BENNETT: A Lesson on CON-CON

by Jack Bennett

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 with out its Consent shall be derived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate. (Article V of the US Constitution) ( short term: “Con-Con” )

Do you realize what Article V states? On a two thirds vote a convention can be called and delegates can change anything they want in the Constitution. This Con-Con scheme (CONstitutional CONvention; also the so-called “Convention of States” and “Article V Convention”) is a dangerous threat to our rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.

“They” keep telling us the Constitution has not grown with the country, that it has not kept up with the times. Others say if we get two thirds of the state Legislatures to call for a Constitutional Contention, Congress must call one, and that can fix things up just right. “They” say we don’t have a thing to worry about:” because if the proposed convention were to present a bad amendment, the states wouldn’t ratify it.

Here we go: Thirty-four states call for the Convention strictly to balance the budget. The amendment is written in advance and is a good one. Here’s where it gets problematic: Who chooses the delegate? The right or the left, each has their own agenda and would do what ever they wanted. The cure would be far worse that the disease. Nothing could stop the Convention once started. You can bet that every evil scheme imagined will be let loose on the country.

No. A Constitutional Convention isn’t the cure. It’s more like national suicide.

IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM