In theory, a Constitutional Amendment is a great idea whose time is past due. In reality, however, the bastardization, partisanship and corruption of the process we currently face will make it impossible to get good, "clean", unencumbered representatives and the well-intentioned change we desire. It just won't work (& I do want it to). I'll explain.
In order for a constitutional convention or constitutional change to take place, the requisite representatives would need to be ELECTED. This requires campaigning. Campaigning is typically reliant upon money and exposure. I know this all too well as I am currently going through this as a candidate for the NYS Assembly (feel free to donate). There are no campaign finance laws that I'm aware of, anywhere in the US, to control the spending for this type of campaign. Consequently, special interest groups, corporations, current politicians, criminals, ex-cons, your wacko neighbor, etc., are able to run, spending unlimited amounts of money toward a campaign. And, anything goes, such as lying, incorrect information, and personal denigration and insults without recourse.
Based on the pathetic responses we see at every election, the "wrong" person could get elected for this historic event, based on the campaign spending and exposure a candidate gets. As an example of how bad things are, 700+ or so people voted my last school budget election (Not bad, huh? Well, there are over 10,000 eligible voters!). It's no wonder our schools taxes are the biggest chunk of our tax bills. BTW, this lack of campaign finance control applies to the local, state and federal levels of a constitutional convention with no proposals for a change seeking regulation. Once these people are elected, there is no way to oversight of them as they create changes. Or, more importantly, as they vote for changes that should be in the best interest of all of us all, as they are not going to be up for reelection.
The city of Yonkers has cleaned house with term limits and while it's true you can also lose good people, we are all suffering with the alternative. I'd rather lose a few good people than having to suffer with most of the people we keep getting stuck with. NYC Mayor Bloomberg also proved the point by "buying" a third term in a normally term-limited two-year term.
Our constitutions are good, solid, time-endured documents that are not living documents. When people say appointments for judgeships don't really matter to us, they don't. At least, they don't until the balance is upset. As we are slowly witnessing, many of the same liberal judges are legislating from the bench, ignoring the constitution. It is the same social engineering from the bench that we see with a one-party democratic-party driven system; and the republicans have not proven to be much better but at least offer hope and change - heh, where have I heard that before?
There is more to it than what I've laid out here, but this touches on the highlights of some of the negative possibilities. Since there is no way to control the campaigning and outcome of the election and the decisions made by those elected, there is really only one viable recourse: vote in our regular elections. More importantly, vote the incumbents, professional politicians out of office and support term limits.
We don't need a constitutional convention to change the status quo into something most people desire: a better government with less spending, less taxes, less bureaucracy, less waste and real representation, not social engineering. If everyone they know told five people, or even more, about good candidates and why they should vote for them, we'd be in a better place. Of course, it's also reliant on their getting out to vote.
It really is simple: Vote!
Thomas Bock is the endorsed candidate of the Republican and Conservative parties for the 92nd Assembly District seat. He can be reached at info@Bock2010. Visit his website at www.Bock2010.com or his blog at www.electtombock.blogspot.com. You can contribute to his campaign through his website and Pay Pal,
or by sending a check or money order to
Elect Tom Bock, PO Box 1098, 405 Tarrytown Road, White Plains, NY 10607.
The author who says he is seeking political office fails to realize that he is advocating an illegal position should he be elected. The Constitution clearly states he must support an Article V Convention as he must support the rest of the Constitution. The fact is the states have applied for a convention (see www.foavc.org)and therefore a convention must be called.
ReplyDeleteHe wants a convention to be "safe". There is no such guarantee and the risk that the "wrong" person might be elected is just one of the risks of democracy. The only solution is to present the best ideas regarding amendment proposals. What the candidate fails to realize that amendment proposals will be what a convention is about, not the people. How the candidates stand on those proposals will be the crux of the election. In short, the election will be about issue, not personality.