It’s head-scratching to read Marilyn Britton’s claim that the most-dangerous threat to our democracy is an Article V Convention of States (“Convention is most-dangerous threat,” March 17).
That Article V is the fifth article in our U.S. Constitution. This is equivalent to the absurd notion that the most-dangerous threat to our American republic is our 50 state legislatures. It’s true that our U.S. Congress is not the only body that can propose amendments to our Constitution (still waiting for that Term Limits Amendment). The founders rightly believed that state legislatures were closest to and most-mindful of the American people residing in their local towns and cities. Just as King George became a ruling tyrant, so too, the founders believed could any distant, central government.
U.S. federal debt was $10 trillion in 2008. In 2022, it towers at $30 trillion. Our children and grandchildren will one day look back in disbelief. Washington politicians have given drunken sailors a good name. Fentanyl coming through our southern border is now a major cause of death of Americans at a tragically premature age. Federal statutory law is ignored by the executive branch and the president.
Congress’ regular order of committee hearings and debate has become regular disorder (nothing). Our federal bureaucracy has learned the examples of their elected leaders – unaccountability and irresponsibility. It takes 34 states to call a Convention of States, which ultimately requires 38 states to ratify any proposed amendments. Only 13 states can block any one.
I firmly believe Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelensky would be a fervent supporter of a Convention of States. Russian President Vladimir Putin, not so much.
Charlie Krause
Peterborough