To the American Public, Members of Congress, and Presidential Candidates Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Bernie Sanders:
To end the buying and selling of elections, overturning Citizens United will not be enough! We need a new constitutional convention, one truly representative of the people, for a new constitution to end the power of elites. Congress, show you are truly of the people! Presidential candidates, show you serve the people and not the big donors! Support Al Carroll's A Proposed New Constitution at
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/614023 How would you change the constitution if it were up to you? How should we as a nation change the constitution? Even asking the question gets angry and outraged responses. This is so even though parts of it are poorly thought out, anti-democratic, and have done tremendous damage to the nation.
For America’s constitution is a sacred cow. Some cows should not be worshiped. Some should be slaughtered. That is not true of all of the US Constitution, but America would be better off if some parts of it became hamburger.
There is, among those on both the political left and right, what can only be called widespread constitution worship. Most on both sides hold up the constitution the way a vampire hunter in the movies holds up a cross to ward off vampires. Everyone from the most stoned pot smokers to gun toting militia groups calls on the constitution as support for causes, beliefs, and attitudes they hold dear.
This constitution worship is every bit as blindly enthusiastic as it is unknowing of the actual history of the constitution, and how and why it was adopted. The founders themselves did not think much of the constitution. Jefferson wanted a new constitution every twenty years. Other founders disagreed, largely because they were not sure the constitution would last twenty years. For the founders, it was a pragmatic, even temporary, measure, not holy or intended to be permanent. America is great not because of the constitution, but in spite of it, and especially in spite of the founders.
If it were up to the American public, the following solutions would have become law many decades, even half a century or more, before today:
1. Abolishing the Electoral College.
2. Ending the buying of elections.
3. Limiting election campaigns to three months, and having election day be a national holiday.
4. Ending wars quickly in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Each war continued over half a decade after the American public wanted to get out. Unless under direct attack, the nation must vote to declare war before troops can be sent.
5. Reforming the office of vice president, widely regarded with contempt by most, and producing candidates that even most voters of the same party as the presidential candidate did not want. Nominate and elect the vice president separately.
6. Ending corporate welfare and other wasteful spending. Public aid only goes to those in need, and corporate power must be limited.
7. Ending most foreign military aid, and support for tyrants and dictators around the world.
8. Limiting the power of the Supreme Court.
9. Ending the political monopoly of wealthy elites. Publicly funded elections only.
10. Guaranteeing privacy from government intrusion.
Each of these proposals have widespread bipartisan support and are hugely popular across the political spectrum by great majorities. But none of these proposals have majority support among elected political elites, economic elites, or the leadership of either party.
The constitution itself is the biggest barrier to solving these problems. Not one of these problems have been, or ever could have been, quickly solved, precisely because the constitution makes it difficult. Most of these problems require a constitutional amendment, something made deliberately long and difficult by the founders. A few of these could be solved temporarily by ordinary laws, which could then be easily overturned next election.
So why not go to the root of these problems? Why not a new constitution? Al Carroll's A Proposed New Constitution at
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/614023 Fifteen proposals for a new constitution and constitutional convention that will end the power of the 1%, guarantee voting rights, limit corporate power, guarantee privacy, and end American colonialism and wars far sooner. Ending Citizens United, or passing just one amendment will not be enough. Protests or voting will not be enough. A new constitution of, by, and for the people, NOW!
The constitution itself is clearly at the root of many of our worst problems in American society today. Support the call for a new constitutional convention!
Petitions:
https://www.causes.com/campaigns/99710-support-al-carrrolls-a-proposed-new-constitution https://www.change.org/p/us-congress-support-al-carroll-s-a-proposed-new-constitution http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/alcarrollaproposednewconstitution http://www.petitions24.com/support_al_carrolls_a_proposed_new_constitution https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/al-carrolls-a-proposed-new-constitution https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Congress_Candidates_Hillary_Clinton_Ted_Cruz_Marco_Rubio_Bernie_Sanders_Support_Al_Carrolls_A_Proposed_New_Constitution/?nsObmkb http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/support-al-carrolls-a-proposed-new-constitution.html http://www.standunited.org/petition/politicians-support-al-carrolls-a-proposed-new-constitution-constitutional-convention