All it would take is for Ted Cruz to take half an hour on the floor of the Senate.
He is more than capable of describing the corruption of the Senate these past hundred years and why a return to federalism is essential.
Cruz could blow the lid off the major media blackout of last Saturday. For once, we would set the terms of debate, and he would jog into an all but certain 2016 nomination.
Colorado should be part of this—and actively pursuing such.But I am no longer sure there are any in this States political fray could be trusted to represent the Constitutional issues.a State where an Administrative Law Judge can order a Baker to provide services to Reprobates—who declares in his opine :”Conceptually-refusing same sex couples on religious grounds is no different that refusing a biracial couple on religious grounds.” So far I ‘ve heard lots of citizens complaining but Nothing but silence from our Legislators.When a State no longer allows recognition for the rights of conscience in its laws can it be trusted with mere politics?
Translation: Taxation with representation isn't so hot either.
The liberals are concerned they have overreached. Obama’s star has fallen, and his brazen law breaking and disregard of our traditions and constitution is evident to all. Any Independent of 2008 who isn't anti-Left now is not an Independent, but is a drone.
There may be no better time to strike against the Left than now. It may be our last chance.
I haven’t even seen a proposed amendment yet, and we know what will happen if this convention gets together without a set agenda.
Yes, I keep getting sent links to articles that keep discussing the ‘convention of states’, but nothing addressing the proposed amendment. A specific amendment needs to be floated about to start building support now, not after another obscure meeting that will only likely lead to an agreement for another meeting ad naseum ....
We only need the States delegates to vote up or down on the amendment, not write the amendments themselves. That would be a disaster, but that’s where this looks to be going.
Delegates must be restricted from holding political office. They can be nominated from within the pool of State Politicians, but it needs to be a requirement that they stop down.
So as long as this talk keeps going on without at least an amendment floated about, it’s likely to amount to nothing at best, and at worst manipulated to include “everything” on the table, including 2nd, and 1st amendment changes.
It does have a purpose... to reign in the National government, and restore it to a federal government.
nothing addressing the proposed amendment...
Term limits for congress, term limits for judiciary, balancing the budget, Remove the 17th... See Levin's book for his thoughts; others have been discussing potential amendments; but, the specifics await the actual convention... and that won't happen till sometime perhaps in 2015 (there is a 3-day meeting in December 2014 to decide on rules).
That's not how it will work... there is precedent for a convention. There are a few articles, the links escape me for the moment, one in the Florida Law Journal... the other in some similar spot in another state, where the history of the these conventions is described and discussed. There is no disaster here... keep in mind that it takes 34 states to propose, and then 38 states to ratify.
Thanks for the well-reasoned post; link; thread. Interesting idea and discussion pro/con. BTTT!
Get a copy of Mark Levin’s Liberty Amendments.
I understand all the arguments against the 17th Amendment. But by the same token, it is the only thing that allows the people to make radical changes to the Senate’s makeup by electing outsiders. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that if the 17th Amendment was not in place then the only way men like Ted Cruz or Mike Lee would see the inside of the Senate chamber is on a tour.
“Our goal is to have 34 state legislatures pass the petition in the years 2014 and 2015 then hold the convention in late 2015 or early 2016.”
If 34 or more states use identical language in their convention requests, there will be no BS reason for congress to not call a convention. Plans to logically approach the process appears to be what was discussed at Mount Vernon.
It is the best approach.
Gather up in convention the state delegates, who will have commissions that define and limit their authority, then work on amendment specifics.
Levin’s liberty amendments are great. But that’s just a book. Put a specific amendment up for consideration, anything less and there’s going to be difficulties and troubles.
The best way:
1. Create the language of the proposed amendment.
(I.E, the repeal of the 17th).
2. Invite the convention of states to consider the amendment and to propose other language for *that* amendment.
3. Step up the time frame. Focus on the Governors, have them assign their Secretary’s of State as the first representative to hash out the rules committee. Of course those rules will have to be approved by the State Legislature and Governors to be actually considered a valid “State”.
I feel by scheduling these meetings so far apart and that can accomplish very little we’re playing into the hand of or inadvertantly assisting those who would delay this until the ‘high moment’ has passed.
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