Convention of States: The Time is Now

It's obvious our Federal Government is broken.  It's just as obvious that the two party status quo is broken as well.  Anyone who's read this blog for the last five years knows that I gave up being a Republican in 2008 when McCain was shoved down our throats based on the whole "electability" argument (how'd that work out for ya?).  For the last several years I've supported the Constitution Party, fighting for a third party option that more clearly reflects the intent of our founders and the whole concept of a representative republic.  It's a radical idea to some, this third party thing.  But difficult times call for radical ideas. 

And here's another one.  With the Federal Government in "shut down", perhaps it's more obvious than ever that we need to call a Convention of States.  Because so many Americans are Constitutionally illiterate, they may not even be aware of what that is.  Our founding fathers provided two ways to keep things in check moving forward, two ways in which amendments to the Constitution can be offered. 

Article V of the U. S. Constitution states: "The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments..."

That means:

Congress can amend the Constitution at any time if 2/3 of both houses of Congress agree.

A convention of states can be called if 2/3 of states submit applications. These applications must all deal with the same issue (i.e., limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government).

- See more at: http://conventionofstates.com/article-v#sthash.oQ0d0vmx.dpuf

1. Congress can amend the Constitution at any time if 2/3 of both houses of Congress agree. OR

2. A convention of states can be called if 2/3 of states submit applications. These applications must all deal with the same issue (i.e., limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government). (taken from this post)

What we fail to remember is that the Federal Government was intended to be quite limited in its power and scope, and the states were always intended to have the power to "trump" the boys in DC.  In fact, Article X of our Constitution says: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

In short, Article 10 tells us that unless we give specific power to the Federal Government, they don't have it.  Sadly, we've ignored that article for years now and let the Feds run rampant, exercising authority in all kinds of areas where they have no right to do so.  (Can anyone say "Affordable Healthcare Mandate?")

It's time for the states to take back what is rightfully ours.  Articles 5 provides a way for Article 10 to be enforced.  It seems that our founding fathers knew a day might come when a Federal Government might become a little power mad, and might need to be held in check by the states; by the people.  That time may have come.

Again, it's obvious that the Federal Government is broken, as is the current two party system.  This recent "shut down" is just the most glaring recent example.  It's time for the states to stand up.  It's time for this nation of, by and for the people to become that again.  Check out the information at the Convention of States website.  Find out what you can do to urge state lawmakers to call for this convention.  If the power mad folks in DC, who gladly put others out of work while still collecting their own checks, can't get it done, let's put in motion the process that will.   

Congress can amend the Constitution at any time if 2/3 of both houses of Congress agree.

A convention of states can be called if 2/3 of states submit applications. These applications must all deal with the same issue (i.e., limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government).

- See more at: http://conventionofstates.com/article-v#sthash.oQ0d0vmx.dpuf

Congress can amend the Constitution at any time if 2/3 of both houses of Congress agree.

A convention of states can be called if 2/3 of states submit applications. These applications must all deal with the same issue (i.e., limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government).

- See more at: http://conventionofstates.com/article-v#sthash.oQ0d0vmx.dpuf