AMERICAN PROSPECT: At some point, we reformers must consider the one way the framers gave us to revise the Constitution when Congress itself is the problem. This is the Article V convention. If 34 state legislatures apply, then Congress must “call a Convention for proposing Amendments.” The product of such a convention is just that—proposals, not constitutional change. As with amendments proposed by Congress, those put forward by the convention become law only if ratified by 38 states. But the convention is the one path to making such proposals that Congress can’t easily control, and the one path that could create enough of a mandate to force Congress to act.
Liberals and conservatives alike fear a convention. That fear is fair. In the 223 years since our Constitution was ratified, we’ve never had a convention (though we’ve gotten close). It’s not even completely clear how one would be organized or how it would be controlled. But any remaining uncertainty must be viewed practically, with a clear eye to the political constraints that would cabin any amending process…
But what if the convention proposes radical reform? What’s to protect us from extreme change? Again, the question must be viewed practically. If 38 states must ratify any proposal, then 13 states can block any proposal. There are plainly 13 red and 13 blue states, so radical change is not on the table. Even if one believes the majority of state legislatures are nuts (not my view, but maybe yours), one must believe that at least 25 percent are sane… (more)
EDITOR: Serious consideration should be given to a constitutional convention. The first step should be a dry run of a mock convention consisting of a representative group of scholars and political activists. We sense that both conservatives and liberals agree concerning many of the problems facing our nation, with especial emphasis being campaign finance reform. Our political system is failing us. Let’s give the people a chance as we did in 1787.
Yes, Yes, Yes! Get private money out of politics . . every dime of it! This is “the fountainhead” of our overwhelming political corruption, and the absolute reason our government does not represent the interests of the American people. Outrageously, our government belongs to the tiny minority with enormous resources to buy politicians, mass media, universities, foundations, and the vast majority of corporate, financial, and real estate assets, all working to further preserve and enhance their own private interests, etc etc.
But we all know this. Lets get back to that article and your comment about what is the very best move our country can make to peacefully (but with huge difficulty!) “take our country back” from those who have purchased it and frozen the rest of us out. .. .
I agree with your editorial comment on this excellent “American Prospect” article; that “The first step should be a dry run of a mock convention consisting of a representative group of scholars and political activists”. I would make only one addition; as long as that initial convention number is significant enough, say 2,500, and representative enough (as you say and imply) of our political, intellectual, geographical, and economic diversity. Too small a group may not be able to develop the enthusiasm and momentum to launch a significant national movement. The Constitutional Amendment process will require nothing less than a very real political movement.
The issue before us is universal (or at least 99% of us) Most all Americans on the left, right, and middle (uniting even tea partiers and Occupiers, elderly and young, labor and middle management) now believe that our government does not belong to the overwhelming majority of Americans and further they believe that money, huge amounts of money, have purchased every essential element at the Federal, State and local level, making a parody, a lie, of the (yes) sacred American value of representative government .. . representative of its citizens, controlled by its citizens, making policy . . . for its citizens.
The dream of America that caused so many millions of our forebears to leave the ruling classes and oppression of other countries has now come full circle. The huge power of money, corrupting our political process, has brought about an effective plutocracy that has replaced our American democratic republic and placed all of us under an internationalized, American ruling class as oppressive, if not as overt, as any other. They take virtually anything they want and not because they are particularly evil but simply because they can, and believe it is their right to do so. (“To the victors belong the spoils”). This is how a market economy works. No?
But Is there no level of victory over your fellow countrymen that is unseemly, unwarranted, unearned, or unjust? And when the monetary fruits of those victories are used to buy your neighbors representatives to do your own bidding, to represent your own interests against those of your neighbors, i.e. in jobs, wages, education, health care, collective bargaining, access to money, tax policy, environmental policy, foreign policy, financial regulation, etc, how is that justified except to perpetuate and enhance a growing ownership of everything to the demise of American strength and vitality.
To begin we absolutely need to convene a constitutional convention to get every stinking, private, and corrupt dollar out of our entire election process. This is a core issue for the immediate future and far surpasses the 2012 election choices which now stand between what is certainly bad and what may be worse. Convene!