Reply #42: Be very careful what you wish for... [View All]

The bill of rights was just an add-on appeasement to a few of the more "radical" framers. Most wanted nothing to do with specifying peoples' rights against government intrusion or malevolence.

And just as the last two presidential elections were rigged, I feel in my bones that a new constitutional convention would inevitably be rigged in favor of the fascists/corporatists who are now running the show. But this time, instead of committing felonies every time they violate an amendment or three as is now the case, overwhelming government control would become the law of the land.

If we were to try and get rid of the electoral college, institute proportional representation and mandate public financing of all campaigns, I think the way to go is through the constitutional amendment process. I also think the right to basic health care should be spelled out in an amendment. Not that I think any of these things have a chance in hell of becoming law, but it's still worth a try. Things are so out of whack these days that women can't even get the ERA passed, notwithstanding that it's among the more sane and reasonable pieces of legislation in decades.

And again, you just don't want to open the flood gates and let the wingnut slime monsters have a say at a new constitutional convention. Just imagine the Military Commissions Act on steroids.


wp