Fucking America!

[godfry n. glad]

Originally Posted by Blake

Consequently, though I haven't developed the idea yet (why, I don't know, I've been convinced of it for years) is that the only viable, incredibly-long-shot solution is to organize from the grassroots to bring about a constitutional convention. Article V of the U.S. constitution says that one must be called if asked for by two-thirds of the states. (Quite a few actually have active resolutions calling for a convention floating around.) The convention would then have a chance to redraft the government completely; they might not think up a completely new brilliant system, but at least they could place limits on the executive, stiffen the powers of the representative assembly, curb the major parties, establish a truly independent judiciary, guarantee universal health care, etc. etc. etc....

If that new constitution survived its transition to embodying its first government without being co-opted by the prior ruling groups, then ... well ... hurray. We'd be there, at least for a little while.

</armchair dilettantism>

Indeed.

I think you are exceedingly optimistic on the possible results.

I'm not sure why you think that a constitutional convention would necessarily produce something better than what presently exists. Throwing open the entire process like that allows all the existing interest groups to push their own agendas. Stop and look at all the proposals for constitutional admendments that have been floated in the recent past. If recognized as a constitutional convention, it would allow conventioneers to dispose of all those petty impediments to effective law enforcement, like the Bill of Rights.

I'm not all that thrilled with the idea of a constitutional convention. I'm more interested in making the current constitution work correctly, rather than throwing out the whole ball of wax and starting over.

godfry