The Progress Report

Americans are fed up with the two-party plutocracy. Luckily, their Constitution lets them propose constitutional amendments just like Congress, which has long refused to obey the Constitution and call a convention. Perhaps such direct democracy could be a shortcut to adopting geonomic policy. The writer is a co-founder of Friends of the Article V Convention and can be reached through delusionaldemocracy.com. If you have an op-ed burning to get written, please submit it.

by Joel S. Hirschhhorn

On her August 9 show on MSNBC radio commentator Rachel Maddow ridiculed those, especially Republican candidates and congressmen, making a big point of using constitutional amendments as a way to build public support for themselves. Her basic point was that amending the constitution is really, really hard. It is so difficult that the public should not take it very seriously.

It is certainly true that getting amendments proposed by Congress and then ratified by three-quarters of the states is a very difficult process, especially for amendments that would confront how our government is made corrupt and dysfunctional. Congress and special interests on the right and left want to preserve the current system that they have learned to manipulate so well.

Maddow could have informed her audience about another path to obtaining constitutional amendments. Included in Article V of the Constitution is the option of a convention of state delegates that would have the same constitutional power to propose amendments as Congress has.

The Founders anticipated the day when the American public might lose trust and confidence in the federal government. With only 11 percent of people having confidence in Congress that day has certainly arrived. Americans are fed up with the two-party plutocracy that has not delivered them reform.

The only requirement for a convention is that two-thirds of the states ask for one. Apparently Maddow does not know that there have been over 700 state applications from all 50 states. For a long time, Congress has ignored them, despite having taken an oath of office that requires them to uphold and obey that very same Constitution. Even today more state legislators are calling for a convention.

Those opposing using the convention option say they fear a runaway convention. Remember this: An Article V convention does not have the constitutional power to write a whole new Constitution. It can only propose amendments. And they still must be ratified by three-quarters of the states.

That Americans have a constitutional path to reform our corrupt Congress is a form of direct democracy. The issue should not be about specific amendments but about the process of considering and obtaining them. Some of the most respected people in American history favored use of the convention option.

Known for her ability to articulate so well her rage about what ails the nation, Maddow missed a huge opportunity to point out that the rule of law has been abused by Congress. Journalistic integrity demands that she do some homework and correct the situation. She should do another segment that focuses on the Article V convention option and how so many special interests have fought hard against using it.

What Maddow made a laughing matter of should be taken much more seriously. And consideration of constitutional amendments should not be a partisan issue, but instead good citizenship. Get to work, Rachel.

Meanwhile, what can Americans do? They can join Friends of the Article V Convention (click here), the only national nonpartisan group with the single mission of compelling Congress to call the first convention. On their website, one
can examine the state applications for a convention as well as other materials to broaden public support.

They can also join Convention USA (click here) and become state delegates to an online virtual convention that will
behave like a real Article V convention. This is a test drive of a real Article V convention, showing how citizens can behave intelligently and responsibly to conceive constitutional amendments.

This is what the group says: “Here you will find a gathering of patriotic citizens who have assembled, not as revolutionaries, but as loyal Americans, to exercise their right as guaranteed by Article V of the Constitution of the United

To become a delegate, however, requires payment of $10 a month, something I wish the group would rethink. The more members this group attracts, the more that Congress will find it difficult to ignore their constitutional responsibility to obey Article V.

Do not assume that some victories of anti-establishment candidates in fall elections will suffice to reform the system. What Congress and opponents fear we the people should passionately embrace. Fear the status quo, not using the Article V convention option the Founders gave us.

JJS: Make the US political system better, more just, more honest, more open, more effective, and more efficient. If you honor and respect the Constitution, support using the Article V convention option given to us by the Founders.