Argument for a Convention of States- Part 4 of 4 - Pigs at the Trough

By Chuck Marshall 

                                                        "Mad King George"- Hard at Work 

     So, what's to be done ?    Hopefully the previous three parts of this blog have outlined the problem of federal government that's out of control and the many consequences of such power.  The 50 states have the ability to remove a lot of that power,  especially the power to spend but also the power to legislate within each state according to the tastes and customs of each state.    Why do we have laws preferred in California applied to the citizens of Georgia if the people of Georgia are offended by that law ?   We're 50 separate states for a reason.   In fact, the advantages of spending and laws springing from the state level would be an opportunity to truly visualize what works and what doesn't work for the governing of our people.   A convention of states would allow the most peaceful and effective way to drive power out of Washington, DC and back closer to the American people.  Best of all,  there's no work to be done to set up this "day of jubilee".    There's  no need for revolution,  or civil war,  or riots in the streets until our leaders hear our demands.  It's already in the constitution under Article 5.  

      There are many ideas for Amendments to hold power in check at the federal level.  An organization exists for moving forward on the Convention of States and they have a list of tentative objectives for the first Convention.    The link to their organization and it's list of objectives is at the end of this blog.  This is not the only idea 'nor the final decision because Article 5 is owned by the people not any one organization.  But we need a path to go, so if it be this particular one then so be it.   The COS Action has the most established track for what this blog is elaborating on.   It's a start.  As Winston Churchill famously said "It is not the end, it is not the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning".  

     The "powers that be" at the federal level of government , corporate and special interest  (ie, "Mad King George") will argue all day against such a thing.  Indeed I'm sure they would love to delete Article 5 altogether.   Remember, it's not just our government leaders but all those who benefit from unlimited trillions of dollars.    The fact is,  our Congress is a tool of all the pigs that feed at the trough of American bounty.   This idea, the COS,  threatens the smooth path to legislation that the special interests (think litigation legislation, medical legislation, corporate, etc...) have become so wealthy and comfortable with.   Moreover, these multi- national corporate interests are owned and operated by people and groups who are not necessarily interested in American liberty and justice.   You see, the corporate multinationals would  no longer have an easy path to legislation that favors them.  Why not ?   Because our leaders are no longer "for sale" if reelection is limited to one or two terms.  Imagine, they can actually start doing their job !  The media detests this idea because the power will no longer be cradled in Washington, DC but will be as significant in the state capitals making their job much harder and of much less influence.  Importantly, remember, the media giants are all owned by large multinational corporations who are beholden to a lot of things, but not the American people.   They will shriek ; "This will ruin us".   It will ruin them,  is what they mean.  "Mad King George" fears for his head, and he should.  

     Take the time to glance at the COS website below and join or contribute if you feel strongly enough.  The people must get their power back and that will only happen if real decisions tend to be made at the local level not the federal level.  The future of our children, grandchildren and all of posterity depend on it.  

https://conventionofstates.com/

In My Humble Opinion.  CM 

Argument for a Convention of States Part 3 - To This We Leave Our Children

By Chuck Marshall

                                                                The Great Depression 

     So, today we have a federal government that has grown to proportions of debt that are not sustainable.  The national debt stands at around $24 Trillion and there is no end in sight.  That's equivalent to $69,000 for every human being in the United States.  Our leaders spend money as if there is no consequence to the debt.   I ask ;  "How could never-ending spending have no consequence" ?   Surely, there are consequences.  And, this begs the question;  "What would national bankruptcy look like ?"   I'm not an economist but most likely a world-wide depression would result with catastrophic consequences for our children and grandchildren including widespread poverty, war and disease.  (Read "The Grapes of Wrath" or watch "Cinderella Man" if you want to get a slice of depression era life)

There are other consequences right now;   

1)  The government creates an agency for every conceivable problem thus making that problem permanent.  Why permanent ?  Because where's the motivation for those directing or working for that agency to fix the problem ?  If you're successful you're putting yourself out of work.  So, they grow and grow and grow.   Like a massive corporation that solves no problem and builds nothing.  Never is there an end game.  

2)  The federal government spends money for wars, foreign support,  social welfare benefits, the arts, public buildings, university research, etc.... (the list could go on and on quite a bit)  with no attention to the economies of these endeavors and without bringing in money to cover the expense.  It simply spends money that's not its own.  Indeed, it spends money that does not exist hence the $24 Trillion of debt.    In addition, as with the problem with agencies above - what's the end game to all this ?   Is there an intention to fix the problem and find solutions or to simply spend as much money as possible ?  

3)  They wage wars and send our young people across the oceans to be killed and maimed in wars that often do not involve us directly and always cost quite a bit of money.  The Iraqi War cost several Trillion dollars alone.   Is spending trillions of dollars on a foreign nation's internal problems really worth it ?  Nation building is not in our constitution.  There have been exceptions in history, such as in standing up to the horrors of Nazism but that is rarely the case for the wars here in the 21st century.  There are other ways to influence the world with American integrity and decency that do not involve our young people getting butchered on foreign soil.  

4)   They don't raise taxes because it would cost votes.   They don't suggest minimizing social welfare because that would cost votes.   Certainly no reduction in our military because it never seems to be a good time and...... would cost votes !   So, nobody is willing to do the hard work and make the tough decisions because it's easier not to.  

     The national debt is but one problem.   The scope of the federal government's size is so large that protesting its actions seems hopeless.  Along with that enormous size comes enormous power for all involved.  The tentacles of such a powerful government can reach into many aspects of our lives, and with the onset of social media and the internet, it's even easier to "control" what people are allowed to hear.   So many elections have produced the same "do nothing" politicians that ally themselves with one of the major parties and nothing gets done  It's a never ending argument between them with the American citizen as the unfortunate victim.   

     In addition, many of our national leaders seem to get suddenly wealthy after working in the capital for a few terms.   I have no proof of nefarious actions but it certainly doesn't make sense to send people to DC who very quickly find financial benefit.  They leave their home states with bright eyed concepts of "fixing things" only to morph into the sleaziness of our modern day Rome- Washington, DC with its bureaucrats and corporate lobbyists who make them mysteriously wealthy.    "This is for the benefit of the American people" they seem to convince themselves.  Especially the American people sitting in the halls of Congress- Mad King George again !  Is that being a representative ?  It's all farcical !  

   

In My Humble Opinion.  CM

    

Argument for a Convention of States - Part 2 - The Biceps of Liberty

By Chuck Marshall

                                                            The Biceps of Liberty 

          

     For those not wrapped up in politics or who are simply not well acquainted with the Constitution, there is an article within the constitution that provides for the power of the states to reign in the federal government.  It's called Article 5.  Why have you never heard of this ?  There are many reasons.  The "powers that be" (or "Mad King George", as it were)  don't want you to know about it because it means they would have less power and influence if it were to be exercised.  In addition, because it has not been exercised this important muscle of the "body politic" has grown fat and flabby.  We, the American people,  have not been working this muscle.   In fact Article 5 has hardly been used at all since it was inserted into the constitution over 200 yeas ago at this writing.   I say it's time to pull out the dumbells and start working the "biceps of liberty" to get our country back to being within control and under the power of the people.  

      Article 5 states this;  "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, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate."

     It's important to note as you read, that it mentions congress and two thirds of both houses, amendments shall be proposed OR "on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments".  That's where the Convention of States comes into play.  The reason this is so important is it's highly unlikely anyone in Washington, DC will call for limiting their power at the federal level in favor of the states.  That will not happen.  The only way for the people to truly correct the overreaching power and malevolence of the national government is for them to be forced to give up this power.  They will not enact laws or amendments that reduce their own power.   Our  "Mad King George" has no interest or intention of relinquishing his crown voluntarily.  

In My Humble Opinion, CM 

Argument for a Convention of States - Part 1 - Common Sense

By Chuck Marshall

                                                                    Thomas Jefferson 

"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.”   Thomas Paine, 1776 from Common Sense.  

      These were the immortal words of Thomas Paine in 1776 at the introduction of his book "Common Sense".   His book is credited with changing the mind of enough colonial Americans to side with a revolution against England.  He inspired them to stop being afraid, to start thinking for themselves,  and stand up to the King of England and all his allied power here in North America.   

     We have our own King of England today, but it's not the actual King of England, of course.   It's the media establishment, the political parties, the multinational corporations and the Lobbyists of our capitals that do the bidding of the wealthiest and most powerful people and entities of the world.  They are the “Mad King George" of our times. 

      In the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson declared that “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” 

       Indeed, we do have  our own "Mad King George" today.   Our "Mad King George" is a federal government out of control with spending, drunk on power, beholden to large moneyed special interests, and at constant battle within itself as one party versus the other.  A never ending orgy of spending, avarice, petulance, greed,  partisan warfare and malevolent intentions that leave the American citizen as the least important aspect of their daily endeavors.  It's time to consider Thomas Jefferson's words and review our arsenal of power as Americans.  The time has come.  

In my humble opinion.  CM 

     

The Once Proud New York Times

Letter to the Orlando Sentinel- COVID19

   By Chuck Marshall 

     I read the thoughtful editorial on how dangerous the Corona Virus is to the public.  A lot of the explanations as to why we should all be alarmed were understandable and well expressed.  I do have to point out that any statistics could be skewed by the widespread belief that hospitals and Doctors are given more money from the government if  COVID19 is counted as the reason for death and the entire emergency seems to be more a cause for excitement than honest reflection.   In addition any ideas that question this entire shutdown or the statistics are quickly squashed or restricted by social media, you tube, etc... and given no attention by the Mainstream media.  Don't blame the public for being suspicious of your explanations when the real truth is not something you or your profession seem very interested in.  

I'll Advise if Printed !  

What is China Guilty Of ?

    By Chuck Marshall 

      There was a long article from the Associated Press today elaborating on how the President is after China to blame for the Virus outbreak.  In my humble opinion, the article was focusing on the wrong offense- regardless of who is accusing who of what.   China shut down its entire country to control the spread of the Corona Virus in the manner that any autocratic tyranny would operate with no regard to the logic behind locking up healthy people.  The Communist party decided to shut down society and so it happened.  As a consequence,  Italy,  and then Spain and then most of Europe copied the Chinese government.   In our country the President and various states were immediately convinced that we must do as the Europeans did and shut  down society to protect us from ourselves.  The idea is that government has the answers and individuals are incapable of making decisions to protect themselves and their families.   

     While I agree that large events and groups should have been limited and  that 15 days to "flatten the curve" sounded logical at the beginning,  the government and fear overwhelmed logic and stretched this exercise into months of government overreach.  China is a communist country that does not have free elections and has made things such as going to church illegal.  Not because of a virus but because it threatens their power.   It's only guilty of behaving as the tyrannical government that it is.