Article 5 movement to let states rewrite the U.S. Constitution gets closer to goal.

[Thebobo]

No congress is not needed, and there are just a 6 states to go. Article 5.

"Imagine if the U.S. Constitution barred the EPA and Department of Education from existing. All union protections are dead, there are no more federal workplace safety standards, and even child-labor laws are struck down, along with a national minimum wage.

Imagine that the Constitution makes it illegal for the federal government to protect you from big polluters, big banks and even big food and pharma—all are free to rip you off or poison you all they want, and your only remedy is in state courts and legislatures, because the Constitution prevents Congress from doing anything about any of it. The federal government can't even enforce voting or civil rights laws.

To add injury to insult, the federal government has to shut down Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, because all of these programs (along with food stamps, housing supports and any programs that help the middle class, the less fortunate or disabled) are “beyond the reach” of what the federal government can do.

A few years ago, it would have been a thought experiment; now it's nearly reality. Billionaires and the groups they fund are working to rewrite our Constitution to provide corporations and the rich with more and more protections and benefits, and chop away at anything smelling of “socialism” like Social Security or child labor laws."

http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article131231964.html

 

[ch33zw1z]

Brawndo, coming to a constitution near you.

 

[Thebobo]

Just wanted to add Article 5 seems like a prelude to a possible split in the union or civil war. Never thought it would ever happen in the USA but like the Nuclear clock if there were a Civil war clock and set at 1 I would move it up to 2.

 

[sandorski]

Imagine if there was an Amendment to remove Money from Politics, a clarification on Voters Rights, or other Good things.

 

[trenchfoot]

Plutocracy/Autocracy is the penultimate result of Capitalism, with the ultimate result being a messy revolt by the masses to follow.

The GOP is the big rig that the plutocrats have chosen to run the masses over with. They've already got the rig fired up with their most experienced driver at the wheel.

Hang on to yer lugnuts and get set to dodge out of the way because when the huge rig dives over the cliff ala 2008-2009 it's going to make those vintage glorious years for the wealthy look like dropping a dime in the Salvation Army kettle.

Thank you very little and fvck you very much Trump supporters.

 

[Commodus]

If there were actually constitutional changes on that level (I don't want to presume they'll happen)... well, never mind civil war -- think revolution. The next big protest would conveniently take a detour through the Oval Office while Trump is inside. It's one thing to display overt corruption through laws and executive orders (as Trump and the GOP have done), it's another to enshrine that corruption in the country's most important guiding document.

Besides, any constitutional changes would likely be fleeting. Unless these people also plan to rig the electoral system so thoroughly that it's virtually impossible for a non-Republican to win, any amendments would likely be reversed once there's a change in power. And right now, the Republicans are doing a good job of setting up reversals in 2018 and 2020.

 

[boomerang]

Fueled by fake news and media hype, people who are easily swayed can come up with a myriad of gloom and doom scenarios. In this case it would take a whole lot of states to agree on [insert gloom and doom scenario here].

 

[mrjminer]

You guys are fucking crazy. It takes like 2/3 or 3/4 (can't remember) to ratify the changes. The purpose of Article 5 is to overturn things that get put in place when the federal government gets out of control and increases its power well beyond what the founders of the country had in mind.

Please, though, continue the comedic advocating for the federal government to continue to flush all of your rights, freedoms, security, and money down the shitter.

 

[Thebobo]

Fueled by fake news and media hype, people who are easily swayed can come up with a myriad of gloom and doom scenarios. In this case it would take a whole lot of states to agree on [insert gloom and doom scenario here].

Yes it would and if bothered to read up, they only need 6 more states. The movement has been around for years and only now could this become a reality. And they've been practicing. True there is a small chance that this could happen but hey we got Trump and I would never thought could happen.

At a mock Article 5 convention held last September in Williamsburg, Va., delegates called for abolishing the federal income tax; giving state legislatures the power to override federal laws, regulations and executive orders; and stripping the federal government of most of its authority to regulate interstate commerce, among other proposed changes.

 

[Thebobo]

You guys are fucking crazy. It takes like 2/3 or 3/4 (can't remember) to ratify the changes. The purpose of Article 5 is to overturn things that get put in place when the federal government gets out of control and increases its power well beyond what the founders of the country had in mind.

And that exactly what Banner thinks is happening.

 

[Bitek]

Just wanted to add Article 5 seems like a prelude to a possible split in the union or civil war. Never thought it would ever happen in the USA but like the Nuclear clock if there were a Civil war clock and set at 1 I would move it up to 2.

I don't think that is hyperbole. Secession becomes a real possibility.

 

[sandorski]

Yes it would and if bothered to read up, they only need 6 more states. The movement has been around for years and only now could this become a reality. And they've been practicing. True there is a small chance that this could happen but hey we got Trump and I would never thought could happen.

Proposing something is not the same thing as changing something.

 

[Aegeon]

Yes it would and if bothered to read up, they only need 6 more states. The movement has been around for years and only now could this become a reality.

This is completely wrong, and the article does not actually claim this, although it is somewhat misleading written.

All the article specifically claims on this subject is legislators from 32 states showed up. When you do the math on the number of legislators actually at this mock convention, its clear they does not represent anything like a majority of state senators and house members from the states in question. In fact somewhat less prominently in the article it does note that only 8 states have passed such a measure according to its claims. That still very far away from the numbers needed to actually call such a convention.

Edit: Looking things over further the original Wikipedia article notes the fairly high of number of states which have passed measures proposing a convention for a balanced budget amendment, but it also notes the numbers has actually been higher in the past. Among other things though alarmist positions on this fail to note that some of the states (controlled by Democratic legislatures) probably would revoke their measures if the number got too closed based on the current nature of the political climate and concerns.

Furthermore, there is a huge question is all the measures on this issue passed by states would actually count, especially given some were passed over 30 years ago and are asking for specifically different things beyond the general topic of calling a convention for a balanced budget amendment.

 

[tracerbullet]

media hype

Yep

fake news

Nope

 

[boomerang]

Yes it would and if bothered to read up, they only need 6 more states. The movement has been around for years and only now could this become a reality. And they've been practicing. True there is a small chance that this could happen but hey we got Trump and I would never thought could happen.

I'm far more aware of the movement than you know. In fact, if you search some of my posts from years back you'll find me talking about the Article V Convention with some frequency.

I believe the required six states will eventually come on board. My issue is with the hype surrounding it being fueled by the media that excels at churning out fake news. I have no wish or desire to steer you in one direction or another. If you like getting all anxious over something that might happen, feel free. But myself, I just don't see any apocalyptic scenarios playing out through constitutional amendments that may be created through this process*. In fact, it could be the best thing that has happened in this nation in a long, long time. Restoration of control of the government to the people themselves would be a return to the methodologies of the government as originally designed. If you like powerful people controlling you, then the status quo is for you. If you don't, you just might like this process as it plays out.

But perhaps not. If you find comfort in powerful people telling you what to think, you may be on the edge of your seat as this plays out. You do have a choice though. Accept a transference of power on at least initially a marginal level or remain under control of powerful people that as the pendulum swings might just be ones you're in agreement with at some point in time.

* You should research how an Article V Convention would work. If you do, you might just understand how any changes would occur and the extent to which they would occur within the process. You owe it to yourself to understand how it would play out. You can of course continue to get anxious while remaining ignorant. As I said earlier, I really don't care which path you take.