On the political right, the John Birch Society has consistently pushed the Big Runaway Lie and said the "prospect [of a convention] is ominous." "We do not believe that, under today's mentality and morality, the nation can handle that much sovereignty in one place." To support their position, they cite elites: Conservative U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger said "there is no effective way to limit or muzzle the actions of a Constitutional Convention. The Convention could make its own rules and set its own agenda. Congress might try to limit the Convention to one amendment or to one issue, but there is no way to assure that the Convention would obey." Liberal Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg said "one of the most serious problems Article V poses is a runaway convention. There is no enforceable mechanism to prevent a convention from reporting out wholesale changes to our Constitution and Bill of Rights. ...delegates could put a runaway convention in the hands of single-issue groups whose self-interest may be contrary to our national well-being." Ardent right-wingers admire what a joint congressional resolution said in 1935: "The government of the United States is not a concession to the people from some one higher up. It is the creation and the creature of the people themselves, as absolute sovereigns." Yet, they do NOT trust we the people to exercise our sovereignty and be smart enough to make a convention work in the public interest!
There are, luckily, pro-convention advocates. Listen to the wise words of Judge Thomas Brennan, former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court and Dean Emeritus and President of Thomas Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan: "There is no danger of a runaway convention. That phrase, 'runaway convention', and all the accompanying horror stories about repealing the Bill of Rights are utterly without substance. They are myths, harmful to democracy, invented by those who are afraid to let the people exercise their historic and God-given right to self government." Amen.
Despite the truth, opponents to an Article V convention have successfully framed the issue in the public consciousness. A highly negative status quo bias belief has been cemented into many minds – but not everyone. Even when confronted with pro-convention information, brainwashed people fall victim to the pain of cognitive dissonance. The truth is blocked out to minimize discomfort. They stay fixated with the implanted Big Runaway Lie that a convention will harm the nation. For those that let in objective reality, angry dissent must fuel demand for one.
Where do we go from here? If respect for our Constitution and our sovereign selves prevails, pro-convention patriots must work extra hard to move the nation towards an Article V convention. The first battle is to get a convention. The second challenging battle is to prevent a convention from being abused and co-opted by the power elites that would be out for blood after failing to prevent a convention. A high level of public support is critically needed to win both battles. To win the first battle, the smart strategy is not to let people become sidetracked about specific possible amendments. Those who have fostered the Big Runaway Lie will surely posit some terrible possible amendments – ones that would immediately frighten and alienate huge numbers of Americans. Public fear is their weapon.
Back to reality: What we now have, along with runaway public distrust of government, is runaway political disengagement as evidenced by low voter turnout, runaway disgust with both the Republican and Democratic Parties, runaway economic inequality, runaway corruption of government by corporate and other special interests, and runaway mainstream media dysfunction – a corporate press more than a free press. The only thing Americans should fear is more of the same.
Can people purge their brainwashing? Only if they confront the false status quo bias belief and acknowledge that power elites did it to maintain a system they manipulate. To be against a convention is to stay a victim. Let the truth set you free. Do not fear the second American constitutional convention. Embrace it. Do not worry about a convention being hijacked. Instead, stay focused on this ugly truth: America has already been hijacked by corporate and other special interests on the left and right, along with their sycophant corrupt politicians. Stay vigilant! Because power elites will use every dirty trick imaginable to instill fear about a convention and then to undermine it, should they lose the first battle.
Come work for an Article V convention to reboot American democracy and provide a transfusion into the body politic through a heavy dose of transparent direct democracy. Help the USA remain committed to the rule of law. Compel Congress to respect what is clearly stated in the Constitution, and the meaning of "shall."
The Supreme Court decides whether laws passed by Congress are or are not constitutional. But it refuses to tell Congress and the nation that Congress' refusal to call an Article V convention is unconstitutional. What happened to checks and balances? Maybe Supreme Court Justices have also been brainwashed, or like members of Congress don't want to risk losing their power.
The bitter truth is that literally every individual, group and institution now holding real power opposes a second national constitutional convention. Does that make the quest for a convention futile? Only if one gives up on the supermajority of Americans that should, for their own sake and the sake of future generations, want a convention. Elitists have much to lose. Everyone else has much to gain.
Wake Up!
The fight for American democracy is not over. Our Founders fought British oppression and now we must fight congressional oppression. Can nonviolent collective action produce an Article V convention? Only if each of us says "yes!" And then help spread an idea virus to reach a tipping point among we the people: Millions of Americans must tell state legislatures and congressional delegations they demand a convention. Tools may include citizen state petitions on the Internet and thousands of community meetings arranged through meetup.com. Such activities and a convention itself would provide what many believe the Framers intended to create: a deliberative democracy.
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Constitution, esteemed political scientist James MacGregor Burns, warned that "major changes will not be made until there is a severe crisis – at which time we might open the floodgates to reckless constitutional change." Instead, he advised taking thoughtful action now. "We must all become framers," he advised.
To keep working on the goal of forming "a more perfect Union,' and as a political necessity and a moral obligation, we OUGHT to have a second national constitutional convention – which means we the people CAN have one. Simply put, an Article V convention is all about "power to the people." Either you believe in it or you don't. The people who created our nation and Constitution believed in it. They gave us Article V. Our elected MISrepresentatives in Congress and their masters don't believe in it. They won't willingly give us a convention. We have a runaway Congress. That's what's frightening. And that's why we must fight for a convention.
[The author's new book Delusional Democracy – Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government supports constitutional conventions and other peaceful ways to restore American democracy: www.delusionaldemocracy.com. To join the pro-convention effort or discuss issues write the author: articlev at gmail dot com]
Joel S. Hirschhorn is the author of Delusional Democracy - Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government (www.delusionaldemocracy.com). His current political writings have been greatly influenced by working as a senior staffer for the U.S. Congress and for the National Governors Association. He advocates a Second American Revolution, beginning with an Article V Convention to propose constitutional amendments. He is Chair of the Independent Party of Maryland.
I was totally ignorant if Article V, of having another constitutional convention. Is this the time? Yes, undoubtably. I wonder how this could be presented and written so that everyone could understand it. Right now we have a democracy in name only. We fight around the world suppossedly to bring people democracy, something that we as American citizen's don't even have.Does it have a chance of catching on? Who knows, but its worth a try.
by
Timothy V. Gatto (348 articles, 177 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 574 comments)
on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 4:47:16 PM
The author offers a viable alternative to the status quo. Voting in this country is an hallucination which keeps the sheep content with the assurance that they are in control. Electing another elitist (Hillary Clinton), or a pre-packaged mouthpiece (Obama), will change nothing. Our government is presently under the direct control of a dictator (Bush) and corporations which own the CONgress and profit mightily from the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan and the jewish lobby which has a huge, if unreported, interest in the number of American boots on the ground in the Middle East. Note the recent urgings of troop escalations in Afghanistan. Partisan bickering is merely a distraction from the issues at hand. If we the people do not wrest control of our government from these factions I fear that the U.S. may ultimately descend into its own civil war. There is a large percentage of the population that is becoming incresingly pissed with the fascist behavior of our elected servants. The MSM does not interview them and their voices go mostly unheard by the masses. But they are there speaking, mostly anonymously, for fear of reprisal from a government who has contracted the construction of numerous "detention camps" within our own borders. I sincerely hope that our great society does not deteriorate into civil conflict but what must be done, must be done. I will not live as a slave to any man or institution.
by
Steve (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 27 comments)
on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 6:45:53 PM
If you read article V, what you suggest is as hard as...
...getting an amendment passed. Here is the full text:
Article V
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.
-----------------------
The parts applicable to a Constitutional Convention are as follows:
or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof,
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The bigger part that I dont get is this. You rail against the status quo and those in power, yet you are attempting to start a movement which to be successful will require supermajorities of those in power in congress or state legislatures (i.e. the "status quo") to vote in your favor to accomplish what you want. That does not make sense at all.
You would have a much easier time convincing people in one of the major parties to adopt your platform.
by
Steven Leser (228 articles, 49 quicklinks, 34 diaries, 1647 comments)
on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 9:44:33 PM
Status quo forces can be overcome - witness our first constitutional convention -- yes a runaway, and also won by anti-status quo forces!!! Of course, it is very difficult to beat established status quo powers, but unless you advocate bloody, violent revolution, then we must seek smart strategies that rally a large fraction of the public to put pressure on those status quo forces. I came to understand that a constitutional convention has the potential to be that historically unique event with the power to greatly improve America. What disappoints me about so many activist dissidents is how they pursue truly delusional, impractical solutions or, worse yet, minor incremental changes that will not change the system. Can we overcome all the corrupt, incompetent and evil forces in congress and state legislatures??? That depends on YOU!! We need people to join our effort to mount a national campaign.
by
Joel S. Hirschhorn (133 articles, 37 quicklinks, 60 diaries, 533 comments)
on Thursday, January 18, 2007 at 8:33:05 AM
I read the constitution back when I thought Bush went over the edge for like the fourth or fifth time, its wording at times would just about put me to sleep. When it came to articles about the framers having a V convention, I thought it would be just another kangaroo political fiasco to try to get a V convention.
But viewing it the way you have expressed it has put a light bulb over my head that's ON.
This article also helped me eliminate the fuzzy lines that were hard to understand.
When I find the time I'll read it again, it becomes more fluent and I pick up bits and pieces with each reading.
My American government teacher was Iranian, very nice woman and extremely intelligent. I contacted her and thought I'd run some ideas by her. But she was so pro Bush, it made my stomach turn. In her classes I'd noticed she leaned mainly towards the republican party. Which has left me to interpret the constitution on my own from college level books.
by
Fred F (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 361 comments)
on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 10:06:30 PM
Perhaps we should rename our capital "Brainwashington"
One can only imagine the resistance to this idea when so much of the nation's money and influence is already invested into the old system. This only underscores the problem.
If you preface this concept with a question, it may make people see this differently. For example, ask ordinary citizens first whether they feel the current state of government properly works to represent it's citizens, truly a government run by and for the people as designed.
When (not if) they say no, ask them why.
They'll probably speak of rampant corruption, big business infiltration and the emergence of an elite ruling class. Even conservatives would complain there is too much influence-peddling, media bias, subversion and fiscal irresponsibility.
We can all agree there is a major problem with today's government, so entrenched in it's quest to attain and maintain power and entirely removed from the average American. Ask them what they would do if they could change it, if they could be part of a new constitutional convention to reform government.
Only then tell them there is such a provision in existing law, and that it was placed there by our founding fathers should our system ever get so waylaid.
The kneejerk resistance we see even in these posts is a product of the fear of power and the daddy-state brainwashing we've all been subject to our entire lives. The wealthy and powerful spend a lot to keep the middle and lower classes complacent, pacified or paralyzed. It's not easy to convince the majority that the minority should steer the ship, hence the advanced manipulation tactics we see today. Now they do steer the ship, using time-tested tactics that our entire generation has been programmed to accept.
For example and most recently, the use of 9-11 to instill fear into us from our government "protectors" has been rampant. But it's worked like a charm as people still believe the War on Terror should be the #1 national priority. We should take terrorism seriously, but not so much that we hand everything over to the crooked opportunist politicians we complained about and mistrusted so heavily on 9-10.
For one, I'm "Wore on Terror" already and can't believe how much of our resources and national debate have been devoted to avenge 9-11. Our over-reaction in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Patroit Act and everything else was the exact wish and intention of the perpetrators, attempting to lure us physically into the MidEast conflict so as to polarize the Muslim world and make al Qaeda more widespread and well funded then it was before. Bingo...they won. As did war profiteers.
Why? Because we gave the government license to do anything out of our own fear, more of it manufactured by our government then acts of actual terrorism. We've lived with terrorism for decades (some of it even homegrown), as have many other nations. How did we so suddenly get transformed into cowering, shivering children in need of a savior? By a coordinated government effort of psychological gerrymandering.
I encourage anybody interested in returning to a small, efficient representative government to learn about and spread the word about systematic manipulation of the American people. Though perpetrated by government and corporations alike, the methods are the same and can be exposed.
Please join me in a call for an end to manipulation of our people. We need our children to learn about this from a young age to prevent the next generation from being a society of bankrupt, polluting, lackey consumers, subservient to a separate tier of rulers.
I speak about 100 years of manipulation in America in this article, feel free to read and comment: click here
by
Gustav Wynn (67 articles, 44 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 307 comments)
on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 10:57:02 PM
I'm asking everyone in the movement to refer to the gop as "the george bush party"--for example, if you refer to Liddy Dole [R-NC], please call her Liddy Dole, George Bush Party-North Carolina.
Even republicans have come to say that the bushistas have turned their party away from its historic goals. Using this expression will help to divide these "real" republicans from the rambling wreck george bush has wrought.
Please pass this along to everyone you know in the movement.
by
gabby hayes (11 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 18 comments)
on Friday, January 19, 2007 at 9:31:02 AM
9 comments
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