Many of us believe the federal government has overstepped its boundaries in many areas, including regulations, debts, violating the rights of the states, ignoring the Constitution and the balances built into the system.[read_more] Some people like Mark Levin and Mike Farris see the solution as a Constitutional Convention using Article V of the Constitution,
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.
Those who support the Constitutional Convention (the Con-Con) believe such a convention will return power to the citizens and the states through many and varied Constitutional amendments. More here.
What happens if the Convention and the people pass a slew of new amendments and the federal government continues to ignore the new amendments just as they ignore the current Constitution? Why would our leaders honor the new amendments when they won’t honor or respect or enforce our current Constitution? What’s wrong with the current Constitution? Why not enforce the Constitution we have rather than throw the baby out with the bath water and start again?
As Delegate Bob Marshall says,
Once called by Congress, the Convention cannot be stopped or limited and will have complete authority to change any part of our Constitution! The only other convention, held in 1787, re-wrote the Articles of Confederation, and changed the ratification requirements from unanimous to three fourths! Yes, it gave us our present Constitution, but we had many statesmen of moral conviction who fought the War of Independence leading the nation at that time. Madison said he trembled at the thought of a second convention after witnessing the first!”
“The state legislators planning the Article V Convention rejected a motion that would have prevented Members of Congress, the US Senate, federal judges and governors from serving as convention delegates. They also tabled a motion to restrict the subject matter of the convention.”
Turning over our entire Constitution to a group of unknown delegates, lead by the unknown, should give everyone pause.
Scott Lingamfelter has introduced a bill that calls for Constitutional Convention of the states,
Makes application to Congress to call a convention of the states to propose amendments to the United States Constitution to restrain the abuse of power by the federal government.
A very similar bill has been introduced in the Senate.
The Constitution restrains the abuse of the power by the federal government but it’s ignored. Why would any new amendments change that? What would prevent the federal government from continuing to ignore Constitution even with a new amendment?
Who would control this Constitutional Convention? Who would run it? Who would be delegates? Is a Con Con necessary? Or would our current Constitution suffice if it was enforced? Do we really want to give a group of unknown persons the authority to completely change our Constitution? We need to consider a myriad of unintended consequences.
I trust the Founding Fathers more than I trust anyone today to be given the ability and authority to rewrite our Constitution. Our current Constitution has everything we need, IF we elect representatives with the courage to enforce it.
Lastly, Delegate Marshall says, and I agree,
“Please also urge your own state delegate and senator to OPPOSE ALL APPLICATIONS ASKING CONGRESS TO CALL AN ARTICLE V CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.”
Another excellent post on “The Looming Con Con” here.
Follow the money. I’m hearing that there are buckets of money being thrown at our Delegates and Senators in Richmond to vote for the Con Con. So much for ‘power to the people’.
For those on Facebook, more good information here.
The latest on the General Assembly actions here.
