As I See It
Constitutional Convention the wrong way to amend the Constitution
The United States Constitution is a precious document. It has served as the guiding principles for our democracy for hundreds of years. But some think the United States Constitution needs to be changed. Not by adding an amendment, but by a total rewrite of the document. The Wisconsin Legislature has passed a resolution seeking to rewrite the Constitution. If also approved by the state Senate, Wisconsin would become the 15th state to call for a constitutional convention to limit the powers of the federal government. What powers would be reduced? That is the problem. The wording is so vague, it could lead to a total rewrite of a document that has served us so well for so long. The resolution reads, “Whereas the federal government has ceased to live under a proper interpretation of the Constitution of the United States.” But what exactly is a proper interpretation? That isn’t made clear. It also states the purpose of the Convention of the States is for “restraining these and related abuses of power.” But it doesn’t make clear what the abuses of power are. It also seeks to “impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government.” What would those fiscal restraints be? This doesn’t make clear, and that is what makes it scary. If the Constitution needs to be amended it should be done the old-fashioned way. Congress could pass it and three quarters of state legislatures could approve it. Just as has happened throughout history. The very way our precious Constitution spells out.
Christopher Muller
March 9, 2021 at 5:12 am
You are 100% wrong. Learn the truth at https://couleeconservatives.com/article/now-time-convention-states-updated
Jim
March 9, 2021 at 11:29 am
There are a lot of problems with the Constitution. It is the first ever draft of such a document and books have been written about all the problems. It needs a version 2.0 and it can’t be done by a Congress that is gerrymandered to lean right. The two Senators per state issue is ruining our democracy as are the system of “checks and balances” which can’t work when one party is intent on blocking everything from the other.
The framers hated “factions”, political parties, and didn’t write the Constitution with those considered. Big mistake.
My favorite issue is that the Constitution empowers Congress to form an army and a navy. The Air Force is clearly unconstitutional, as is the Space Force.
There is much more to this issue than most people have a clue about. Just remember, even if you read the whole Constitution you don’t know much that is useful. Law school is a start Just laugh at any fool who tells you they know the Constitution because they read it.
Lynn D Meyer
March 9, 2021 at 3:13 pm
What we need is Term Limits! Stop all these lifetime Polititions that are getting lifetime benifits for serving one term. The President can only serve two terms, the rest of the lifers should only serve at most 8 years. Stop the freeloading and special interest groups from running our country.
Dale Clary
March 9, 2021 at 5:21 pm
SRS, the old way includes this way, as stated in Art V. Please understand that the purpose of the amendments convention is to enforce the Constitution as written, rather than the leave it the way it has been amended by the SCOTUS. As several legal scholars have said, we now live in a post-Constitutional USA, because the limits on the federal government power are not being followed. Congress will never restrain itself and you and I (and our children) will have to pay for that.
Grant Williams
March 10, 2021 at 8:56 pm
Fake news. An Article V Convention of states is NOT a constitutional convention. The United States Constitution cannot cannibalize itself. Please do your research and quit lying to people.
Grant Williams
March 10, 2021 at 9:04 pm
An Article V Convention of States IS spelled out in the constitution. The actual Convention is to PROPOSE amendments (per Article V), not to pass or ratify amendments. The convention will consist of commissioners from each state to debate federal jurisdiction, term limits, and fiscal restraints. This is an opportunity for THE PEOPLE to convene and discuss what we need to do as a country because our “representatives” no longer represent us. In that convention, the PROPOSED amendments that win the majority vote will be sent back to all State legislatures where they’ll be voted upon by the state congresses. If the amendments are passed and ratified by 3/4 of the states, then U.S. Congress has to abide. The Constitution CAN (and will) be amended by the will of the people, and bypass a runaway congress.
Mike Maier
March 12, 2021 at 3:22 pm
Something has to be done to ensure that a repeat of this last election can never happen again. We also need to incorporate term limits for all Federal politicians, and greatly limit their powers. There is no way they will ever do that to themselves.
The government has been corrupted so deeply that the Founding Father’s could have never foreseen it. The system of 3 branches hold checks and balances over eachother was great until greed and the lust for power corrupted all 3 entities.
As I can see it, the chance for a positive change at this point can come from two things. One, a Constitutional Convention. The other is the one that nobody wants to have happen, but many are thinking it is the only way to fix what is broken, a second civil war. Personally I hope the peaceful way works.
Actually maybe the Forefathers did foresee this happening and that us why the provision of having a Constitutional Convention is in there in the 1st place