Constitutional convention a dangerous possibility

It hasn’t happened since 1787. And for good reason. But now Wisconsin has joined a chorus of states calling for the convening of a convention to amend the United States Constitution. Supporters say such a move is needed to address the growing federal debt, and that the convention would only be designed to amend the constitution to require that the federal budget be balanced. But this is one big Pandora’s box. If just 6 other states vote to hold this convention, the entire U.S. Constitution could be gutted, shredded and burned. The ideals on which this country was founded could be gone. This is scary stuff. The fact is it is entirely possible to amend the Constitution without holding a convention where all our current laws are on the table. It only takes a 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress. That process has been utilized to end slavery, to allow women to vote and to provide equal rights. The last thing we need in this bitterly divided country today is the opportunity to tear up the Constitution and start over. If our lawmakers think that requiring a federal balanced budget is a good idea, they should just do it. Republicans control the legislative and executive branches in Washington. They could introduce legislation calling for a balanced budget and hold a vote. They have the power to balance the federal budget without resorting to such extreme measures. The fact that they haven’t done it leaves only them to blame.