Posted on 01/02/2017 11:05:07 AM PST by Jacquerie
A Letter from a Convention of States Volunteer.
The election has brought lots of thought and opinions to me. Even the need to exhale after holding my breath for a long time. The need to see and have a change in my country has overtaken me in the last year. The thought as to what kind of country I would pass along to my grandchildren has been at the foremost part of my mind for a long time.
Trump’s election to the presidency put a lot of Americans at ease, even the feeling of relief and there seem to me a change in the mood of the country. The idea of relaxing and waiting on the Trumpet to see what he will do is a very appealing one. One man no matter how big he is or how successful he has been will not a country make. Our nation was built by men both big and small, rich and poor, but with one belief, that America can become a great country. Indeed, the United States is a great country. Where else in the world can a man pick himself up and make something special out of his failure.
The election is over and in less than 1460 days we will be holding another one to determine the next four years. There has been a shift in the public’s opinion. That shift will not change the next election without an educated voter. The next election will not stop high taxes, the next election will not stop government officials from interfering in state affairs, the next election will not give the country term limits, the next election will not give the country fiscal restraint. COS can give us term limits, fiscal limits on spending and stop Government’s overreach in to state affairs. COS can only do these things if everyone who believes in COS continues to support its efforts by being involved.
What is the best way to be involved? Gossip COS everywhere you go. Tell others about COS share it on the job, at the ball game, with your buds. How will any know if we never share?
Join Scott and Cindy, his wife of thirty-two years, at Convention of States.
The election is over and in less than 1460 days we will be holding another one to determine the next four years. There has been a shift in the public’s opinion. That shift will not change the next election without an educated voter. The next election will not stop high taxes, the next election will not stop government officials from interfering in state affairs, the next election will not give the country term limits, the next election will not give the country fiscal restraint.
...and in my humble opinion neither will a COS. A very good friend once made the comparison to the Ten Commandments. When God saw his children having trouble living the ten, did he then issue the eleventh?
PS, Your home page is spot on, Happy New Year.
Thank you for this, Scott. And Jacquerie as always, thanks for posting. The Founders gave us a solution as big as the problem. They gave us Article V and the The Convention of States. And I’m grateful they added a second clause to Article V of the United States Constitution providing that:
. . . on application by two-thirds of the state legislatures, Congress must call a convention of the states for the proposal of amendments, valid when ratified by the legislatures or by conventions in three-quarters of the states, as Congress chooses.
For the proposal of amendments says nothing about re-writing the Constitution.
We have to get 34 states to agree on the subject matter of the convention. Congress is required to call the convention. They have no option otherwise. The specific amendments, the specific wording and language – will be decided at the Convention. Simple majority vote to send to states for ratification (26 states). If 38 states vote to ratify – the proposed amendments become part of the Constitution.
Congress plays NO substantive role. They call the convention (time and place) and they choose the method of ratification.
This writing is heartfelt, Scott. Thank you so much. Happy New Year.
Thanks. The same back to you and your family.
Hmmm, our 1787 Constitution was written in stone by perfect men?
No, God did not issue an eleventh. But He did trust us to have good sense and understand what a COS will do. Are you not tired of the corruption? How about regulations? Or do you think the Fed Gov’t will willingly let go of the power it has claimed? If you do, I have some desert property in the Keys to sell you. And the COS movement is a God given movement. You’ll see that this time next year.
Thanks for sharing. I’m on board with the Convention of States. I tell people it’s like joining a winning team.
www.conventionofstates.com
The flaw in that argument is that there have been 17 amendments besides the Bill of Rights already.
To have your perfect constitution back we would have to repeal all 17, which a COS could do.
No, no, no. It will not do anything to the Constitution. Only add amendments. The restrictions, limitations, and controls on the Article V process include all of the following,
acting in conjunction: The convention’s agenda is set by the 34 state applications (for the Convention of States Project, amendment proposals must “impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress”). Once 34 states apply for a convention on the same topic and the convention is called, state legislatures select and instruct their delegates;
At the convention, any single delegate can object to off-topic proposals as “out of order,” for which the objection must be sustained. At the convention, a majority of the states must vote in favor of any proposal in order for it to advance to the ratification stage;
Any delegate who proposes or votes in favor of an amendment beyond the scope of the agreed agenda OR beyond the scope of his/her state legislature’s instructions can be recalled by the state legislature and subjected to penalties according to state law;
Because delegates act as the agents of their state legislatures, a delegate’s vote that exceeds his/her instructions or authority is void. The courts could be called upon, if needed, to protect the process at any point (there are abundant precedents demonstrating that, in fact, the courts DO acknowledge and protect the historical Article V procedures) 38 states must ratify any proposed amendments for them to become effective. This means that it
only takes 13 states to block a bad proposal. Nothing wrong there. Right?
The only person I see talking about “trashing the Bill of Rights” here is you, which kinda fits the definition of a strawman.
Come up with a real argument, and maybe we’ll engage.
Awesome, Jacquerie... as always!
At a time when the Dept of Education orders schools to allow students to use restrooms irrespective of their biological gender, and the IRS targets political and religious groups...
At a time when the Dept of Defense tells our soldiers that citizens who follow our founding virtues and fundamental Christian teachings are extremists, when the Department of the Interior takes private property to re-develop for its chosen “winners”…
At a time when the Dept of Homeland Security orders tech companies to scan our private eMail using “national security” as justification, and the NSA spies on innocent civilians... When the FCC seeks to control or even abolish “conservative” news sources…
At a time when Executive Orders are used to kill Americans with drone strikes, to ignore immigration laws, and to mandate that some purchase health insurance while others do not… when the national debt is increased more in 8 years than the total sum of all debt incurred since our founding...
When, in short, the federal government has run amuck, don’t you think that it’s finally time to reduce its size, its scope, and its jurisdiction?
Just as the Second Amendment secures the right of the individual to defend himself against an intruder, so does Article V secure the right of society to defend itself against an intrusive government.
Join the Convention of States Project, a nationwide effort to curb federal overreach, and sign this petition ==> http://www.cosaction.com/?recruiter_id=2348
It will be sent directly to your state representatives… they hear from Big Government lobbyists every day, now let them hear from you. Be informed. Get involved. #AZLeg #COSProject
I can’t wait for the Convention of States to take place!
http://www.conventionofstates.com
I fear that this could have unintended consequences that none of us foresee. The lib, prog, commies are a shrewd and evil bunch that regularly eats the Republicans lunch and laughs in their faces while doing it.
What a great format . . . “at a time when . . .”
And topped off with, “Just as the Second Amendment secures the right of the individual to defend himself against an intruder, so does Article V secure the right of society to defend itself against an intrusive government.”
Indeed.
"A people will never oppress themselves, or invade their own rights; but if they trust the arbitrary will of a body or succession of men, they trust enemies."
When meeting in their sovereign capacity, no people in history ever sold themselves into slavery. Fact.
I thought you might appreciate that! I usually that closer with, “As someone most famously said...” especially when I know you’re going to see it.
Sure, there could be some unintended consequences to amending the Constitution, and some of them might even be bad... all of that is possible.
But what's a dead-cinch guarantee is that doing nothing will result in deliberate and intended consequences, ALL of which will be bad.
The best way to protect the Constitution is to amend it! Although our Constitution has stood the test of time, the Framers knew that it wasn't perfect… that's why they wrote Article V, the amendment process, into the original draft. They had the foresight and the wisdom to provide us a remedy… now all we need is the will, the faith, and the courage to use it.
Be informed. Sign the petition. Get involved. #AZLeg #COSProject
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