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The Article V Convention

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The Article V Convention and why it's the objective solution.

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• A comment on Conversation: The case for the Article V Convention

  Dec 10 2012: One of my favorite things to say about the convention clause is that it embodies our ultimate right of alter/abolish. It's the Declaration of Independence written into the Constitution. If not now, when?

• A comment on Conversation: The case for the Article V Convention

  Dec 9 2012: Pat, in regards to unions, they too have been overtaken by money and operatives and no longer operate as they originally did. Today they are another wedge issue that plays into the hands of the two party system. In regards to private money coursing through public elections, I think it matters very much. Whether we agree or not on unions or money does not interest me as much as whether we agree that the Constitution has a convention clause, and that it is part of it for a reason. The people deserve to go through the process.

• A comment on Conversation: The case for the Article V Convention

  Dec 9 2012: Pat, not sure what you mean.

• A comment on Conversation: The case for the Article V Convention

  Dec 9 2012: Hi Robert, there are no limits in theory, but in terms of practical politics the delegates would figure out what ought to be addressed over things which might be marginal. I sure like some of your ideas on what ought to be addressed, to be sure, but in terms of selling the idea to the average citizen, I like to stay on the points of removing personhood from corporations, reversing the ruling that money is speech--things most Americans recognize as problematic.

• A reply on Conversation: The case for the Article V Convention

  Dec 7 2012: Hi Barry, I was lucky enough to attend the conference at Harvard last year. I hope you can get round to reading the report by the Congressional Research Service. The media may put up a resistance, try and get people to fear it, but once there is popular support it's all over, and once called, I think anyone who is not on the up and up will want to get the out of the way. Time will tell, in the mean time, the more Americans who are aware of it, and know how to talk about it, of course the better.

• A reply on Conversation: The case for the Article V Convention

  Dec 6 2012: Tom, in my opinion, with unlimited private funds now coarsing through public government, not to mention the electronic voting machines operating on proprietary source code, there is no plan B, i.e. it's convention of bust. Will we get it? Time will tell.

• A reply on Conversation: The case for the Article V Convention

  Dec 6 2012: Pat, one of the really great things about the Article V Convention is that it will re-educate two or three generations of Americans in one fell swoop. It will be like a grand civics lesson, and I have no doubt there are thousands of knowledgeable Americans who will rise to the occasion should we build that tipping-point calling for a convention.

• A reply on Conversation: The case for the Article V Convention

  Dec 6 2012: Edward, yes, you are correct. The only reason we've never had a convention is a bunch of lawyers and ivory tower types pretending the issue is complex. It's simply a national discussion, but not the bogus discussion put on by politicians and media heads. This issue is the one which all the others are tied to, so if you can help raise awareness of it, that would be a positive thing. Will we ever get it? Who knows, at the least it's nice to be talking about the objective solution? Thanks for your interest and comments.

• A reply on Conversation: The case for the Article V Convention

  Dec 5 2012: Pat, the convention clause embodies our greatest right--that of alter/abolish. A convention of state delegates will create a political dynamic which currently does not exist. Imagine if you are a corrupt politician or judge, and you were just informed America is going to dust off the Constitution and put it to work. Think you might change your attitude? Whether or not an amendment is ratified, the constitutional process is akin to turning on the lights and having a grand civics ceremony that puts everyone at the same table.

• A reply on Conversation: The case for the Article V Convention

  Dec 5 2012: Ted Lover, the Constitution is what the people say it is, and the only reason we've never had one is because we've been lied to for over half a century as to what one actually is.
  
  If one knows what it is in actuality--a three-part national discussion which breaks the status quo of politics as usual--then anyone sincere would immediately begin scheming how to popularize it.
  
  As mentioned earlier, the Congressional Research Service issued the paper this year. The powers that be know that people are waking up to the idea.
  
  The Constitution cannot be overthrown, it can only be ignored. Once enough of us want it to be obeyed, it will be, and in a natural progression of events it will return us to its founding principles.