Although we largely prefer to focus on simply encouraging our State Legislators to apply for a COS, in order to get a seat at the table when this historic meeting takes place, I am compelled to at least mention one of my favorite possible amendments to the Constitution–the repeal of the 17th Amendment.
The year 1913 was an unfortunate milestone in American History, as the Federal Reserve System, the 16th Amendment (income tax) and the 17th Amendment were all instituted that year. I believe, as does Mark Levin*, that the 17th Amendment needs to be repealed WITHOUT DELAY, so that individual states can take back the power that Washington D.C. has assumed!
WHY A REPEAL OF THE 17th AMENDMENT?
The 17th Amendment to our Constitution created a huge financial drain on our U.S. budget; and the spending in Washington D.C. continues to run amok! This amendment created massive deficits at the state level by putting the financial decisions at the national level, instead of leaving some of this power within the individual states. When allocating dollars, the Feds think of their own interests, instead of the specific priorities of each individual state. This is not working!
I believe that the COS project is the most important civic project in modern American history!
The bureaucrats in Washington D.C. are out of control. They have stripped the power away from our State Legislators, leaving them unable to do what they believe is in the best interests of each state.
YOU ARE THE HOME TEAM. You know what is happening at HOME in your state. You have your own state’s INTERESTS at heart. So why not ask your State Legislatures to impose what you need? WE know how to take care of our own governance at home…
If you don’t care for a particular amendment that you have heard may be discussed at the COS, please find comfort in knowing that there has to be a consensus in order for any amendment to pass! THIRTY-EIGHT State Legislatures MUST AGREE on any amendment that is put up for discussion at the COS, or it will simply not pass!
America would be an entirely different country today, in the absence of the 17th Amendment!
U.S. Senators have been elected by the popular vote, causing a loss of state representation in D.C. State Legislatures are better qualified than the general public to gauge who from their own state, would best represent the needs of their particular state.
During the past century, the overextension of federal power has increased to a level that is invasive and counter-productive to businesses, industry and to individuals.
Let’s not let fear ruin our chances of making some improvements that could help our country get a handle on debt, power and over-regulation.
Case-in-point, before the 17th Amendment, our State Legislatures were in charge of selecting U.S. Senators and this was working fine for 124 years – up until the year 1913! Besides taking away our individual states’ ability to select U.S. Senators, the 17th Amendment moved financial decisions to the national level, instead of leaving some of the power within the individual states. This, in effect, took away the influence that state governments once had in Washington, D.C.!