Will the Article V Convention Stop the Threat of Socialism?

In a recent article, I wondered what Americans could do to unite such a divided country and opined the reclamation of our freedom as what should join us.

With a distant and corrupt government, people feel like they can’t possibly make a difference. I hear it all the time.

But a patriot has emerged from the South Carolina State House who, on behalf of his fellow Americans, isn’t going to take it anymore.

What you are about to see could be...

A New Revolution

A growing initiative championed by State Representative Bill Taylor (R-SC) that would bring decision-making closer to the people and away from an out of control federal government is gaining steam.

Rep. Taylor is encouraging state lawmakers from around the country to introduce legislation to establish a national Article V Convention — referring to the Fifth Article of the Constitution.

South Carolina was the first to call for the Article V Convention, and Virginia and Florida soon followed. According to The Convention of States Project, an organization run by Citizens for Self Governance, several other lawmakers will be introducing similar legislation in their states within the next few weeks.

Under Article V, if two-thirds of the states pass legislation allowing them to submit an application to Congress to establish a Convention of States, Congress is forced to comply to make arrangements for the meeting.

Each state would have a delegate at the convention to debate and discuss the creation of specific Constitutional Amendments, and each would be allowed one vote. The terms of powers afforded to each delegate at the convention will be determined by individual states.

Any proposed amendments must then be approved by three-fourths of the states, meaning 38 states would have to vote in favor in order for ratification of the Constitution to occur.

Said Taylor, “Fortunately, our Founders knew the federal government might one day become too large and too powerful and they specifically inserted a mechanism that gives states a lawful and orderly mechanism to restrain a runaway federal government; it’s Article V of the Constitution."

He also pointed out that the “federal government is the child of the states” and not the other way around; but “states don’t have a voice anymore.”

Although Rep. Taylor is the first to introduce legislation regarding the establishment of the Article V Convention, there is plenty of support from other bold Americans...

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Remember the Constitution?

Indiana Senate Leader David Long and Wisconsin State Representative Chris Kapenga recently called for a bipartisan meeting of lawmakers from across the country to discuss a possible Convention of States.

The meeting was held at George Washington’s home of Mount Vernon. Nearly 100 lawmakers from 32 states attended the meeting, where they reportedly discussed possible amendments concerning issues such as term limits, the budget, and taxation.

Political commentator Mark Levin has also penned a book about this movement called The Liberty Amendments, which was a New York Times Best Seller. The book has sparked national attention to reining in the government through the Constitution.

The thought of bypassing the government is a decadent one, especially because of the arrogance on display in Washington. The Constitution’s Article V is a fail-safe provided by our Founding Fathers, who understood how power can corrode the soul and lead to tyranny.

It’s no wonder Gallup just released a 9% approval rating for Congress — the lowest in 39 years. It appears the right and moderate left alike are exasperated with Obama and both the House and Senate. They are tired of judicial activism and the government’s attempts to commandeer states’ rights.

Amendments would take away the ability of politicians to play mind games with people, exaggerating the consequences of controlling the budget.

Basically, if the federal government can’t get it done, the citizens can.

Here are some ideas I would offer on possible amendments:

No More Manipulation

Require a balanced budget: We have $17 trillion in debt, and some, such as Nancy Pelosi, want to increase it even further. They always resort to emotional blackmail when fiscal conservatives want to slow spending, painting them as people taking food out of the mouths of babes. No more manipulation of the facts — let’s just be responsible with our federal finances.

Term limits for elected officials: They will never get passed through the traditional legislative process. It’s like the fox guarding the hen house.

Limiting power and jurisdiction of the federal government: The federal government was created to serve the states, not to sue them when the president in power doesn’t like voter-passed laws. This is the case with North Carolina right now, which is being sued by the Department of Justice over a voter identification law.

Limiting taxation: Taxes will never get lowered because money is power, and your money is necessary for vote-buying in the form of appropriations for pet district projects and entitlements.

Term limits for the Supreme Court: If you get a radical in the Supreme Court, it puts our Constitution at risk for manipulation and distortion. No judge should be in power for life.

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A Common Quest for Freedom

The only peaceful solution we have left is to accept the gift from the framers of our Constitution to bypass a dysfunctional government filled with nefarious lawmakers and federal workers.

There were honest intentions in 1994 during the GOP Revolution, when Republicans were going to right the wrongs after 40 years of socialist initiatives by the liberals. I was there. It was a time of real hope.

However, my party no longer feels like home, as the two sides of the aisle have started to converge.

Recently, Cato Institute’s Director of Health Policy Studies, Michael Cannon, served as a witness at a congressional hearing to address President Obama’s disregard for the Constitution in his dictator-like actions regarding the Affordable Health Care Act:

There is one last thing to which the people can resort if the government does not respect the restraints that the Constitution places on the government.

Abraham Lincoln talked about our right to alter our government or our revolutionary right to overthrow it.

That is certainly something that no one wants to contemplate. If the people come to believe that the government is no longer constrained by the laws then they will conclude that neither are they... That is a very dangerous sort of thing for the president to do, to wantonly ignore the laws, to try to impose obligation upon people that the legislature did not approve.

In order for this country to survive, we must have the same mindset, dedication, and loyalty to our cause as those from years past. It’s that dire.

We must love this country enough to put aside our differences for our common quest for freedom.

The success of this movement is possible because it’s one with no political affiliation.

As Rep. Taylor said, “This isn’t a blue or red movement, it’s a red, white and blue movement.”

It’s true. The ring of freedom beckons for all three colors... if we would only listen.

Voice your values...

Laura Woolfrey-Macklem for Wealth Daily