There's a reason most families don't discuss politics and religion around the Thanksgiving table. Contentious topics can tear families apart, and no one wants to remember 2021 as the year Uncle Barry threw the cranberry sauce at Nephew Drew.
But even though topics like abortion or the Pope might be off-limits, a Convention of States is a great opportunity to discuss topics that everyone can agree on: local control, fiscal responsibility, and the scourge of career politicians.
Here are three ways to bring a Convention of States to your Thanksgiving celebration, no matter who's there this year.
- Bring conversations about Joe Biden back to the root cause of our obsession with D.C. The president often comes up during a Thanksgiving meal, and it'll get heated. But both conservatives and liberals can agree that no matter what we think about President Biden, our national preoccupation with D.C. isn't healthy. We care so much about what happens in Washington because Washington has way too much power. If we can limit that power with a Convention of States, it won't matter so much who sits in the White House, and Americans can get back to working for the betterment of their local communities.
- Ask what might happen if the National Football League ran a deficit like Washington. The NFL is like D.C. in some ways: it's a huge organization that spends billions every year and relies on armies of administrators to keep the wheels turning. But what if the NFL was accumulating trillions of dollars in debt? Would it continue to function? Of course not. The federal government continues to operate with a $30 trillion debt, but that won't last forever. Eventually, the bill will come due -- unless we call a Convention of States to propose constitutional amendments that force Congress to be fiscally responsible.
- Thanksgiving leftovers have an expiration date -- so should federal politicians. There's nothing like turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving Day, but after two weeks? No thank you. Food goes bad if it's left out too long, and federal politicians are no different. After spending decades in Washington, even the most ideologically sound candidates will start to bend their principles to cater to lobbies and special interests. For many congresspeople, it happens as soon as they step off the plane. Congress will never vote to term-limit itself, but a Convention of States can propose that constitutional amendment. A term limits amendment is among the most popular policy proposals in the nation, and only stubborn greed among our elected officials has kept it from becoming law.
There are countless ways to discuss a Convention of States at this year's turkey feast. The most important thing is to connect with friends and family, but if you're going to talk politics, why not discuss something that can bring people together rather than tear them apart?
If you want to join the Convention of States team in your state, sign the Petition below! If you've already signed, try to get one of your family members to sign during this year's Thanksgiving celebrations.
Who knows? Maybe Uncle Barry and Nephew Drew will finally find something they can agree on.
