Can’t fix our nation by shaking its constitutional tree

[Machiavelli]

James Poulos
Southern California News Group via Orange County Register
June 17, 2017

Often people can only take so much pressure before they seek to release it in rash and sudden ways, throwing caution and a careful consideration of consequences to the wind.

There were good signs when President Trump was elected that many Americans were entering into that kind of moment. And now, with millions realizing just how widespread and deeply rooted are the problems cool-and-collected President Obama had helped us emotionally paper over, the urge to find release in rash words and deeds is kicking into overdrive.

There’s talk of a “cold civil war,” a bitter longing for “national divorce,” and now, fresh interest in a “convention of the states” to add several big constitutional amendments. However gratifying the fantasy may be of renewing our founding charter’s virtue in this way, it’s ultimately unwise and misconceived...

Although organizers and supporters feel sure that they would control the tempo of change and define the content of the changes, the truth is that nationalist and populist sentiment today tilts more to the left than it does to the right. Once the constitutional seal is broken, pro-liberty convention supporters would be stunned to discover how quickly the initiative could be taken away from them and delivered into the hands of socialist-leaning reformers ready to hardwire permanent general entitlements, under the language of fundamental rights, into the law of the land...

Full article

[Cyber Liberty]

This is the rap I have on the Article V movement.  First, what makes folks think they can keep the leftists from hijacking the movement to make things even worse, and secondly, the government drones don't follow the Constitution as written, what makes anybody think they'd follow new rules if they don't like them?

[Oceander]

Spot on.

[jmyrlefuller]

If one accepts the premise in this editorial, then one can only come to the conclusion that it cannot be fixed, our nation is hopelessly corrupt and that the only freedom we will have is one that, thanks to a certain recent conviction, I can't even mention in public.

[Oceander]

If one accepts the premise in this editorial, then one can only come to the conclusion that it cannot be fixed, our nation is hopelessly corrupt and that the only freedom we will have is one that, thanks to a certain recent conviction, I can't even mention in public.

Not true at all. It means that those who worry about the direction were headed need to become a lot more involved in politics, including running for office, at starting at the local level.  For those who don't want to run for office, it means constant involvement in going to meetings and constant communication with your elected officials, and actively campaigning for the ones you support.  It means a lot of hard work.  But then again, that's exactly how the left managed to do it over the last 50 years or so.  If they can do it, so can we, as long as we have the courage of our convictions. 

Have you ever considered politics as a career?

[jmyrlefuller]

Not true at all. It means that those who worry about the direction were headed need to become a lot more involved in politics, including running for office, at starting at the local level.  For those who don't want to run for office, it means constant involvement in going to meetings and constant communication with your elected officials, and actively campaigning for the ones you support.  It means a lot of hard work.  But then again, that's exactly how the left managed to do it over the last 50 years or so.  If they can do it, so can we, as long as we have the courage of our convictions. 

Have you ever considered politics as a career?

Politics is the art of pandering to donors to get enough money to pander to the ignorant masses' already existing biases. It does not affect change; it is a symptom of it.

What we have is a cultural problem. The left did not get inroads into this country via politics. Indeed, Republicans are as numerous as they've been in years in government, and yet the leftward march toward leftism marches onward unabated. Look at the issue of the alphabet-soup lobby, one that could easily be denounced in pubic over a decade ago, now brings shame or worse on anyone who dares even want to stay out of it. Look at our federal budget. Look at the refusal to end the Obamacare mandates.

The problem is that those who believe in what is right lack the money and access to combat those who believe in what is wrong.

[Oceander]

Politics is the art of pandering to donors to get enough money to pander to the ignorant masses' already existing biases. It does not affect change; it is a symptom of it.

What we have is a cultural problem. The left did not get inroads into this country via politics. Indeed, Republicans are as numerous as they've been in years in government, and yet the leftward march toward leftism marches onward unabated. Look at the issue of the alphabet-soup lobby, one that could easily be denounced in pubic over a decade ago, now brings shame or worse on anyone who dares even want to stay out of it. Look at our federal budget. Look at the refusal to end the Obamacare mandates.

The problem is that those who believe in what is right lack the money and access to combat those who believe in what is wrong.

All I can say is I disagree.  If you truly believe that, then why bother?  Why not simply lay low and deal with whomever is in charge, or head for the hills and violent revolution?  The fact that you're here suggests you don't really believe that. 

[Cyber Liberty]

All I can say is I disagree.  If you truly believe that, then why bother?  Why not simply lay low and deal with whomever is in charge, or head for the hills and violent revolution?  The fact that you're here suggests you don't really believe that.

I'd like to see @jmyrlefuller run for something.  He'd be good at it.

[truth_seeker]

I used to involve myself in city affairs, a great deal. More often on the winning side.

A woman that never held elective office, headed a couple of such organizations. More like an administrative coordinator.

She and her husband had done this for years. She had a saying along these lines:

"Political power is held, by those that show up." That is more often true, than not.

Conservatives have a built-in disadvantage: They hold down private sector jobs, and raise families.

The left often work for the government, including the very entities at issue, or don't work at all.

So when our volunteer and non-profits took up issues, we were often opposed by full-time salaried city employees, with unlimited budgets.

Once the government decides on a program, they have the time and resources, to have their ways.

Same thing at the county level. I once attended a county meeting, about raising taxes. The GOP establishment had already surrendered to the idea of going along.

I stood up, made a case against raising taxes, much to the dismay of my city group. I went against the GOP establishment,  but was cheered by the community. My arguments were published in the LAT, and the OCR. We won the vote, too.

After taking some time away, I came back as Treasurer for a local PAC. We got two city council candidates elected, but BOTH turned out to be dishonest, and one went to federal prison.

I worked on getting a CDBG block grant for a non-profit. But learned it was another inside game. Unless you had insiders already on your side, you lost out.

Politics is, what politics is. No amount of hand-wringing, virtue signaling will make it otherwise. It ain't church.

BTW many of the folks that "show up," no the game from start to finish. They know they get power, in art from showing up.

If you truly want to make a difference, you must suit up and show up, and not quit. Over and over.

 

[rodamala]

I'd like to see @jmyrlefuller run for something.  He'd be good at it.

@Cyber Liberty
@jmyrlefuller

I second.

[Cyber Liberty]

@Cyber Liberty
@jmyrlefuller

I second.

How about it, @jmyrlefuller?  There are open seats for Precinct Committeemen in practically every precinct in the country.  You can contact the Party Chair in your district and you can get appointed now, then run in the  next election.  Easy peasy, and I honestly do think you'd be good at it.  From the position of PC you can start meeting the people you need to know to actually score a seat in the Legislature.  Just show up and be as passionate there as you are here.

[Oceander]

I'd like to see @jmyrlefuller run for something.  He'd be good at it.

I second the motion. 

[Fishrrman]

Cyber wrote:
"First, what makes folks think they can keep the leftists from hijacking the movement to make things even worse"

Because there are 33 states that are essentially under Republican control. The blue-state leftists would be outnumbered two-to-one at the convention, and even those could be controlled.

"and secondly, the government drones don't follow the Constitution as written, what makes anybody think they'd follow new rules if they don't like them?"

Well, if they won't "follow" the new rules, then perhaps it will really be "time to take up arms".
Honestly... at that point, what else do you possibly believe could be effective?