by Helen Sabin, Corvallis
“We the People,” call on our state legislators to file an application for a Convention of States (COS) and join more than 138 million Americans who have already voted for a COS.
Article V is a safe, efficient, and secure method to put power in the hands of the people rather than the federal government. George Washington and the Founding Fathers designed it to be an effective means for “we the people” to regain our liberty:
“…If in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional power be in any wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates.” “…the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments…
Why use Article V Conventions? Many reasons! First, the Constitution has been amended 27 times to date. It is NOT a scary thing to do. Second, because Americans will NOT vote out their most egregious congress members from both houses, no matter how bad they are. The average tenure in the House is 15 to 40 years. In the senate, 36-59 years! Third, and MOST IMPORTANT, is that through Article V we have within our grasp the most LEGAL means of effecting what we the people desire, not what Congress, or the administration, orders us to do.
The current three broad topics that 19 states have already limited themselves to discuss are:
1. Amendment proposals that, “limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government,
2. impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, and
3. place term limits on federal officials.”
The best thing about an Article V Convention of States is that it ONLY benefits the people but has NO negatives. Once the American people have used it, they will not fear using it when serious problems arise in the country much like the Colonists did in 1677-1776.
The two most debunked myths spread by anti-COS groups and individuals to create FEAR are below. Ignore these myths.
1. The COS can “run-away” 2. At the COS, the Constitution can be “overthrown” or “replaced!” NO! These are falsehoods.
The US Constitution IS the authority that gives states a right to hold a COS proposal gathering. Throw it out and you throw out all your power and authority. At a Convention of States, Commissioners can only PROPOSE amendments, addressing ONLY the three topics listed above.
Further, do you really think for a moment that the following 25 states with 65% or higher gun ownership would vote to remove the Second Amendment (2A ) especially now that SCOTUS has made its recent ruling? Montana (90%), Alaska, Idaho, Georgia, Wyoming, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Iowa, Arkansas, Vermont, Indiana, Alabama, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and West Virginia. Seriously?
Additionally, it is the states that give their commissioners instructions on what they are to “debate” or “negotiate.” Commissioners sign an agreement in law that they will do so and can be penalized if they try to “go rogue” by jailing them, making them a felon, or any other punishments the states decide to add. Further, Congress and SCOTUS could both step in to declare that the amendment is “outside” the application and declare it null and void.
The COS is a PROPOSING convention, not a “Con-Con” or Constitutional Convention. They have different procedures, practices, rules, history, and outcomes. At a COS, each state gets ONE vote no matter how many commissioners they send. The language of Article V states, “proposing” convention, not “constitutional” convention. Words do matter.
Our Founding Fathers gave their lives and fortunes to set us free. We must not ignore the importance of what they gave us as that is our responsibility to them. As John Adams wisely stated: “You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.”
Let us make good use of it! MONTANA citizens, meet with, call, write, email your legislators, and tell them to make Montana #20 to call for a Convention of States. After all, the Constitution gave great power to the State Legislatures. It is their duty, obligation, and responsibility to stop the abuses and in some cases, the neglect, that the federal government has inflicted on American citizens.
craig johnson says
https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-usa-mules/fact-check-does-2000-mules-provide-evidence-of-voter-fraud-in-the-2020-u-s-presidential-election-idUSL2N2XJ0OQ
https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104647454/jan-6-2-000-mules-trump-election
https://www.factcheck.org/2022/06/evidence-gaps-in-2000-mules/
https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-covid-technology-health-arizona-e1b49d2311bf900f44fa5c6dac406762
Gomez says
An end around to creating states that are nothing less than Christian, corporate theocracies.
helen sabin says
Due to the various concerns of the 13 individual states of the Union, the prospect of creating a single, unanimous doctrine that both encompassed an American ideology, as well as addressed the individual interests of each state, the future of the Constitution was transient up until its ultimate ratification.
THis is what a Constitutional Convention is about BILL- not what the Convention of States purpose is. The framers wrote an entirely new Constitution as the Articles of Confederation were failing the states. A COS makes proposals to “solve problems” NOT write a NEW Constitution. Words matter BILL. Pay attention
Bill Stroud says
So Ms. Sabin, your rebuttal conveniently failed to address this movement being funded by the Kochs, ALEC and other wealthy special interest groups. Do you deny that? If that’s news to you then ‘please go educate yourself’. Not difficult to research the reasons behind the Koch’s support. “The convention would be “restricted” to radical Tenth Amendment solutions that virtually would eliminate the general government’s ability to control any private enterprise.”
And then, the website of ‘Convention of the States Project’, one of the most prominent organizations in favor of the convention, reveals that the convention is a “device for profound political sabotage”.
I realize you’ll accuse me of generating ‘alternative facts’. Upon reading some of your mean spirited, conspiracy driven diatribes, I cannot see you supporting this were it not self-serving.
Helen Sabin says
Bill – ALL government today is ruled by different factions or corporations. You know that and won’t mention it as it doesn’t fit YOUR agenda. Do YOU want the government coming after YOUR financial info? Please let me know the answer to that question and then let’s continue this conversation as I can see YOU feel most comfortable letting the government control your life.
And speakig of corrption? Do You approve of Biden selling 950,000 barrels of oil to China and a company that has ties to Hunter Biden? How did he get permission from congress to do that? Please explain.
And if you ignore the money that tried to sway the election, that came from the DEMS then you are definitely showing YOUR bias, That is why we must elect good people at the next election. Jefferson knew the nature of man and he said when man puts his eye on elective office rottenness occurs. The Dems in D.C. clearly show this concept from Jefferson. I should say MOST every administration showed this tendency. It is built into the DNA of most men. However this admin and that of Obama really show contempt for us citizens if we let them have this information to “use for our benefit.” UH HUH – yeah right!
Do YOU really think Biden and company are doing a good job? If so please explain why and include your thinking on Biden’s lies that he didn’t know what Hunter was doing and the recent tape of that lie showing up to PROVE that Biden is a liar? Hmmm? Explain that one please.
Look at the Zuckerbucks that were dumped to sway the election. Or did you conveniently forget that in your haste to condemn others? Talk about big money swaying things? Look at the actions of FACEBOOK and TWiTTER and others who deliberately banned any contrary talk against the DEMS…Then come back and hear our retort to your thinking.
Let’s continue this conversation as I think you are clearly one-sided in your view. I love to debate. Shall we continue? But first please give answers to my questions. Thanks for being concerned enough to write. I wish we had more like you even though you seem to see only one side of the issue.
Gomez says
If you like to debate then I’m sure you are familiar with the terms “sealioning” & “Gish gallop”, terms which your posts are perfect examples of.
Bill Stroud says
Hey Gomez, I had to look those up and upon grasping their definition, I’ve got two words for you…’nailed it’. After my eyes unglazed from reading Ms. Helen’s response I realized she wanted to debate and had cast a slew of questions at me. All that without answering the one question I had posed to her. It’s glaringly obvious what fringe she resides in but please Gomez, tell me ‘what planet are we on’?
helen sabin says
Bill – one more thing – You don’t know enough about the Convention in that it only takes 13 commisioners – one from each state to say NO and ANY rule, amendment, etc and it is dead. Further, one can raise a point of order and get it removed if it is “out of bounds” of the application set by the state. Further, it is the STATES that give the order and authority to the commissioners to debate and discuss the three topics you keep ignoring. Commissioners can be jailed and heaviy fined if they vioate “their oath of commission.” Yes, the commissioners do set their own rules BUT suggestions are made (based on historical documents) and the two national mock conventions conceived as to how they should be set. The commissioners agree or disagree to them. The two mock conventions to see how a national convention would run were succesfful. If you want to educate yourelf you can watch the entire proceedings on YOUTUBE…so please go educate yourself and then come back and let’s hear your thinking.
Bill Stroud says
Any attempt to reshape our U.S. Constitution (funded by the Koch Brothers, ALEC and other dark money groups) needs close scrutiny. Looks like just another attempt to roll back our constitutional rights and civil liberties by the far right wing nuts.
“[T]here is no way to effectively limit or muzzle the actions of a Constitutional Convention. The Convention could make its own rules and set its own agenda. Congress might try to limit the convention to one amendment or one issue, but there is no way to assure that the Convention would obey.”
– WARREN BURGER, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT (1969-1986)