Assuming you’re familiar with the story of David and Goliath, you’ll recognize the theme of this tale. The federal government is out of control. Have you ever wondered how it got that way?
I read an interesting article by James Piereson recently that details the history of Washington, DC. The author explains how things evolved and considers some possible solutions for taming the giant beast. It’s a long read but, from my perspective, worth the time.
In his article, James Piereson who writes for The New Criterion, mentions some possible solutions:
Recent Supreme Court rulings on several cases designed to reduce the power of regulatory agencies;
Relocation of some government agencies to be more in touch with we the people;
Relocating the capital itself to be nearer the geographical and population centers of the country.
All good possibilities, though as he acknowledges, they would present a monumental task. Mr. Piereson wrote:
It will be difficult to cut the tentacles of the Washington octopus, or even to neutralize them to some degree. The influence of the capital over other institutions is deeply embedded in budgets, policies, and established practices. Most important institutions in American society depend to some degree upon financial support from the federal government. It is hard to see how that support will be withdrawn, absent a national bankruptcy of some kind, which might be a cure, but one far worse than the disease.
There is another solution. One solution, as we at Convention of States Action like to say, that is as big as the problem.
For those not familiar, Convention of States Action (COSA) is a non-partisan organization dedicated to building an engaged army of self-governing grassroots activists. We are working to call an Article V Convention to propose Constitutional Amendments that:
Reduce the size, scope and jurisdiction of the federal government
Place term limits on federal officials
Impose fiscal restraints on the federal government
To learn more about the Article V Convention process, you’ll find our Resources Page here. And you’ll find information on the progress we’re making here.
As Mr. Piereson describes, the federal government has grown like an octopus. It has its tentacles in pretty much every aspect of our lives. As individual citizens, we appear to be powerless against the stronghold they have on we the people.
But here’s something that’s been happening lately. We, the people - the very ones mentioned in the US Constitution - have awakened from our slumber. We have discovered that, while individually we may seem small compared to the Goliath of the federal bureaucracy, together we are stronger, smarter and more resilient than they can handle. By joining forces, by showing a united front, we have the ability to defeat the giant and take back our government.
At Convention of Sates Action we are actively hacking away at the tentacles of the Octopus. With every person who signs the petition, who responds to our updated survey, who volunteers to help the cause, we get closer and closer to taming the beast hat is our federal government.
You can become a volunteer even if you have only 1 hour a week to spare. But even if that’s not possible right now, word of mouth can be highly effective. Tell everyone you know about this engaged army of self-governing grassroots activists who are working hard to rein in our federal government. Encourage them to get involved and to become part of the solution that will solve the problem.
