Why the Convention of States is the ‘Superbowl of Politics’ and the ‘Next Revolution’

Fox New’s Steve Hilton recently aired a segment on his show The Next Revolution about the Convention of States project, and it’s a great way to learn about this revolution that’s sweeping the nation.

“The late Supreme Court justice Louis Brandeis was famous for promoting the idea of federalism. He liked to refer to the states as ‘laboratories of democracy’ where individual states could pioneer their own ideas on issues like education and welfare. But, we seem to be heading in the exact opposite direction today. Government is getting more and more centralized in Washington D.C. Now, there’s a new movement afoot that would give states more of a say when it comes to governing.”

Of course, I’m a big fan of this “new movement,” though we’re not really new at all. Our Founders came up with the idea of a Convention of States a long time ago. Article V of the U.S. Constitution gives states the power to call a Convention of States to propose amendments. It takes 34 states to call the convention and 38 to ratify any amendments that are proposed. Our convention would only allow the states to discuss amendments that, “limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, impose fiscal restraints, and place term limits on federal officials.”

In the clip, you’ll see me saying that a Convention of States is the “ultimate Superbowl of American politics. Nothing like this has been done in American history.”

I’ve thought for most of my life that, perhaps the idea of a “federal government” is outdated, and has been for a very long time.

Representative government was necessary way back before modern transportation and before modern communications. After all, we needed representatives to travel to that far-away place where legislators and the president gathered to pass laws and govern. That was the only way to communicate the needs and wants and opinions of the people that each congressman or legislator represented. Representatives took days or weeks to get to the “center of government”.

Washington is now mere hours away from everything and everybody. And in fact, it’s only a split second away from hearing what the people in each county and city and state think or need or want. Representative government was about each state sending someone to represent the state and communities in Washington. But, that’s an outdated idea, since, each state and county and district, is quickly able to represent themselves without needing to have somebody physically present in Washington. In essence, the idea of a house of representatives and a senate, is outdated “representative” government. Each state has a governor and a legislative body, and they know better than their representatives what the needs of the state and countries and districts are. So, why not get the needs and wants and ideas and opinions, directly from the “horse’s mouths”?

The House of Representative and the Senate, are basically doing the work that the states can do on their own. The states no longer need to send people to Washington, and can express themselves instantly from their home states and districts. We can keep the electoral college, because, we still need a “democratic republic”, but we don’t need the senators and/or representatives to be people other than those already working locally and/or in the states.

That’s not to say that the federal government is also outdated, because, there needs to be a president, and agencies/departments to perform the “national” work needed, such as what the FBI and DOJ do, and we still need a national defense system. But, “representative” government is outdated, because, we’re no longer constrained by geography and lack of communications.

Popping in late to the last thread under Convention of States keyword to stir the pot a little.

Just returned home from a small county meeting with our State Senator. Our Senator introduced the Article V resolution into the state Senate last session and is a passionate supporter of Article V. He was also part of the mock convention that was held in 2016 (IIRC) so is knowledgeable about the mechanics of how an actual convention would possibly work.

One thing that’s frustrated me in working with the Convention of States organization is that the main reason many of the members are on board is obtaining a balanced budget. Occasionally someone mentions term limits but that’s it. No one wants to talk about repealing the 16th and 17th Amendments or a 3/5 state quorum for repealing bad court rulings or legislation. I see the 3/5 recall as critical and the 17th Amendment repeal as the most important issue in states reclaiming and retaining 9th and 10th Amendment rights. In view of my opinions I have been frustrated with people associated with the organization itself altho I have continued to work with and thru said organization.

I came away from the time spent in the question and answer session tonight greatly heartened as I did dominate MORE than 3/5 of the question and answer by asking the Senator about the items I listed above. It was obvious he is just as passionate about the Convention of States as those of you I could remember to ping. I’d like yall’s input on a couple of things.

First repeal of the 17th. My view, long range for our Republic its a necesity. Senator’s view is, most constituents will feel that is taking away a right they’ve had their entire lives. He said he and others at the mock convention addressed the necesity of State 9th and 10th Amendment rights by proposing a 3/5 recall of elected Senators by the voters. We had a cordial discussion and obviously he’s the politician so made all the right comments about understanding my views. And he says he sees the 17th as a travesty to State protection of 9th and 10th rights. BUT, basically he doesn’t see repeal of the 17th as happening.

Also, when y’all interact with folks about an Article V Convention do you guys primarily run into these single issue people who only think it’s about forcing a balanced budget? I just don’t get that. Yup, balanced budget is great, but we need so much more to return this nation to a functioning republic. And I was VERY pleased the Senator went into the multiple reasons we need the Convention. He made it clear to all present tonight that our Convention is about so many more issues than balanced budget. Even with our disagreement on repeal of the 17th I came away with a relieved and lightened heart. Now we just need to get to that magic number 34.

> “Senator’s view is, most constituents will feel that is taking away a right they’ve had their entire lives.”

This Senator needs to make the pitch that a stronger right will be substituted in place of the popular vote for US Senator.

Popular vote means voters can ‘hire’ their US Senator.
Recall means they can ‘fire’ their US Senator.

The power to fire is much more powerful than the power to hire.

Because firing is based on a lack of RESULTS whereas hiring is based on a bunch of sweet disingenuous TALK.

As it stands now, voters have no way of knowing who it is they are hiring and once they hire, they’re stuck with their choice for 6 years. It’s a 6-year contract.

When the 6 years are up, the hired Senator is an incumbent who has most likely been bribed and controlled by all the important corporate interests in the state or has brought outsiders into the state to take over. Incumbents become entrenched. Voters are left hopeless, full of apathy, defeatist attitude, surrendered, new boss same as old boss mentality, etc.

Your state Senator has to band with his state senate colleagues and get out to appeal to the voters saying:

1. Wouldn’t you like the power to ‘fire’ your US Senator if you think they’re in DC just to pad their pockets and profit from the corrupt sale of their votes?
2. Wouldn’t you like your friendly accessible state senator or rep to be able to ‘hire’ the US Senator so that your friendly accessible state senators and reps are not ignored?
3. Wouldn’t you as a voter feel more powerful with your state senator or rep listening to you and acting as your spokesperson to send a message to the US Senator to get with your program else the state legislature or you and other voters are going to fire them?
4. Don’t you agree how much more powerful you would be with the above in effect?
5. Don’t you agree this is what should have been done in 1913 but the Congress was too shortsighted or too reticent to empower voters back at home?
6. Don’t you agree we have the benefit of history and hindsight to correct the errors of 1913?
7. Why should we let the shortsightedness of those alive in 1913 prevent us from gaining our full rights as voters?
8. Why are our state legislatures ignored and rebuffed by the US Senate?
9. What’s so special about a US Senate? Is a US Senator like a member of a House of Lords over us?
10. Why do we need a US Senate?
11. What purpose does a US Senator serve if they are just one big grand rep elected by state voters?
12. Can’t we get by with just a US House of Representatives?
13. Seriously, what was the original purpose of the US Senate?
14. Don’t you think you would have more power over your own life, your own affairs, if you could petition to that friendly, local, accessible state legislator who could make a phone call to Wash DC and actually have the US Senator pick up the phone or respond immediately to a tweet or email and say “Yes Sir/Madam, how can I help you and your constituents today?”
15. Don’t you agree the 17th Amendment is a like a millstone around our necks?
16. Wouldn’t you love to tell your US Senator, or have your local, accessible, responsive, friendly state legislator tell your US Senator, that if a recall, a ‘firing’, a termination of their employment as US Senator is carried out, that their pension is canceled, rescinded, extinguished, and they will never be allowed to hold any federal elective office again for life including any lobbying positions for federal offices? Do you think that would light a fire up their you-know-what?
17. Wouldn’t you like to be in the driver’s seat for once?
18. Wouldn’t you like to be treated as a boss of your US Senator or have your state legislator act as your agent at the table with your US Senator?
19. Let’s get real with our neighbors, do we really know WHO we are voting for as our US Senator?
20. Wouldn’t we like to have more control in our state and less control by out-of-touch, inaccessible US Senators in Wash DC who can at best send us do-nothing form letters in response to our questions and concerns?

Here’s the proposed 28th Amendment that will bring back the balance that was upset by the deficient 17th Amendment and that will empower American voters like never before:

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AMENDMENT XXVIII (’Federal-State Rebalancing’ and ‘Voter Empowerment’)

To restore the foundational structure of State Legislatures to Congress and to bring new powers to state voters, the following amendment is proposed:

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Section 1. Senators in Congress shall be subject to recall by their respective state legislature or by voter referendum in their respective state.

Section 2. Term limits for Senators in Congress shall be set by a vote in their respective state legislatures but in no case shall be set less than two terms nor more than three terms.

Section 3: The seventeenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

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<>Senator’s view is, most constituents will feel that is taking away a right they’ve had their entire lives.<>

So true. I went over that in some detail here: http://articlevblog.com/2016/08/more-democracy-less-liberty/

Progressives rely on deceiving the nation into thinking that expansion of the democratic element is the key to societal happiness. On the contrary, democracy isn't perfume; it is poison.

I congratulate you for your Article V efforts.

To me, the value of a Balanced Budget Amendment COS doesn't involve balancing the budget; it is in showing the country that the states can conduct a civil, parliamentary COS that doesn't "runaway." Whether the convention passes the BBA or not, I expect the fence-sitters, those who want to fix our government's structural problems yet were uncomfortable with a COS, to come around and really THINK about what needs to be done.

IOW, without an intervening BBA COS, we'll never get rid of the 17A. After the BBA, we must begin the long process of re-educating a nation programmed into thinking that democracy is grand.

Hostage I agree with your points 100%. I think I’m banging my head against the wall when in a room of perhaps 50 people not one other person speaks to back up my point. But then they didn’t back the Senator either. One guy gave the “OMG we’ll have the leftists taking control” BS but the rest of the room was silent. Supposed to be a meeting of county conservatives.

Repealing the 17th has been IMO the number 1 reason for CoS. By no means the only reason. I follow with 3/5 overturn of judicial rulings and legislation, repeal 16th and so forth. I love your point by point rebuttal and some of them i brought up in debate last night. I will plagerize you in my next follow up email to rep and senator. But, dang i must be ineffective or speaking Greek because the only other person in that meeting last night who was informed and passionate about CoS was the Senator. Last night, that lifted me up. I slept. Now the lack of interest by “conservative” neighbors just ticks me off. Life is supposed to look better after sleeping on the problem, now I’m back to square one. People are so shortsighted they’re killing my Republic because they just don’t care.

Back to the fight. Not giving up. Thanks for more insight to use in my communication battle. I’m blockwalking today trying to get a rino put out of my misery in an upcoming runoff election. Maybe someone will be interested enough/have time enough to talk more than just rino vs conservative for state rep.

I’m retired now. Among several career paths over 40+ years I taught drafting at a technical college in the early 2000’s. Classes had 6 hrs/wk of lab time with students working away and conversation roving. Every class that came thru I found myself teaching a mini government course while students worked on projects. It was never forced, just amicable conversation. Most of my students were actually interested and asked great questions, learned to have good input. Time and again I was asked why their required government class didn’t explain things the way I do. The answer, I know you know, is simple; the academics don’t want mere serfs to understand the ingenuity of our Founding Fathers in creating a government where each of us CITIZENS can actually be actively involved in shaping our policies. Thirteen years after leaving that job I still hear from former students on occasion and find they are informed and locally active in politics.

Now, dangit, I sincerely wish I could carve myself a spot in which to teach government to high school kids. I know in my heart of hearts that I could not buck the academics and be allowed to do that but I have learned from experience that some young people (more than I thought at the time) will listen and learn. Thank God for home schools and Christian schools but we need a larger educated public. “Government class” is one of the most ridiculed and dreaded classes in high school and college because elites don’t want an informed populace. And blast it, our “great experiment” is interesting and We The People count! /rant

After coffee and time for folks to wake up I’m going for my daily walk and going to try talking to more old farts like myself again. See if I can drum up more support. Thanks Hostage. You are great at giving me more “stuff to say.”

Great point Jacquerie. I had not looked at this from that angle. Because every household must deal with a personal balanced budget regularly I can see why it's so easy for people to get on that bandwagon. Now that you've put it in plain English I see my own shortsightedness at letting that issue irritate me. We are in a long haul battle to get 34 states signed on. And in winning over other conservatives the fear of a runaway convention is the #1 concern. It makes sense to make a proof of the Constitutional integrity of a Convention by addressing something all people can relate to. I will carry on in better spirit with that thought. And continue to inject repealing the 17th into conversation whenever I have an interested listener.

The article you referenced is one of the first I read of yours. We can historically point out so many instances in which a republic is superior to a democracy that I forget most people just don't understand the difference. I'd like to see the entire list of Free Republic's ideal amendments passed in my lifetime but I can comfortably say that our 5 children, 21 grandchildren and many other aquaintances will at least know enough to carry on this battle in years to come. I'm not leaving anytime soon by the Grace of God but I need to learn to keep the long term in better focus.

Thank you and have a Blessed day :)

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