A few weeks ago, I put out a call for guest bloggers. I received a few responses, and I particularly liked this player’s idea submission. I plan to ask him to be on my podcast regarding this topic too! And so, may I introduce a guest blogger from Twitter, Hee-Haw The Viking, and his blog post titled Is A Convention of States a Possibility or a Pipe Dream?
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Is A Convention Of States A Possibility Or A Pipe Dream?
Prior to 2016, I would gladly classify myself as politically ignorant, at best. I listened to Rush Limbaugh for the humor once a month, if that. I started paying attention to politics as 2016 approached, and the weird orange man entered the field, mocking and aggravating everyone on both sides. Finally, someone was speaking my language. However, as I listened and started filtering out the noise of the media and the soundbites, I realized that he was actually speaking to me and people like me. People who worked and raised their families didn’t pay much attention to what was happening because we had been ignored for so long; we’d become complacent. As Trump grabbed my attention, and thankfully nothing else, I listened to Rush more often. Then Beck. Then Shapiro. Then Steve Deace. Then Pat Gray. I quickly became a “Pathead” as I preferred the humorous side of politics. Political humor disappeared in 2008 when our country elected its first black president and immediately began to live in fear of everything deemed “racist.”
Just as our nation seemed to be hitting unprecedented heights, the “plandemic” occurred. My father was a judge, and my mother was a schoolteacher. That upbringing, combined with my own career in law enforcement, developed my “BS” detection skills to near-superpower levels. I knew something was off, leading me to the Steve Deace show more frequently. As I tuned into Deace, trying to find some truth about these “vaccines” and the virus, valuable information that saved my mother when she contracted the Delta variant, I heard random mentions of a Convention of States. At some point, I recall hearing Senator Ted Cruz mention it in reference to Term Limits, but he then went completely radio-silent. My curiosity peaked, so my journey into these topics, a Convention and Term Limits, began.
My path has more backstory, but that narrative is less helpful than the results. I began my research with these questions. First, what is a Convention of States? Second, what can happen at a Convention? Lastly, if “We The People” have this power, why in the Sam Hill have we not used it?
So, What Is A Convention Of States?
To avoid the lengthy history of the Constitutional Convention that came to a close in 1787, I’ll focus on what pertains to this article. George Mason, a fellow Virginian and delegate to The Convention, was perhaps the most skeptical of our new government. Among many objections, he stressed that a tyrannical government would never agree to limit itself. Article V of The Constitution, a late addition to The 1787 Convention, outlines procedures to amend the document. At first, most delegates believed this to be unnecessary. In Article V’s first form, only Congress was to have the authority to propose amendments or call a Convention of States. Mason insisted there be a “backdoor” for The People, allowing citizens a way to upend government overreach. By the Fall of 1787, Mason’s demands were met, allowing for a method that was completely in the hands of the states, not the national legislature.
Article V allows for a Convention of States, for the purpose of amending The Constitution, to be mandated by 2/3 of the state legislatures, 34 states to be exact. Any proposed amendment would require 3/4 of the states, 38 total, to be ratified by referendum. No easy lift, as it should be. There is no deadline to reach the 2/3 vote threshold. Any state that passes a resolution calling for a Convention of States will stay in that count until 2/3 is reached. Of course, any state that passes such a resolution can withdraw its resolution at any time. As of this time, 19 states have resolutions on the books. As far as I can tell, all 27 amendments on the books have been initiated by Congress. The states have never imposed one through their own convention.
Next On My List Of Questions
What can happen at a Convention? This is a broad topic and THE reason for the high threshold. The short answer is anything, as long as it pertains to an existing law or procedure. Think, for a minute, about the expansive amount of issues that people in this country argue about, and subsequently demand action on. Think about how whimsical and easily swayed most people are. The news shouts, “Ukraine,” and people fly flags for a country they can’t find on a map. They shout, “virus,” and people choke their kids in masks, spray themselves in the face and inject themselves with toxic chemicals and then call people they’ve known all their lives “murderers.” I think Mr. Mason understood too well that governments always lean towards tyranny and people towards idiocy. At a Convention, in theory, we could decide that every elected official be mandated to wear paper pirate hats and end every sentence with a hardy “arrrr.” Unlikely, yes, but I’m keeping that one in my pocket. Thankfully, previous Constitutional amendments historically have never exceeded their scope.
This last fact, pertaining to the scope of a Convention of States, is why this potentially amazing power has not been yielded, the last question I based my research on. As I have looked into the COS Project, an organization promoting and responsible for the 19 states that have already passed resolutions, I see these main topics rolled around in their discussions. They state that they want to limit the power & jurisdiction of the Federal government, impose fiscal restraints, and impose Term Limits on federally elected officials. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Almost like, “Drain the swamp.” It’s like me saying I’m going to be a better person, but when asked how, shrugging my shoulders and saying, “I dunno.” I saw 11 potential amendments listed in this COS Project article.
Scope
One word is important here. Scope. If you take the broad goals listed above, add the input of 34 states, and then need the approval of 38 states, this whole idea drifts deep into “when donkeys fly” territory. Nothing more. Not happening. However, if you narrow the scope, gaining the support of 38 states is very possible. Ronald Reagan carried 44 states in the 1980 presidential election and an astounding 49 in 1984. This country can reach a consensus, but the choices must be as glaring as Reagan or Walter Mondale. If we call a Convention with 34 states and then ask each one what they want, we’ll have 50 things on the ballot and ZERO chance of approving any of them. It’s all about scope.
Let’s say I sat down with 10 “Patheads.” If you don’t know what one is, it’s time to educate yourself. My first rule about “Pathead Club” is I ain’t got time to explain it to you. Anyway, if I sat down with 10 “Patheads” and discussed how to “limit the power & jurisdiction of the Fed, we’d have 30 ideas in 30 minutes or less. Imagine including a liberal or leftist in that conversation. We’d have 98 ideas and 8 of us would be labeled “ist-a-phobes”. However, if I said, we need to mandate Term Limits, I’m pretty sure I’d see 10 heads nodding in agreement. 11, if you count the liberals, but 5 of us would probably still be labeled “Nazis.” Pick your elderly politician, be it Pelosi (82), McConnell (81), Grassley (89), Clyburn (82), Hoyer (83), Waters (84), or Feinstein (89). Both sides have nobility, not representation. That group of senior citizens has spent a combined 272 years in office, and that’s just for the seven I listed.
Limiting the scope to just Term Limits is something that could easily reach a consensus. Amendments to The Constitution need to be presented in the same manner any new legislation should be; single issue. We don’t need omnibus budgets. We don’t need 4000-page bills. One thing at a time. There are a myriad of amendments I’d like to see. If we do them one at a time, we can wake people up to the power that we could yield. I want Age Limits, a ban on lobbyists, a constraint/ban on Executive Orders, a budget, a flat tax in the place of all other federal taxes, and an annual immigration cap, to name a few. One thing at a time. Will Term Limits fix our government? Of course not. We have to learn how to turn on the stove before we can cook Sunday dinner.
A Successful Convention Of States
A clear demonstration of a successful Convention of States would put this into the lexicon of every citizen. An annual meeting of states could grow from this. Maybe just once-a-presidential term, at the halfway point, just as a reminder to ALL in office that we hold the power and they work for us. If the results of an annual Convention of States was the conclusion that no amendments were necessary, fine. Just having that meeting would be a clear message to every elected official that we are watching and that we are awake. One thing that I feel certain of is that no politician is going to do this for us. Our state legislatures will likely resist this as well, as those without Term Limits at the state level will surely recognize that this will ultimately lead to limits on them. We will have to force this into action. The only way that happens is through the strength of numbers. When enough people demand it, no politician can ignore it.
I intend for this article to be my springboard into this movement. There are small gatherings in Virginia that I have yet to attend. I signed the COS Project petition and now receive regular emails from them asking for money. So, in the spirit of George Mason, I am naturally leary and skeptical of them. If I see that this movement has any teeth, I intend to become actively involved. Especially since Virginia has yet to pass a resolution. At this point in this world, I don’t trust anything outside of my household and the Good Book. However, I am tired of feeling helpless, like I am locked in a room, being forced to watch the world burn. This process seems like it has potential. Before I go in the dirt, I truly want to feel like I did something to keep the American dream alive for my descendants.
Look into this in your locality. There may already be small groups meeting online or at a local restaurant. It is easy to start, at least. Go to: conventionofstates.com. If you sign the petition and get on the mailing list, you will receive several emails each week. It’s not excessive and will point you toward any events near you. Here is the list of the 19 states that have passed resolutions, in chronological order from 2014 to now, so you can see where your state stands.
Georgia, Alaska, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Indiana, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arizona, North Dakota, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Utah, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Nebraska, West Virginia, and South Carolina.
Be not afraid.
Hee-Haw The Viking
@VikingHaw
Proud Christian Father, Husband, Southerner, Patriot, and Pathead
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