A constitutional convention seems like a neat Idea, as long as it is done legally and my bill o’rights ain’t fucked with. However, this guys proposed edits don’t fly with me.
Proposed edit: Each of the 10 most populous states would receive an extra two senators, and each of the next 15 most populous states would get one additional senator. The District of Columbia would also receive representation in the Senate.
Um… No. The Senate has two senators per state so that each of the states has equal power and representation in the highest house of congress. This edit will make it so the more populous states will have an unquestionable majority. Also, the most populous states, save for Texas, also happen to be the most liberal, so I am not swayed.
Considering the state of the electorate after the flagrant politicized redistricting the Republican Party engaged in from the time they seized power in 1994 until the upset of 2006, I’m not nearly as adverse to the idea of redistribution of power vis-a-vis population size. And denizens of D.C. are given the short shrift by being denied representation in Congress.
Proposal: The most far-reaching reform that I propose for the executive branch is a dramatic redistribution of war powers, restoring the Congress’ original co-equal Constitutional role.You don’t have to change the constitution to obey it. the problem here is congress needs to grow a set of balls, both dems and repubs, and tell the executive that the precedents set are illegal and they will follow the supreme law of the land.
Agreed. If Congress is unaware of or unwilling to exercise the clearly delineated powers bequeathed to them by the original constitution, I very much doubt they’ll exercise the new war powers.
Proposal: For the judiciary, under my plan, all federal judges would face a 15-year term limit, without renewal, and the Supreme Court would be expanded to 12 members from its present nine.
This sounds like an OK idea, but the good judges would also be bared from serving again, not just the bad ones no one likes. Also, the number of supreme court justices was made uneven (9) for a good reason, so there would not be ties. keep the number uneven.
I can stomach term limits for the highest court in the land, even having suggested it in heated debate several times myself. I do, however, share your distrust of the idea of increasing the number if justices, for the above stated reasons.
Proposal: Lastly, let me mention my suggestion of a new Constitutional Bill of Responsibilities, to balance the Bill of Rights. At its heart is universal national service (UNS) for the young.Uh no, Fuck you. That is a terrible idea. The constitution tells to government what they cant do, and I will not allow for there to be any bill telling the people what they must do.
Conscription of any kind – be it relatively “benign” or geared towards militaristism – smacks of liberal big-brotherism. I abhor the presumption that the young “owe” the nation anything. Patriotism (or lack thereof) should be a choice, not a demand. How is this any less anti-American than suspending our right to privacy or habeas corpus?
So in closing, I think this guy is just trying to be a lofty headed jerk-off while pretending to think the constitution is nifty while trying to implement his social agenda via changing the constitution. –KK4
Speaking as a sometimes member of that elite fraternity… what do you have against lofty headed jerk-offs?
