In 1787, as the Philadelphia Convention was ending, a delegate from Virginia named George Mason told the convention, “Are we so naïve that we believe a government that becomes a tyranny will propose the right kind of amendments to restrain its own tyranny?” It was Mason’s words that compelled the delegates at the convention to create a second mechanism for amending the Constitution, which has become known as the Convention of States. 234 years later, our republic has been manipulated by those within our institutions to satisfy their own interests at the expense of the American people. As each day passes, more of our liberties have been taken away in the name of paternalism and idealism, which has led to the furthering of the federal government’s soft despotism. While it seems that all hope is fleeting, there are a few amendments that could potentially restore our republic, including an imposition of term limits, a balanced budget amendment, and a repeal of the progressive income tax.
An amendment for implementing term limits on U.S congressional is one of the first steps in restoring our republic. The implementation of term limits has been widely supported from both sides of the aisle, which a national poll from Mclaughlin and Associates showed 82% of Americans support term limits, 89% support from Republicans, 83% from Independents, and 76% from Democrats. Term limits will force congressional officeholders to focus on issues due to time constraints, thus putting more pressure to get things done in a shorter time frame. This amendment would create fewer career politicians, meaning politicians like Nancy Pelosi, Mitt Romney, and others would have to give up power, leading to more competition and choices for voters in the future.
Another amendment that would likely appear in a convention of states is a balanced budget amendment. According to the U.S Treasury, the current U.S debt is 28.8 trillion dollars with a 3 trillion-dollar deficit spending, which has led to much fear over the state of the American economy. Support for a balanced budget amendment has come from notable figures such as Utah Senator Mike Lee, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, and others. A balanced budget amendment would limit federal spending by requiring the federal budget to equal the tax revenue received from taxpayers, while adding a provision for emergency situations. This is key for our nation to restore our republic by being committed to financial responsibility.
Finally, an amendment to repeal the 16th Amendment is another key issue that a convention of states would look at. The 16th Amendment allowed the Federal Government to tax people based on their income, which is now known as the progressive tax. Today, Americans have become harassed by the IRS, which has become an apparatus for political intimidation and tyrannizing the people. While the current highest tax bracket is 37%, some have proposed raising it to between 77% to 91%, which would stop citizens from becoming more productive, innovative, and incentivizes them to have less income to provide for their families. By repealing the 16th Amendment, we can rid ourselves of the progressive income tax, and replace it with a fair taxing system such as a low sales tax or a flat tax rate, thus putting less stress on Americans financially and abolishing the IRS.
While debates continue over what amendments shall be presented and which are imperative, the necessity for structural change is clear. The only way we can enact amendments like the ones mentioned is if We The People can get a Convention of States. We must honor Mason’s words by seeking restoration by reformation.
